The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-09-30
DIDN'T AGREE.
The Mile Laos Indians Say They Will Not
Move.


The Mile Laos Indians Say They Will Not
Move.
Brainerd, Mimi, Sept. 25.-Instead
of bringing to conclusion thirty years
of controversy, misunderstanding and
bitterness, yesterdays council OF the
Mile Laos Indians ended with all
parties in a most unpleasant state of
mind The Indians are disappointed.
Commissioner Oar Hall is displeased
with their attitude, and the settlers
are more pre- JUDGED against the In
dians than ever.
After comforting and holding exclu->
sive councils Thursday and yesterday
morning, at Lawrence, the Indians
finally notified Mr.. Hall that they
were ready to explain their desires to
him. The council was held under, the
pines. Chief Wah-we-yea-cumig
opened the council and Brave May
que-me-waum-qua followed in a long
and highly dramatic speech in which
he told of the loyal attitude Of the
ChippeWas at the time Of Chief Hole
[in-the days conspiracy in 1862. Con
Guiding he gave Mr.. Hall a fine belt.
Go-gee, tribe orator, supplemented
the chiefs statement of the desires of
the Indians and Commissioner Hall
spoke for the government. Gustave
Beauleau acted as attorney and advo-
cate for the Indians and his brother
Charles was interpreter.
The Indians declared that they were
determined to have 1880 acres in the
reservation not yet patented: that it,
had been promised them by the secre-
tary of the interior and that they
wanted it divided pro rata among the
heads of families. They said they
wanted settlers on that land removed
congress to REIN burse them for i'm
provements made thereon. AS for the
: 10000 acres additional claimed by
them, that would be left to congress.
They refused to make a definite an
swer to Commissioner Halls sugges-
|
; children at White Earth. They said
thew would consider that question
when the 300 acres had been allotted.
, They further said that they would con-
slider at their leisure the commission
er's invitation to make a visit to White
Earth. When Mr.. Hall alluded to the
; comparatively poor quality Of the land
in the 1880 acres and intimated in
directly that it would be better for all
; to take allotments at White Earth, the
Indians we're evidently disappointed
and some of them turned their backs
on him. -
/; Through a misunderstanding the
council broke up without hearing the
Representative of the settlers who
t were in attendance. Thus there was
J; bad feeling on all sides. Although it
is contrary to his ideas of what is best
. for the Indians, Mr.. Hall will simply
have to report to the department that
the Indians are fixed in their deter
+ mination to have all unpatented lands
! in the reservation allotted to heads Of
/ families. Of the land demanded by
:; Indians 10000 acres are in what would
:: be school sections. The State has al
n ready sold all pine on these sections
) and 1874 acres of land. Forty acres has
been sold at 500 per acre to a syndi-
d cate that intends to build a summer re.
: sort hotel, while G. A. Smith OF Min.
d neapolis and others have bought small
lots for summer cottages. Besides this
n there are about thirty bonafde settlers
who have built houses on the disputed
Z land. They declare that they will moi
n move out, and demand that the Indians
81 shall be moved to White Earth--Ms1a
h neapoNs Journal.
.c,alsF%T,o Isl a AZ c. GanriUht who oanna tf