The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-07-02
INDIANS BIG SUIT.


oklahoma POudrafomtcs Want Millions 0I
the GorerHHient
Sacred Heart cor espondence TO the
Kansas City Star says the Pottawat-
omie tribe OF Indians has undertaken
to recover from the United States gov
ernment a sum OF money estimated at
millions Of dollars. The Indians allege
that the government owes them large
sums Of money which were wrongfully
withheld, and that il never fulfilled
the stipulatioIs OF many of the treaties.
Preparations for suits against the gov
ernment were begun at general coun-
ell OF the Pottawatomie tribe held at
Sacred Heart last Tuesday. II was the
largest gathering OF Pottawatomies
that had taken place in many years
The council ground was near the abbey
of the Benedictine monks. 1t was a
scene OF sharp contrasts. The few
copper colored full bloods were easily
distinguished from men and women
who were stylishly dressed, whit .
skinned and well educated. All Of
them had Pottawatomie blood in their
veins, however, and were entitled TO
their pro rata OF the money due TO the
| tribe. Steven MaRonquit was chair
man OF the council, and Joe Moose was
secretary. The speeches were in Eng
| lish, and were translated into potta-
watomie by an interpreter for the ben
eft Of the full bloods, who could not
speak English.
Israel j Martcl, an attorney OF
| Wa hington, ID. e., and a member Of
the tribe. gave an historical account OF
the treaties that the tribe had made,
and showed in many instances that the
Pottawatomies had been deprived oi
large suns Of money TO which thoy
were entitled. lie offered TO prosecute
these claims for fee OF 10 per cent OF
all money recovered His proposition
was accepted and ten years named as
the time ia which he should complete
complete his work.
The und rtaking Is stupendous. An
abstract viii be made OF each OF the
forty eight treaties, beginning with
the trst in 1898 aud ending with the
last In $50. Every disposition OF money
will be ascertained, aud sums still un
paid will be sued Tor in the court ol
claims, and appealed, il necessary, q
the United states supreme court. Il
will be necessary 10 follow the wan
derings Of the Pottawatomics through
the states OF Ohio, Indiana, lllino s
Michigsn, Missouri and Kansas. Thil
is the first time that the PbitawAtomiel
have ever ATTEMPTED T. force the gov
ernmeut 10 a fun accounting.
All the Indian claims will be me
with eonnter claims by the gev rn
ment, in which the government will
ask for credit for money advanced a.
costs and indemnities 10 litigation h
behalf OF the POttRwatOmies. Th'
state Of affairs Is so complicated that i
Is as perplexug as a Chinese puzzle
Much OF this c0mphcati is due 10 thl
fact that the Potts FatOmies have ha,
few capable business leaders, and thei
interests have suffered accordingly.
No one knows the exact amount Ia
volved, but IL is said 20 reach into th
, millions A committee, composed o
: b. j. Clardy, John Anderson and l.. y
Ogee, was appointed 10 enter into
contract with Attorney Martel in be
half OF the tribe
. There are about 200 pOttawatomie
4 lin Oklahoma, known as the Citize
@ band. other Pot awatOmies, few 4
NUM- Der and known as the Prairi
band, live in Jackson county, Kansas
: They will participate in money due th
s tribe up 10 1869, when the tribe divide
I in Kansas. The Citizen band came
Oklahoma in 1871 and settled on
square miles Of land which they ha
bought from the government In ls6
The PottaWatomies are now allette'
g They are reasonably indu tries al
81 progressive, but most Of them are poo
They have largely intermarried vii
: the whites, most Of the latter beiT
VI French