Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1898-02-18
THE RESERVATION.
An Attempt Being Made to Secure the
Removal uf the Indians.

Removal of the Indians.
An effort is now being made To pro.
cure the removal of the Indians from
the Fort Totem reservation 30 a new
reservation, either in this state
or Montana. The reservation con-
tains approximately 100000 acres
Of land and its Indian popn-
lation is about 1900. 1t is claimed
that the Indians are not I'M
favorable to the scheme and that they
would prefer to be located in a graz
ing country where they would have a
better chance to raise stock than they
have here.
These Indians are supposed to be
we'll advanced in the paths Of civil
cation and not to need the protecting
care OF the great father. With this un-
derstanding their rations we're with
drawn a few years ago and their land
was given to them in seyeralty. They
we're expected to become tillers of tke
soil and bonanza wheat farmers like
their white brethren across the lake,
but the experiment has not exactly
PANIED out after that fashion. In fact,
it is said that they have accomplished
very little for themselves in the line of
farming and that a delegation of
chiefs will soon leave for Washington
to ask for assistance to keep their peo.
pie from starving.
There is another side to to the pro-
posed removal of these Indians. Under
the law, since they we're allotted land
in severalty. they have become full
fedged citizens and as such entitled to
vote and hold Office. They hold the
balance of political power in Benson
county, the greater portion of the
reservation being located within the
b~oundarieslof that county. An attempt
was made to secure a ruling which
would prevent them from exercising
the privilege Of citizenship, but the
courts decided in favor of the Indians.
Being citizens, they come into pos
session of other inalienable rights,
such, for instance, as the privilege Of
being supported by the county when
unable to support themselves. The
white tax payers of Benson county an
ticipate that sooner or later the county
will be swamped financially by the de-
mands which the Indians will make
upon the county's poor fund. Natur-
ally they are strongly i'll favor of the
abandonment of the reservation.
Removing the Indians would not in
terfere with the industrial school. In
fact, it would be better for the school.
as no little trouble is experienced from
time to time on account of insubordi-
nate pupils who run away and go
home whenever the notion enters
their heads. With the old folks To-
Gated at a distance from the school
this trouble would not be experienced.
Those who are working to secure the
removal of the Indians and the open
ing of the reservation realize that it is
no small undertaking and that it will
require time and hard work to accom-
plish their purpose, but the Importance
of the project makes them hopeful.
DIR. Johns Reply to InxersolI.
Col. lngersoll has always claimed
that those who assumed to answer him
have misrepresented his position. He
claims that instead of answering his
arguments, his opponents have usually
reverted to personal abuse. A dis
eliminating public knows that these
claims of Col. Ingersoll have too much
foundation in fact. 1t is gratifying to
note that DR.. J. P. D. John, ex-presi-
dent Of DePauw University, wishing
to be absolutely fair and candid, be-
fore giving to the public his now
famous lecture, did Mar Make God.
or did God Make Man, not only made
a thorough study of Col. lngersoll's
works in the authorized edition, but
actually submitted the manuscript OF
his general statement Of Col. Inger
soils objections against the bible and
christianity to the colonel himself, ask.
ing him to point out anything that
might in any way misrepresent him
In q very courteous reply Col. 1nger
soil thanked DR.. John for his expires
sions of kindness and fairness but die
not specify any instance of misrepre
sentation. Too many speakers with
out a careful study of Col. Ingersolls
theories have placed words in his
mouth and meaning into his words
that Col. Ingersoll never intended, bu,
this charge does not hold against DR.
John. This great lecture will be given
at the court house on the evening oil
February Goth.
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