Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1900-03-29
0SAGE INDIAN MIDDLE.
Serious Charges Against
Agent Pollock Reiterated.

Inc anDual report OF tne e1ecu-
tive committee of the Indian
Rights association. just issued,
contains some very severe rehec-
tons upon the management OF the
Usage Indian agency, under the
administration of Agent w, j.
Pollock. The report says in part:
"William J. Pollock, agent at
the Usage agency, is reported on
trustworthy testimony to be & man
of violent temper and Of erratic and
brutal habits. 1t is said on good
authority that his profanity
amounts to blasphemy, aud that
he has boasted 81 am not here for
nv health, but to get back s65, 600
| sunk on this reservation.
Serious charges are on hle
against this man, and Inspector
Mclaughlin, whose reputation is
that of one of the most trustworthy
officials in the service, was sent TO
investigate affairs at his agency.
He recommended the immediate
removal Of Pollock, and the lat
ter's resignation was demanded.
Pollock went to Washington and
in some way seems TO have sue
ceeded in securing the Withdrawal
of the demand. He returned to
the reservation and still holds his
position, all efforts to dislOge him
thus for having been without avail.
So dissatisfied are the Ossge In
dians with his administration Of
the agency that they have express
ed a willingness TO pension him TO
the amount CT $500 per annum,
his salary as agent, If the govern
ment would give them a proper
agent in his stead.
The condition of the Osages
since the last annual report was
issued has settled from bad to
worse. Their lands being held by
tenure of a patent from the United
States, congress has hesitated to
adopt any measure looking toward
the dissolving OF communal in
terests. The situation is now de-
ploraole. With almost !, 500, 600
acres OF land. with a membership
of less than 1900, there would be
afforded each an allotment of be-
tween 800 and 800 acres, yet, not
withstanding this large allotment
that could be given each member,
the evidence shows that the lands
have been manipulated by squaw-
men and by others in the interest
of cattle syndicstes, so that it is
practically impossible for members
Of tbs.iSihs4e-fnd suitsble loca-
tioDs for q home. Yet il is assert
ed on good authority that the res
ervation will afford at least 100
acres of the best farming lands to
each member. The lands are com
pletely enclosed by fencing ano
of the tribe is not allow
ed to make improvements within
these enclosures. The Indisns
have demonstrated in the strongest
terns against the usurpation OF
their lands by cattlemen. These
petitions have been supplemented
by an appeal from the association,
presenting specific citations of al
legged fact. The report continues:
at has been -sptly said that 8
Texas steer has more--rights upon
the Usage reservation than the
graduates OF Indian schools. The
student from Carlisle, Hampton or
Haskell returns 10 the reservation
weiiIh--esuaiippPPed sui ppPPed 4or home making
aud respectable manhoo65h be
seeks a suitable location for a
farm. with fair share of bottom
land io- blowing. Not being able
TO find desirable lands outside OF
fenced pastures, he appeals to the
agent ia charge of the Indians,
who tells him that he cannot take
ND lands inside of the fenced en-
closures. Tne result too often
follows of encouragement and
a gradual drifting into camp life
so fertile 10 vice and crime. II
would seem then there is every
inducement offered to bring about
this result. There are many
ssscific instances IL which az
'tf,npss have bern made to secure
proper location fer farming, and
which have ended in failure, OF
account of these obstacles cited
Yrt We fad a very few persons
controlling entirely almost all OF
he vsluaile lands Of The reserva.
zion. IN some ins; ances many iboE-
sands OF acres OF bottom land, IN
der the control of a single indIvld
ual: and this with the apparent