Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-07-23
SOME INSIDE NEWS
FROM WASHINGTON.
ANOTHER INDIAN jon
THE SMACK OF CORRUPTION.


Cleveland Blocked II Up Year. Ago
Hut the Land Spectators Have Pre-
vailed at Lass-soIns of tho Facts AN
Evidence.
From our special esponoent.
Washington, July IS-Undeterred b
the protests that would, in equity a
Least, result in delay in roing wha
seems likely to be Pm irfeparabl,
wrong, and supported by a juoicis
decision that the courts have NJ
right to interfere with the politics
acts CT the United States government
President Mckinley has issued hi:
proclamation throwing open to entry
the Comanche, Kiowa and Apache
reservation in Oklahoma, despite al
most conclusive proof that has beer
submitted to him, showing that the
whole project was conceived in fraud
ana born in iniquity.
The action of the President is based
on the same identical bogus treaty -
Without word changed which led
President Cleveland, in 1893, to do.
nounce the fraud, perjury and for
geries of those who had negotiated it
and to announce that the reservation
should not be opened to settlement as
long As he was in the White House
Preside 1t Cleveland gave this as
surancs to the representatives of the
Indians, ard who at the tina includ'
ed Professor James Mooney of the Blu
reau of Etrology and Captan Hugh
l. Scott, Seventh Cavalry, then a
Lieutenant of that regiment at Fort
Sill. Ind I, and now General Leor ard
Wood s adjutaut general at Havana
Lieutenant Scott took keen inter.
est 10 the Ind ians of the reservation,
with whom he understood, and with
whose habits and traditions he VAS
intimately familiar. That officer dis.
covered that the three tribes whose
LANDS vera shout to be given over to
the public were the victims of ar
atroit plot, which had resulted 10 the
misrepresentation to the majority Of
them of the contents Of a document
which WAS Ireserted for their sigma
ture n OctoUer, 1892 These lndis.s
were led to believe that the paper was
an agreement merely to consioer a
sale of the reservation on the basis of
81 80 per acre in about four years
Not ouly was there misrepresenta-
ton of the terms of the paper, but
the signsture of many of the Indians
were found to be forgeries. a number
IF them, including the chief of the
Kioswas, Lone Wolf, stated that they
had not apple ed their mark TO the
paper and that the names of a num-
Der of white men had been atded to
pad out the list. among them that OF
Tnonas + Wood yard, white mar,
ma official Interpreter.
Those who discovered the fraud st
,nce reported to Warrington. ana
General Miles became interested IN
be matter. The Indian Office refused
% listen to the complaints, while the
Indian committees of both House aud
senate dscllned to interfere. 1t was
hat time May, 1893, that the In
iians selected a delegation to 90 to
VAST iogton, and the services of
Scott, who was command
ng the Indian troop at the time.
we're engaged In behalf of the Indians
making the protest. This protest wa
educed to writing and signed by the
indians, who believed they were
heated out of their rights Presi
lent Cleveland listened to the pro
est and was forcible in his comments
N the methods pursued to swindle |
ne three Indian tribes Of their pos
essiOns. He blocked the whole |
cbene for number OF years.
Finally last year the land specula-
ors mustered up courage enough to
gain attempt the frsud that had
zen prevented. They dug up the
anne forged document eight years
Id and introduced il into congress,
mere some one sllpued it in as
ider of an entirely different bill deal
ug with an entirely different tribe of
indians, and secured its ratification
he Indians concerned. The records
how that 70 report on the matter was
yer made to either House, contrary
0 the lnrariabls custom 10 such mat.
ers.
Acting under it, the Interior De.
artmeut has proceeded to allot the
,nds and the President has issued his
reclamation for their distribution
y lot, The Indians, finding out too
ite what mad been done, sent repre-
antatives here to protest bitterly.
Laughed at by the Indian bureau,
hey went into court where it was
ED that no jurisdiction existed,
though" said the judge, lit is not
} he supposed that so grave a wrong
i'll he ore 10y the government with
ut due deliberation. " Scarcely had
re court adjourned when one more
iece Of spoiIation of our helpless
ards will be consummated. The :
hole business seeks of corruption.
C. NJ. X
Secret'ry Long has appointed a
oard of naval officers, with Capt ..
ohm j bunker ss president, to re-
Sc the ration for enlisted me-. The /,
ition has not been charged for more .
, q n 10