The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-27
CASS LAKE RESOLVES
TOWN TELL WHAT THEY
DESIRE
WANT RESERVATIONS OPENED
Rest interests of the Government,
the Indians and Themselves
VIII he Forwarded by
So Doing.

CASS LAKE, Mimi, July 26.-The PEG
pie who are most interested in the open
ing OF the Chippewa Indian reservation
are commencing TO move in earnest On
Wednesday evening joint session of the
commercial Club of Cass Lake and the
industrial Association of Walker was
heId at the Strawbridge hall, Cass Lake
me attendance was large. After full
discussion Of the subject the following
resolutions were unanimously adopted:
BE 1t Resolved by the Commercial Club
OF CaSS Lake and the Industrial Associa-
uon or Walker, Mimi, in joint meeting
assembled, That the time has arrived
Wnen some decisive action should be
taken by the secretary of the interior
ana congress looking to the immediate
99pehlng OF the Chippewa reservation. the
disposition OF the timber thereon and the
settlement of the agricultural lands.
FOR years the people of this section
nave waited patiently and anxiously for
some executive or congressional action
looking to the object set forth above, and
up 10 the present time nothing has been
done
The people came here with the reason.
ahle expectation that the Chippewa res
erVatiOn would be thrown open to settle
ment and the pine timber disposed of in
some manner. Session after session OF
congress has passed, and nothing has
been done in the direction hoped for by
the people of this section of Minnesota.
The Withholding of the Chippewa res
erVation from settlement and the sale
OF the pine timber thereon is retarding
the growth and development of Northern
minnesota, besides working a gross in
justice upon indians. who have every
reason to expect that the provisions of
the Rice treaty be fulfilled The spirit
or restlessness now exhibited by the n
dams Is caused by their growing belief
that the government is not keeping good
faith with them under the provisions Of
che aforesaid Rice treaty, and that their
heritage is being slowly but surely fritz
kGrHu away IN useless and unnecessary
expense for the maintenance of Superin-
tendents and other employees.
We believe that the best interests of
the general government and the Indians
would be subserved by the immediate
opening of the Chippewa reservation and
the sale OF the standing pine thereon
under what Is known as lie bank scale
system, so successfully carried out I'M
der the direction of Capt. Mercer while
in charge Of the La Pointe agency in
Wisconsin. Under this plan there is an
honest disposition of the timber and the
best interests of both the general gov
eminent and the Indians alike protected
Be it Further Resolved, That should it
from any unknown reason seem advisable
10 the government to withhold for the
present the sale of the tim SSr, we re-
spectfully ask that the agricultural lands
of the entire Chippewa reservation be
thrown open to settlement at the earliest
time under the provisions Of the Nelson
law.
Be it Further Resolved, That we deem
1t good policy of the government to ~e-
serve from public disposition what is
known as the peninsula on the south arm
OF Leech lake and the historic Bear ISL
and in Leech lake, and the two large ISL
ands in Cass lake, said reservation to be
used-fOT, park purposes.
Be it Further Resolved, That we high
y appreciate the services Of Capt. w. a.
Mercer, acting Indian agent at Leech
lake, and heartily indorse his admirable
and businessltke administration of the
affairs of the Indians since he took
charge Of matters on the reservation. He
has handled every delicate question in
connection with the administration of his
duties in manner that has won for
him the confidence and respect of both
whites and Indians, and we firmly be-
leve that 1t would be for the very best
interests of the government and the In
dams should Capt Mercer be given en-
elusive control Of all matters in connec-
ton with the opening Of tKe Chippewa
reservation, disposition Of the timber and
the settlement Of the agricultural lands,
Be 1t Further Resolved, That copies
of these resolutions be sent TO the Unit
ed States senators and members of con-
gross from the state of Minnesota, to
the honorable secretary of the interior,
commissioner of Indian affairs Capt ".
\. Mercer, acting Indian agent at Leech
lake, and to the newspapers of the Twin
Cities. Duluth, Crookston, Grand Forks,
n. D, and all the newspapers publish
ed within the state.