The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-04
Fleeing THE RED
--latest Phase of the Aggression of a
White Race on Subject
People.
Sales of the Lands of a Decreased
Indian Allottee Taken
Advantage Of.

Building, Washington.
Washington, Sept. 4.-The latest phase
of the aggression Of the white people on
the inferior races is shown in the act
passed May 9th last. which provides
for the sale Of the lands of deceased
Indian allottee. Under the operation Of
the present system of dividing the reser-
vations among the Indians In severalty,
an Indian occasionally dies and in the
disposal of his estate to his heirs there has
| been created a new opportunity for the
whites to make grab. 1t has been found
| that among the Pawnees alone there are
| $50 such allOtments, of $50 acres each
already available for sale under this act
Of congress. Lands adjacent to these. al
| lotments command prices ranging from
81, 900 to $4,000 per quarter section, accord
! ing to location and fertility. 1t is COM
puted that these Pawnee allotments are
worth on the average Of $4,000 each or
$4,000 900 for the amount now available.
1t is no wonder that combinations have
worked up among the whites for cor
nering these lands and discouraging other
purchasers. The regulation which the in
terror department made in pursuance of
the act of congress provided merely that
| the deed Of transfer should be APP
proved by the secretary Of the
| interior, but as he cannot personally
|
judgment Of the Indian agent or some
body on the ground who may or may not
be honest. These combinations have gone
50 far in some cases as to go into the
orphans courts to ask that guardians be
appointed for minor Indians often when
the relative themselves want no such as
| sistance. But the guardian, as soon as
appointed asks for the sale of the de-
ceased allottee's lands, as a part Of the
plot 1t is obvious that this is defeating
the object Of the government in apportion-
ing the lands, which was to encourage the
red man to hold to his farm and &C
quire the ways Of the white civilization to
| which the ownership Of property always
gives substantial support.
1t has become notorious that combina-
ton is working for the purpose OF getting
tho lands of deceased Indian allottees in
Oklahoma territory. OF late various we'll
ming persons have visited the agencies
for the purpose OF buying land but nave
met discOura cement from the agent and
others in charge; it Is often difficult to
gain even the privilege of inspecting the
records describing the land allotted. There
are nearly $50 allotments for sale under
the law at the Sac and Fox agency and
one-t third as many more among the Kick
FL apOOS, together with a large number OF
absentee Shawnees.
Letters Of all sorts are pouring into the
, Indian office, not only from friends Of the
Indians but from those who want to buy
: land outside Of the controlling combina-
Y ton. The Omaha Bee, in recent ed
itoral declared that the neighbOrhood OF
the Omaha and Winnebago reservations
has 'for years been infested by an un-
scrupulous gang Of land sharks who
have operated in profitable Indian lane
= and leases and speculative land sales with
Q the connivance of a very accommodating
O Indian agent with an India rubber con-
= IL 1Ics
f But even an Indian may feel as sore as al
: ostrich when he is plucked; and when he doe
!, feel sore, he gives an' awful roar. That is
II doubtless, the condition of the Omaha tribe
n which, at general council held last Thursday
served notice upon the land sharks that it woul'
It assert its rights and appeal to the government
g for protection and redress The resolution
o adopted by the Omahas not only denounce tn
I; spectators, but openly present charges agans
II the agent, who is in league with them an.
= in the work of alluring ignorant and helples
q Indians to dispose of their lands at tnadequat
:. ! prices. The systematic plucking of the Indian
IS is is not confined to the omahas The ewinneba
goes have been the victims Of the land specula
tors to much greater extent The Omaha
are reputed to be Industrious, orderly and, in tn
s MAN, sober people. and as nearly civilized a
q Indians living on a reservation can be, but tn
% Winnebagoes reputed to be dissipated, thrift
: less and generally demoralized. having 1nherite
y all the vices of their race and absorbed tn
V vices of the white race. -,
r. The Indian Rights association are nov
is endeaNOr1nS TO secure the aQOpIlOn o.
IS regulations which will require the sale Q
,r those lands by sealed bids, whenever {
n sale is necessary, and not by the doubtful
"a method Of mere approval by the secre
+ tary Of the interior, which SO often mean
# the mere approval Of the agent who ma!
- have received his appointment for thi
"a very purpose, under the existing system o
~ senatorial nomination and presidential
-, confirma ton. The interior department
+S has no doubt based it's approval Of tn
present regulations controlling the sale o
- these lands upon the apparent assumption
~ that the Indian alone can enter into con
~ tract of sale. The law, however, in re
- posing in the secretary Of the interior tn
~. right to pass upon the sufficiency Of tn
30 purchase price. in the Indians interest,
y in a position to require that prosperity
grantors request that the lands be adver
tised for sale under sealed bids.
Indian Commissioner Jones is in favo
1s of disposing of the lands under sealed bid
10 and hopes to have that plan adopted
n since it will not only come nearer meetin
- the ends of justice but relieve the India
- office of vast amount Of labor, especial
re ly as to determining the sufficiency of tn
- D1rcha nrice IF the lands,