The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-09-04
STORM BEING
RAISED OVER
INDIAN LANDS
Government Securing Many
Evidences of Dishonesty.
LAND COMBINE AT WORK
Indian Rights Association Has
Matter in Hand.

Washington. Sept. 3.-The trouble of
the Indian today are of only indirect
interest to the people Of the east. and
then chiefly as showing the constant
Natchfulness necessary to guard the So
called inferior races from the avariee
and cunning Of the white man. The negro
of the south has accorded to him by the
same dominant white race very scanty
privileges. civil and political Ia the Phil
irpine Islands. broad-guage men ike
Governor Taft have steadily TO stand
between the commercial interests ana the
native whom these would crush out eco
nomicslly if they had chance. And thus
It is throughout the range OF the domain
Of the white race as it is brought into
contact with the duskier peoples.
The latest phase Of this aggression
arises under the act passed on May 27,
last. which provides for the sale OF the
lands OF a deceased Indian alottee. Under
the operation of the present system Of
dividing the reservation among the In
dams in severalty. when an Indian Gies
the disposal Of his estate 10 his heirs
creates a new opportunity for the whites
to make . grab. IT has been found that
among the PaWuees alone there are 800
such aUotments. of I60 acres each. already
available for sale under this act of con-
gress. Lands adjacent to these allot-
ments command prices ranging from
5000 to 5000 per quarter section. ac-
cOrding 10 location and fertility. II is
computed that these Pawnee allotments
are worth on the average Of $i,00 each,
Or 1850 900 for the amount now avail
able.
It is no wonder the combinations have
been worked up among the whites for
cornerlng these lands and discouraging
ether purchasers. Tho regulation which
the interior department made in pursu-
sree Of the act of congress provided
merely that the deed OF transfer should
be approved by the secretary Of the in
terror, but as he cannot personally look
into these things, he has to accept the
Judgment Of the Indian agent, or some
body on the ground who may or may not
Be honest These combinations !n some
cases have gone so far as 10 appeal To
the orphans court for the appointment Of
guardians for minor Indians. often when
the relatives desire 80 sucn action. The
guardian, as soon as appointed. asks
for the sale of The deceased aIiottee's
lands. as "a part of the plot 1t is obvious
that this is defeating the object of the
government in apportioning the lands.
which was to encourage the red man TO
hold on TO his farm and acquire the ways
OF the white civilization to which the
ownership of property always gives sub /
stantial support
1t has become notorious that a combi-
nation is working for the purpose of get
ting the lands of deceased Indian allottees
in Oklahoma territory Of late. various
weli-meaning persons have visited the
agencies for the purpose Of buying land.
but have met discouragement from the
agent and others in charge: it is often
difficult TO gain even the privilege of in !
speCting the records describing the land
allotted. There are nearly 250 allotments !
for sale under the law of the Sac aud |
Iox agency, and one-third as many more |
among the Kickapoos 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 /
70 buy land outside of the controlling |
combination. The Omaha Bee. in a re- 4
cent editorial, declared that the neigh |
borhood of the Omaha and Winnebaeo |
reservations has for years been infested /
y an inscriptions gang of land sharps. /
who have operated IN profitable Indian /
land and leases and speculative land !
sales with the connivance of a very ac- /
ccmmodafing Indian agent with an India I
rubber conscience. The Bee adds:
But even an Indian may seel as sore |
rs an ostrich when he is pluoked and /
when he does foei real sore. he gives an /
awful roar. That Is doubtless the condt- I
ton Of the Omaha tribe, which, AZ q gen /