Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-03-15
Indians As VICTIM!IERS :
and VICTIMS !

~N<<<<| <~<~ <<Se - 49, ~
Chicago dailies have contained re-
peated announcements that certain
parties had purchased the riparian
rights of the Pottawatcmfe Indians.
near Dowagiac, Michigan, to made
lands following the shore line of Lake
Michigan in that state, Indiana, and
Illinois. One hundred thousand dol
lars Is the sum said to have been
spent In acquiring these rights by the
spectators in question, who claim
they can establish the fact in law that
all persons in Chicago occupying land
east of the original shore line are
trespoAsers. The Lake Shore Drive
and much valuable property on the
South Side of Chicago is the result of
accretions since the date of the Indian
treaties, on which the claim is based,
hence should the SPECTATORS conten-
ton be sustained, many Chicago prop
erty owners would have occasion for
disquiet. But it is cheering to know
that, according to Indian Commission
er Jones. the Dowagiac Indians have
had the best of the deal, and the pur-
chasers are likely to find in their
claims species of gold brick The
Commissioner states that under the
treaty or 1888, in consideration of
0 100000 acres of land west Of the Mis-
Slsslpp1 and the annual payment of
$1S,00O by the United States for thirty
years, the Pottawatomies, as tribe,
coded to the United States all their
title In lands along the Lake Michigan
front, and were removed to western
reservations provided for by the
treaty. A previous treaty had pro-
v1ded that lands claimed by Indians
could be sold only to the United
states. AS to the islands or lands I'M
Ter navisable waters, a long line of
decisions has vested the title to such
ands In the sovereign, the withdraw
Ii OF one sovereign vesting the title in
lis successor. Therefore the with
travail of the tribe from the Michigan
ands, under the terms of the treaty of
S5S, vested the title to such sub
merged lands in the United States, and
alter In the several states. The In
iians near Dowagiac, Michigan, by
'emaining when their tribe removed,
severed their tribal relations and have
10 more right to shore land than any
'ther citizen of Michigan. Such is
he statement of Commissioner
ones. If the Indians have gotten the
'est OF the white man, it will be one of
very few cases on record, and will
nut poorly offset a long list of debts
n which the advantage has been on
he side of the pale faces. They have
zen the victims of SO many dishonest
chemes It's no wonder they have
rown suspicious and bitter. One of
he latest recently unearthed in Wash
ngton, concerns an attempt ON the
art OF certain influential men to rail-
DAD through the Department of the
Interior lease for the control of ex-
raordinarily rich mineral lands in the
Jlntah Indian reservation. The inves-
Igatlon promises to be sensational,
nd may result in the retirement of
ne or more government officials. A
sport received by the department,
rom Special U. s. Commissioner Ward
;. Pack, shows that the lease with the
indians was secured through gross
Representations; that not more
han thirty Indians were present at
ne alleged council at which it was
ranted. The lease allowed extraor-
lAary privileges, including the right
locate and operate mines on pay
lent of a per cent royalty. A lost
line, reputed to be the richest in the
'orld, and rediscovered before the
resent Ute Indians took possession
the reservation, is said to be in
luded in the territory. and to furnish
lie motive for the lease.