The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-26
MILE Laos WERE LOYAL
Government Owes Them a Debt
Difficult Problem Almost Settled.


Difficult Problem Almost Settled.
LAWRENCE, MINN.-The new Mile
Lac agreement, which Inspector Nc
Iaughlin has just negotiated. will settle
one of the most difficult problems regard |
ing Indians that the interior department
has had to deal with for over thirty years. |
BY the treaty between the Chippewas
Of the Mississippi and the United States, |
made on Feb. %, 1856, these Chippewas,
which included the Mile Lac bands, cede:l
to the United States about all Of this state
north Of st. Cloud, but reserved six re-
servations within this cession. namely:
the reservations of Mile Lac. Gull Lake,
Rice Lake, Sandy Lake and Pokagama.
On account of the outbreaks among the
Indians in the northwest in 1852 in which
some of the Chippewas became involved.
the government decided to consolidate the
Indians on as few reservations as possible,
therefore the Mississippi Chppewas ceded
all of the above named reservations and In
lieu thereof received the reservation
known as the Mississippi reservation be-
tween Cass and Leech lakes. But owing
to the friendly acts of the Mile Lac In
dams during the outbreak it was provided
In the treaty under which the Mississippi
Chippewas ceded their common interests
in the Mile Lac reservation. that the Mile
Lac Indians would be permitted to occupy
the reservation during good behavior.
Prevented War with ChlppeWaS.
It was the distinct intention of congress
70 give the Mile Lacs band special COIL
sidera ton, because of their splendid be-
havior during the Sioux outbreak Of 1862
and the threatened outbreak Of the 5000
Chippewas of Minnesota under Hole-in-
ebay. Little Grow, chief Of the Sioux.
and Hole in the-Day met in st. Paul and
planned a united uprising against the
whites of the two tribes that had for
ages fought each other Only the action
of the Mile LaCS prevented the consum-
nation of this alliance. Members OF
other Chippewa bands were ugly and de-
stroyed some property, but the warpath
was not actually taken by them because
when the runners Of Hole-ln- -the-Day
came to Mile Lacs the warriors OF that
tribe refused to have anything to do with
the uprising and notified the intending
hostiles that if there was an outbreak
the Mile Lacs would be found fighting on
the side of the whites. They actually Of
fered their services to the commanding
officer at Ft. Ripley, but their loyal stand
had dissipated all danger Of war with the
Chippewas.
While it appears that in treaty made
In 1864 the Mile LacS Indians did ceGc
their reservation to the government with
q perpetual suuatter's right of occupancy
during good behavior, the Indians them
selves always understood that they We're
to continue to hold the land intact so
When. therefore. the Chippewa Indian
commission, in 1889, under the Nelson act
of 1887 treated with them for removal to
the White Earth reservation. where they
were to take their allotments OF land
they assumed that they had the alter
native privilege Of taking their allotments
on the old reservation. A strict construc-
ton Of the language of the treaty of 1864
showed, however, that they had already
forfeited title to their Mile Laos lands.
and that therefore they had not the al
ternative the other Mississippi Chippewas
had but must take their allOtments at
White Earth.
MIsrepresented and Mlsled.
The Indians, however, stubbornly clunE
TO the theory that the treaties said only
what they intended they should say. They
were probably misrepresented and misled
by one of their chiefs to the nature Of
the document. In the agreement OF 1852
under a misapprehension. they went SO
,Iar as to relnquish their squatter right
}of occupancy of the Mile Laos reservation
NWithout land title. During all these years
the whites had been crowding into the
reservation which had been thrown open
to settlement under the homestead law.
The result was that there were no LANDS
left to allot to the Indians.
Congress recognizing that injustice had
been done them. finally appropriated, at
its last session, $40, 900 to pay the Indians
for their improvements at Mile Laos ana
the final REIMBURSEMENT Of their claim to
that reservation.
The iust-concluded negotiations with
the Indians were for the purpose OF get
ting them to accept the offer of congress.
They have accepted 1t and practically all
of them-over 900-will remove to Wh1te
Earth reservation, where they will receivs
lands houses and farming equipment IN
spector Mclaughlin Is now making ap-
1,raisement Of the individual damages.
What, if any, is left Of the $4,000 over
and above these damages goes TO the trloe
MS A. whole. Alta council to be held later
the Indians will decide how they Will have
their money paid to them.
BOISE lDAHO.-The state board OF
equalization followed the course fore
shadowed by it's action last week, when
It adopted a resolution in favor OF taxing
the gross earnings Of railways. There
was an increase Of $3.50 mile on tne
Great Northern and Northern Pacific ano
some minor changes on branches. There
was an increase Of IS a mile on the West
orn Union.
BRITToN, S. D.-Miss Cecilia Gilbert
son, John A. Peterson and Thoma;
Aastrom, have been arrested on tn
charge Of perjury, alleged to have beer
committed in May last, when testimony
was taken at Sisseton in the final PROOF
case of Miss Gilbertson covering hel
homestead In Marshall county.
EAU CLAIRE, WlS.-David Drummont
administrator Of the estate Of w. P. Wat
son. has instituted preliminary proceed
tnRs in probate court to secure possession
Of about $500 worth of diamonds In pos
aession of Ella AberCrOmbie and Heller
Rosencrans, who are photographers.
SPRING VALLEY. MINN.-T. B. John
aon.. Sc years of age, was kicked by
horse and his arm broken. portion OF
the bone being observable through the
hesh.-Spring Valley has organized
brass band composed of twenty pieces.
SLEEPY EYE, MiNN.-John Globk
and Hans Clausen had their pocket
Wicked at New Tim Saturday. Globke los
$50 in cash and notes Of the value of sew
eral hundred dollars, while Mr.. Clauser
lost $50. +
CHURCHES FERRY, NJ D.-Charle
Falor, Of Newton, Iowa. attempted suicide
hv cutting both wrists and sashing hi
throat with pocket knife. He will prob
ahly recover. No cause is known for hi
action.
ynhCe\ul MINN-AdOlDh Prear