Evening star., 1902-01-18

| raugas (23000 acres) reservations in west
ern New York, is in Washington. accom-
panied by others of the same tribe and
members of the Onondago and Cayuga
| tribes, awaiting the introduction of bill in
| Congress to abolish the tribal governments
| and place all Indians allotted lands.
| When this occurs he and representatives of
| all the other tribes will begin their fight to
defeat it. Speaking of the matter, he said:
| ''1f were to relate to you that part of
| the history of the Seneca nation residing in
| New York state from 1894 down to the
| present time, you would wonder why we
are not today a race of pessimists and
| cynics. Ever since 1894, in which year we
| concluded a treaty with the United States
| for the reservations on which We have since
resided, we have been engaged in one con-
| slant struggle against fraud, corruption
and depravity in all it's worst forms Let
me call your attention to a few things that
/ hope will open the eyes of the people of
| Washington to what the average Indian has
| to contend with.
In 1894 the Seneca tribe concluded a
treaty with the United States for the reser-
yations in western New York, that l have
just mentioned. This treaty was signed by
| George Washington, then President Of the
United States. and among other things de-
! clared that the United States will never
claim the same (the reservations), nor dis
turh them. the Senecas) or either of the
Six Nations, nor their Indian friends re-
siding thereon and united with them, in
the free use and enjoyment thereof, but
the said reservations shall remain theirs un-
til they choose to sell the same
Subsequently, in 1888, the United
| States, ignoring this treaty, cut our reser-
vations down to narrower limits, but at
the same time, employed the language used
| in the first treaty, and which L have just
quoted, with regard to what land we had
left. Now, as a matter of fact the United
| States is in duty bound to respect this
| treaty as much so as though 1t were one
| existing between herself and England. but
ioc hon f,r1 Of and
not q powerful nation, the government is
not disposed to do the fair thing by us.
| I'm 1913 the Erie road was built through
New York state and across the northern
part of the Allegheny reservation. Subse--
quently the New York, Pennsylvania and
Ohio railway was built, crossing the Erie
on our reservation. The railroads leased
| land from our nation on which to build
shops after which white people began ar
rfving on our reservations and renting lands
around and about the railroad junction.
This continued until the town of Sala-
manca was built, such being the origin of
| one Of the most thriving towns in western
| New York.
''The town Of Salamanca, lying and being
on our reservation, pays enormous
rental to our tribe. Up until two years ago
this lease or rental money was paid over
| to the treasurer Of our tribe and disbursed
by our council, but the whites, getting con-
troll Of the council members, the following
was the result: Those who had claims for
public services would receive orders on the
L
presented their orders to the afore-named
official he would declare that the treasury
was empty and that he could not cash their
orders This sort Of thing went on for
years, and while every one on the reserva-
tfon was unable to see how this could be
with the lease money coming in from the
city Of Salamanca, the treasurer made no
bones about telling all tribesmen who came
to him with orders that he lacked the
wherewithal to meet their demands. The
Seneca, with an order on the treasury Of
his nation, was forced, therefore to sell
this order at a discount of 90 cents on the
dollar to the whites in Salamanca who by
this means were able to pay their leases
and rentals for one-half the amount pro-
Vided by law. At the same time this sys-
tenn gave rise to all sorts of Jobs and
speculations among the whites who hoyered
about the reservation.
About year ago this evil rose to such
a pitch that $50 Senecas, including myself
decided to stand 1t no longer. i came on to
Washington, and, in a short time secured
the passage OF bill directing that in fu-
| ture, all lease money due the Seneca nation
be paid over to the agent instead of to the
treasurer and council of our tribe. The
agent was also empowered to disburse the
money, according to directions set forth in
the bill, which became a law. Since this
bill went into effect the people of Sala-
maEca, n. Y, have had to pay the full
sum of their rentals and leases and those
of US who have claims for public services
rendered have since then been able to get
value received for the same. This law put
stop TO JOBS and speculation.
What was the effect of this law? 1t
raised storm Of righteous indignation
among the citizens of Salamanca, and the
newspapers of that place suddenly woke up
to the fact that We were lot of lazy In
dams, clog on the wheels of progress
and an eyesore to civilization, and they
have ever since Wed with each other in
heaping abuse on our heads. Moreover, we
were notified then and there that We were
not the only ones who could get bills passed
through Congress, and that they would see
TO it that our reservation would soon be
thing of the past.
Origin of Robbery.
This, 1 am convinced, was the origin of
the movement to rob the Indians of their
lands and which continued growing until
it reached Its present proportions.
"The allotment of land on our reserva-
tion is simply case of putting a premium
on idleness and thriftiness. On our reser-
walton we buy and sell lands among our
selves, and recently paid $1,000 for thirty
acres. Now, have relative who does
not own land, his sole ambition being to
possess a fast trotting horse. He is one of
the few Senecas who are in favor OF allot-
ment. Why? Because in that case he
would get part, If not all, of the thirty
acres for which recently paid 81 .0O0."
Among the Indians now in Washington
ara four men constituting delegation from
the Cayugas, near Brantford. Canada The
leading men Of this delegation are Ffshcar-
rier, wampum keeper of the tribe, and
William Sanders, an ex-chief. Their mis-
sion to this city Is curious. The treaty of
1894 granted reservatins to all the Six AN
tiens of New York, with perpetual protec-
tion against intruding whites. Soon after
1874 the Cayugas picked up in body and
went to visit the Mohawks. who, being allies
of the British in the revolutionary war, had
settled in Canada, on lands awarded them
by the British government. Reaching Can
ada the Cayugas found game in such plenty
that they decided to remain, and have since
lived with the Mohawks near their capital.
Brantford, Canada
Recently, however, the Cayugas became
discontented. as result Of the Mohawks
refusing to allow them any voice in their
councils and about six months ago they
took up the matter of moving elsewhere.
During their sojourn in Canada the Cayu-
gas forgot all about their treaties with the