The Indianapolis journal., 1902-02-28
THE MIAMI CLAIMS.


Chicago Evening Post.
Miami Indians of Indiana have formally
arranged a campaign for the recovery of
considerable land taken from them by al
legged "land sharps'' and have decided to
use every force to compel the United
States government to pay them $4,000 de-
ferred interest on old payments under
treaties.
Attorney Charles A. Denison, Of this city.
and r. B. Stark, the Chicagoan who acted
as the agent of the Pottawattamie Indians
of Michigan in the recent settlement for
first payment OF $4,000 for relinqushment
of Indian title TO lake-front lands, have
been given a contract by the Miami tribe
TO act as its sole agents in all suits against
the government and individuals.
Both returned last night from Marion,
Ind, where they were called several days
ago by the Miamis TO meet Chief George
Godfrey and President Robert c. Winters,
of the Miami nation business committee.
So eXasperated have the Miamis become
over past unsuccessful attempts TO get
their land claims pushed in the courts
because of the listlessness of local attOr-
neys that the tribe determined after the
Pottawattamies of Michigan fell into their
recent good luck, TO try Chicago agents.
Chief Godfrey has corresponded with Mr..
Stark at intervals of a month for a year
and was only waiting TO hear from CHIEF
Topash, at Dowagiac, Mich, of the pay
ment of money to the Pottawattamies TO
close a contract with the Chicagoans.
Yes, we have valid contract with the
Miami Indians said Mr.. Stark to-day
'signed by Chief Godfrey. President Win
tiers. of the business committee, and Peter
Godfrey, Camillus Bundy William PecOnge,
John Bundy and Ross Bundy members of
the committee, granting to Attorney Deni-
son and myself full power of attorney to
act as sole agents for the tribe in all suits
and negotiations, no matter whether they
be proceedings against the government or
against individuals
There has been wholesale robbery of the
Indians lands by farmers, tax sharps, etc,
and the poor Indians have been unable to
come into possession of much valuable
farm land taken from them by unlawful
means.
Their treaty rights are matters of record
and are unequivocal. Il seems certain that
if these cases of unlawful possession of In
dian lands are carried to the courts the red
men will be awarded their own.
LAS TO the claim of 100000 deferred in
terest. there is scarcely any doubt that the
government, which has been very liberal
and kind TO the Miamis, will pay this sum.
We are empowered to work in conjunction
with Congressman Steele, of Indiana, in
Fastening the passage of bill which he
introduced at this session of Congress for
the payment of this interest TO the In
dans.
There are between 400 and $50 left and
many of them are well TO do. But they
have among them poor, ignorant people
who thought their treaty with the govern
ment was greater than all the wiles of
land sharks, and who thought ii would
never be possible for the State of Indiana
to sell Indian lands for taxes when the
treaty expressly stipulated that the land
should not be subject to taxation, and they
have suffered
The lands which have been lost TO the
Indians temporarily are in Grant, Miami
and Wabash counties, Indiana, and in Mer-
Ger county, Ohio. Chief Ma-chim- go mis- h.
ah in 1918, was given this reservation un-
der treaty with the government, and the
stipulation was made that there should be
no sale unless to the government.
LAS late as 1881 final patent covering
the division of all lands in the Ma-chim-go-
miSh-ah reservation was issued, and no
sale of Indian lands is valid unless The gov
ernment approves. In many instances sec
tions of land have been obtained from In
dians by payments of store goods, whisky,
etc. and small sums of money but the
government did not sanction the sales or
trades.
In other cases farmers who coveted the
apparently idle land have plowed up fields,
adding TO their holdings year by year. until
they have actually taken possession of
whole farms. Other farmers have bought
so-called tax titles TO Indian lands. and
will make fights 70 hold their possessions.
During my travels 1 met a farmer in
Mercer county who said lie had about five
hundred acres of Indian lands which he
had purchased years ago at a small price
Admitting that he did not consider his
title good he offered TO settle with the
Indians on liberal basis. There will be
blltl StAbAtNtulS bl q llht nature lOT the
government 10 approve before long
Several meetings OF the tribe were held
at the old Indian church near Marion, and
/ had abundant opportunities TO hear the
individual complaints OF the Miamis. The
wh'te man, acting upon the suppositiOu
that the Indian was too ignorant TO know
his rights. has deliberately appropriated
whole sections of farm land.
I'VE had our contract with the MAN
| Indians witnessed by Francis Aveline
Philip Rosebrough and John Grant and
I Notary
can, Of Marion An effort 10 get a Judge
OF a court of record 10 acknowledge the
paper was unsuccessful
However, the notary will answer. not
withstanding the fact that there were nc
notaries I'm the territory when the Ma
Chin gO-mish-ah treaty was made. The
/ tribe has begun 20 raise a fund for the
prosecution OF the cases in court"
4 Theory.
Irnrr al