Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-09-12
WILL APPEAL TO CONGRESS-
lave Pueblo Indians Right 10 Dis
pose Of Property to White Menu
QUESTION IS UNIQUE.

7tty to n white man?
This question 10 OF paramount Inn
brtance 20 the Pueblos and has In
/ Fed become national, as congress will
le asked to pass upon the mooted
lbint. The representatives Of the var
Nus New Mexico Pueblos have already
sited Washington and conferred
18th the commissioner of Indian affairs;
it Commissioner Jones is awaiting
@ decision Of the federal courts. A
hcision defining the powers of pueblo
toperty rights is expected soon.
The question is unique. The Indians
hve determined upon action and an
kact definition OF The rights and limi-
tions of home rule" Will be insisted
BON. They want the question settled
bw ana for all time big council
hs been held AM course decided
bon.
This IL a brief history OF the trouble.
han Ruiz Ia an Indian and a resident
il the lsleta pueblo. Ruiz rented his
buse TO a white, A. II. Becker, by
hme. This act was in violation of the
ws. or rules" OF the pueblo. The
bvernor of the pueblo Immediately
aced Ruiz under arrest and lodged
m In the calaboose pending the FIX
! * OF his punishment by the council
hose power In matters of local gov
! nment has always been regarded as
,solute. For three days Ruiz remain
In the pueblo jail. but on the fourth,
BID before the council had met. his
lease was erected. Ruiz had nanag-
to get his case into the territorial
! |urts and had instituted habeas cor
hs proceedings. This proved a flank
= ovement Ia truth. and one for which
e governc: and his council were to-
ply unprepared. Ruiz. too, was thor
: lghly aware that he had violated the
Tered customs OF the pueblo In taking
\ matter. purely local In its character.
= an outside court for adjudication !:
! II he determined to play the game to
10 finish His uext move was to sue
+ e pueblo for damages for false i'm.
isonment. The case came to trial In
@ courts OF Bernalillo county and
\ e plaintiff was awarded 5000 dam
Z res. The defendant pueblo immediate.
appealed. Ruiz IL the victor temper.
lily, bu.a victor without the spoils.
Meanwhile the quetsion involved
" lost. In a measure, i1s purel, 10
y phase and has assumed a more ser.
us aspect. The pueblos bitterly re-
int. what they term. unwarranted In
rference OF the territorial govern
ent In pueblo affairs. Nor is the
leta pueblo alone In this fight. The
hcision OF the court was soon known
roughout pueblos In the valley oil
e Rio Grande. A great council" was
liled and San Felipe pueblo was des
mated as the meeting place Repre-
|ntative ''head-men" from the various
heblos. which included Sandia, Santo
pmingo, San Antonio. Zia, Sar
biipe. Isleta and Cochiti. were in at
ndance. Concerted action was decid
upan and the original intention wal
send four delegations 10 Washing
n. This plan. however. was abandon
on account OF the expense involv
A joint representation, having thu
Endorsement OF all, was selected. Thii
slegation was composed OF Juan DO
lingo Abeyta, governor OF lsleta, Pab
Abeyta. his secretary and chief ad
ser, and Vigil Antonio. who Is one o
e council OF the Sandia pueblo. Pal
Abeyta also acted as interpreter
e Is one of the most prominent met
mong the publos so far as Indian al
Mrs are concerned and is the chic
|livser. or secretary oil state, OF tn
letas. Abeyta is a well educated maj
nd has spent some tweive years o
lore In the English schools of Albu
ierque. He is also graduate OF 81
ichael's college Santa Fe.
we have recently returned fror
Washington" said Pablo Abeytf
Ind got little or no satisfaction. Tn
Ase was laid before the commissone
indian affairs, but he would nc
PISS on the points at issue and has r.
bred the whole matter to the courts
THAT we want is definition of on
gifts and we wfnt this matter Sc
ed. A. you know we have rules
bverning the pueblo These rules co
espond to your statutes and the law
pverning your municipalities. Thi
ieblo liz more than two hunder year
ID and these lands were granted U
Spain, and with IL the right OF loci
bvernment. The Mexican and Unite
tates governments have subsequen
confirmed these grants and thes
Dghts. We have In no instance undo
kken to exercise any judicial author
In criminal cases, and In all 4
Dances where the laws of the teri
bry have been transgressed by any
bur people. we have conscientious
tded the authorities In bringing n
vcused to justice. In such matters {
bncern the administration of the p
bios affairs. however, we claim n
bile and absolute right. This was
tght. bequeathed us by our fathe
Ind conceded MS by the national go
Irnment. The right of home rule
Inc OF the precious legacies of Abr
lam Lincoln to the Indian. The hi
| bry of the famous conference of 1Sl