The Tomahawk., 1903-05-28
CHIPPEWA SENTIMENT.

| NOlCct VIC sOCllVlAlaUAlU WI CAAS AAAA
mediately interested parties, the
Chippewa Of Minnesota, regard
ing the carrying out of the act at
large and restrictively, and as to
the appointments to be made
under it. The recent visit of land
commissioner Richards, and Mr..
Piohot, the chief Of forestry, are
the !preliminary steps, and we may
soon expect Ito see extensive OPP
erutions i'm Numbering upon the
lands designated in the act.
We have in the past expressed
considerable doubt that the pro-
visions of:the act will be carried
out honestly and economically;
Whit has the past been bat II
series df Mrong and robbery.
Shall this ibe repeated! Shall
harpips 'wvel lin THE feast of gains;
ill-gott0h?
We look for old experiences to
be 'rdhewed Unless the govern
meht 'take all tprecauti6h in the
matter which ;Rh ;alert individual
might ter his 'own protection.
And there is something beyond
the mere question of self interest;
which possesses the. individual I'M
business transactions. But the
Indian is in a state of Martlsh3p
;and therefore unable to hedge
himself about by such action as
|Hhe individual, who manages his
own affairs.
The Norris Adtiis the act of the
guardian the government, and
the guardian has the Responsible
lity 'of fulfilling the Gttties pre-
scriDed by the act, and TO zee
that it's rMovisions are faithfully,
honestly And conscienti,atsly car
ried out.
Whether there be any virtue in
the act, it is NOT now our intention
to discuss. The act isa law, and
as sach lAarA be accepted and t>ar-
ried out regardless of the consc=
quences to the Interests of the In
dians. But the Chippewas have
a right to expect that this law will
be faithfully and honestly carried
out, and that in the future it's
plain directions that competent
persons shall be appointed to aid
in carryingit out shall De observed:
A competent person should be
designated to superintend all local
operations. But competency and
honesty do not always go hand in
hand. They are not twins, and
more often stand at opposing ex-
tren,es, The superintendent Of
logging to be appointed under the
act should combine these two
qualities. He would see that the
expenses Of conducting the logging
operations be not augmented by
the appointment of too numerous
a retinue at the bchest Of politi-
clans thus seeking to reward poll
tical obligations, He Would stand
as the mighty man uf talof against
the hosts of pine thieves, With
whom Minnesota is so nomerously
POSSESSED.
In the light Of recent events
it seen,s proper to suggest that THE
popular sentiment of the Indians
interested would undoubtedly be
in favor of having Major Scott,
Indian agent at Leech Lake, en-
trusted with the duty of superin-
tending in general all that comes
within the scope of the Morris
Act.
Major Scott has, by his unself-
ishness and devotion to duty, his
stand in favor Of honesty and fair
dealing with the Indians under
his charge, earned their conf
dence and gratitude, and they feel
that inasmuch as as he has been
tested and not found wanting, that
their interests would be safe in
his hands, and that he would get
out of the Morris Act whatever
virtue there may be in it if there
be any.