The Tomahawk., 1903-05-07
try US.

In an interview with the Mime
apolis Evening Journal, which will be
found in another column. agent Niche
let advocates a policy towards the
Indians which meets with the popular
sentiment OF this reservation; is in
line with the recommendations OF
President Roosevelt in his first message
to congress, and, we are informed, has
been favored by the commissioner OF
Indian affairs.
While we doubt the wisdom OF CIV
ing, indiscreminately, to all the In
dians the right to dispose of their al
lotments by sale, we believe it would
be unquestionably to their best in
terests to set aside every restrictive
rule which applies to the leasing OF
these allotments, and give them the
right to use their own judgements in
this respect. If the Indians on this
reservation were permitted to do this
there would not be such a large area
of wild and unused land here, and
they would soon learn to do busi-
ness and protect their interests, be-
come more self reliant than they now
are, and, consequently, more prosper
GUS.
Under existing laws an Indian can
not lease his allotment without the
sanction Of the interior department.,
which requires the fultillment of rules
that prohibit poor man from secur-
ing a lease on any Indian land.
Year after year the government has
advanced theories regarding the set
tlement of Indian questions, but it's
policy towards them remains practlc-
ally the same as it was prior to the
passage of the general allotment act
of 1887. If an Indian attempts to as
sert his rights he is compelled to ap-
peal to the courts, and the necessary
expenses of law suit frequently pre-
vent him from taking any steps to-
wards securing what the laws provide
for him.
If the present administration of the
government wishes to solve the Indian
question so far as this reservation is
concerned, it should recommend to
Congress the passage of law which
will give to all the Indians, upon sat
Eisfactory proof to the secretary OF the
interior that they are capable OF pro-
tectlng their interests and conducting
their personal business affairs, full
and complete control of their allot-
ments with the right to ALLEVIATE the
same if they SO desire, and to also give
them their proportionate share of the
tribal funds of their bands, and thus
place them in a position Independent
of the government, and compel them
thereafter to Shift for themselves.
The full blood Indians are inevit-
ably doomed to extinction by mixing
up with the whites. This has been
pretty well demonstrated on this re-
servation during the past twenty hive
Years. In 1875 the membership OF this
reservation in proportion to It's num-
bers consisted of twO-thirds full-bloOds
and one-third mixed-bloods but the
conditions have been reversed so that
now the mixed bloods outnumber the
full-bloods three to one. 1t is there
fore not too soon to permit the
white settlers to come here and ac-
uuire lands by purchasing the allot-
ments of those who, on account OF
their professions or otherwise, are EN-
ployed outside of the reservation, and
cannot without financial loss to them
selves come back here and cultivate
their lands.
These settlers, besides cultivating
the lands that are now idle, would
have very decided hnd beneficial ef.
feet on the Indians who would find
employment with the former on their
farms. and by constant contact with
farmers become practical farmers
themselves.
OF course it would be expecting toe
much from the Indians to have them
all become farmers, for this would be
as impossible as it would be to make
farmers out of all the whites, therefore
those who might be competent to ad'
minister their personal affairs should
have their allotments secured to them
with the right of alienation If they SC
wished, and those who might be found
incompetent to look after their In
terests should have every restriction
removed so far as the leasing of theil
allotments are concerned.
We say, experiment on us by adopt
ing Agent Michelet's propositions
and we will take chances on the re-
suits.
nTho Tnm2haWk y