The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-06
CHARGES MICHFLFT
WITH GROSS NEGLECT
White Earth Resident Says
Agent Permits Bad State of
Affairs on Reservation.

P. H. Connors. of White Earth APP
peared before United States Marshal
Grimshaw yesterday afternoon and fl
ed complaint against Simon Michelet,
Indian agent on the White Earth res
ervation.
Mr.. Connors alleges that the Indians
on the reservation get full of alcohol
and parade around while Michelet
gazes at the stars; that his contem-
plation of the beauties of the celestial
world has taken up so much of his
time of late that he has none to spare
to prosecute the dealers who sell the
Indians intoxicating liquor. A number
of the law abiding residents of the
reservation became so alarmed over
the condition Of affairs that they re-
quested Mr.. Connors to call on the
federal authorities here and ask for
an investigation.
There is not saloon in any of the
towns surrounding the reservation
White Earth, Detroit, Fertile, McIn-
tosh, F'osston, Copper Hill, Buffalo
River and Poplar Crove-where the
Indians cannot secure alcohol" said
Mr.. Connors to L he G l o b e yester-
day: -~
Young Braves Have Protracted DRINKS
1.-THE young braves on the reserva-
ton go on DRINKS, and during that
time abuse their parents in a shameful
manner. They do no work while in an
intoxicated condition, and as it gen
orally takes several days to recover,
during which time they feel indispos-
ed, they refuse work in that time.
1T would take a four horse team to
remove the alcohol jugs lying around
on the reservation. Alcohol seems to
be the favorite intoxicant of the In
dians, and but very little whisky is
used. AT the dances in the towns
around the reservation it is not I'M
usual to find half the Indians-half
breeds, quarter breeds and -bloods
in an intoxicated condition, while
nearly every one carries a flask of al
cohol with him.
agent Michelet cannot be ignorant
of the condition of affairs, yet he has
done nothing to stop the sale of liquor
to the Indians. Many people with
whom l am personally acquainted have
told me that they have complained to
Mlchelet and requested that something
be done to stop the sale of liquor to
the Indians. but he remains idle.
Agent Sheehan Enforced the Law.
while Maj Sheehan was agent on
the reservation nothing Of the kind
was allowed. He saw to it that the men
who sold liquor to the Indians were
arrested and prosecuted. But then he
was not busy man, while Mr. Mich
elet has his hands full attending to
other matters.
Friends Of mine, who are In a DO
sition to know, have told me that
Agent Michetets captain of Indian po-
lice in nYtroT101xy 11fn
Gated condition during the holidays,
and had been seen carouSing with
number Of Indians of mixed blood
That there is a blind pig in operation
on the reservation is generally known
but nothing has been done to stop it's
traffic.
Many of the Indian girls of eighteen
and nineteen years of age, and even
younger, have been misIed by the mix
ed-blood braves. Parents of the girls
have complained to MicheIet of the
practice and have asked him TO put a
stop to it. The agent is empowered to
act in such cases, but so. far he has
not lifted even a finger to put a stop
to It,
Il think that it is high time that an
nVeStlga ton be made, and if it is
found that my charges are true. to re-
place M1chelet by one who will not
stand idly by while the law is being
violated"
Marshal Grimshaw said that he had
heard nothing of the wholesale viola
ton of the law on the White Earth
reservation.
i depend entirely on Agent Michelet
for information regarding the violation
of the Indian liquor law. He has not
reported any cases to me for some
time, and until Mr.. Connors came to
me this afternoon l had no knowledge
of the condition of affairs.
Il shall send a deputy to the res
ervation to investigate Mr.. Connor's
charges, and if I find that they are
substantiated, the matter will be at
tended TO-"