The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-12-31
SIX NATIONS. "
COURTS DECISION
New York Indians Expect to
Receive Large Amount Of
Money.
rom the Pittsburg Dispatch:

from the P1ttsburg Dispatch:
The Six Nations. the big corporation
of Indians Of New York state. says
a Washington dispatch to the New
York Tribune, are anxiously awaiting
the decision of the court of claims in
regard to the distribution of the money
paid to them for lands taken by the
government and afterWard opened for
settlement. More than 100000 Is In
volved in the transaction. and the
money to pay them has been appro-
priated. The final settlement has been
held up. howver by the action Of
some of the tribes formerly associated
with the Six Nations In presenting
claims for share Of the money. The
case was argued before the court of
claims and It is expected that decis-
ion will be handed down soon-
The story Of the claim Of the Six
Nations is an interesting bit Of history
connected with the manner in which
the Indians have been dealt with by
the government The nations now in
Guided in the corporation are the
Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga,
Seneca and Tuscarora tribes. Up to
1913 only the first five tribes were in
cluded in the organization. which was
known as the Five Nations. The Tus-
caroras were hostile to the others, and
in numerous flights that occurred be-
fore the opening Of the eighteenth GEN.
fury they were so depleted in MUM
begs that their foes took pity on them
and magnanlmously admitted them to
full fellowship. That, at least, is one
side Of the story: These Indians all
had valuable land in New York state.
and, unlike many other tribes. were
industries, intelligent and thrifty.
The value Of their property increased
many times, and when the govern
ment desired to secure some of the
land for settlers hundreds of acres
were sold at high prices. With
the money thus obtained valuable
tract of timber land In Wisconsin was
purchased by the Six Nations.
It is understood that at first it was
the intention Of the Indians to remove
to their new land, but they had re-
tanned possession of q large tract in
New York and after the purchase Of
the Wisconsin land it was decided to
remain where they were. In time
the value of the timber land became
the Six Nations inducements to give
this up. They agreed to sell it and
take In exchange a tract Of over a
million and a half acres in Arkansas.
This land is not SO fertile as that
owned IN New York, and therefore the
thrifty red men determined to stay
where they were. 1t was not long.
through an error. threw the tract In
Arkansas open to settlers without say
ing anything to the Indian owners
about it. Settlers came in and made
the tract fertile farming country.
Then the members of the Six Ma
lions sat up and took notice, as it
were. Through Andrew John. an ex-
president Of the Seneca tribe, they
brought the case to the attention OF
congress. and asked for relief. Mr..
John went to Washington from New
York in 1880, and he has been there
ever since pressing a bill appropri-
ating the money to pay the Indians.
Before payment could be made. how
the tribes. who had been included in
the organization of the Six Nations at
the time the land in Wisconsin was
sold. They were taken before the
court of claims nd payment held up.