The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-09
THE SACS AND FOXES
REMNANT OF THE OLD INDIAN
 TRIBE IN IOWA.
With 40o Left, Approachins Exhnc- ffon--Ask Governor to TICK
 Chief--wont Work and
 Hate the White Men.

Chicago Chronicle.
 Fighting among themselves over the chieftainship of an almost ex- tinct tribe, the once powerful sacs and Foxes have appealed to Governor A. B. Cummins, of Iowa, to pick their chief. They have been making week. ly visits to the State house in Des Moines. appealing to the governor to decide what they claim the tradition and laws of their race should be al- lowed to decide for them. The pres ent Chief of the Sacs and Foxes, the tribal members claim, is not their own chieftain, but a Winneoago. one of their ancient foes
 The Winnebagoes are in the same reservation at Tama, but the 400 1n- dians, the remnant of a dying race, object to the presence of their former foes. The Sacs and Foxes have abso- luteiy no regard for the confines of civilization. True, they observe the laws of the land because the stern hand of Uncle Sam Is there to force them to 1t, but they will have none of his schools. his farms-only his annuities do they wish.
 And 1t is this that has started the fight for chieftainchip. Governor Cummins believes the Indians are in = IS first examining the record. for strong proof must be presented be- fore these relics of bygone age will tamely submit to what they call the indignity of the white man-the lead ership of an inferior race.
 Numerous Sac and Fox delegations claim to own the Tama Indian reser- vation in fee simple. They say that live of their original settlers on the reservation bought the farm for I,0o0. Each of the tribesmen contri buted to the purchase of the land. and therefore they claim that the upon the land or till the soil
 The Winnebagoes claim that the present chief is direct descendant or Poweshiek, and. therefore, is not a Winnebago. But the Sac and Foxes declare that he is not legally chief becuse he was elected, while the her edftary contestant for the chieftain- ship is still living But Goyernor Cummins can do but little An act of Congress has placed the winnebago in charge as chief and he is getting $500 year as such.
 Herein lies the reason for the pres ent dispute as to the leadership of the tribe. For thirty years the annuity has tOt DSth di dWII ITOIIl the GONtTHTuent by the chief. who gets the money as Indian agent, and the accumulated S15.- 600 Is sufficient to start the strife that Governor Cummins has been unable to settle. The Sac and Fox records are now being given a thorough examina- ton. with the hope of proving to the rebellious tribesmens that they have nothing to worry them. and that they should be at home smoking the pipe oi peace instead of bothering State off cials. who are always overworked. Il is more than probable that the title t.f chieftainship will be finally passed upon by the United States Court of Claims for whatever Governor Cummins's de. cision Is. the defeated faction will not abide by it, and the claim for the money has already been referred to Washing. ton for settlement
 The title to the land is not so import. ant as is the ownership of the SIS, 900, foJ the courts in Tama County have made over the title to the tribe as whole instead of to the descendants of the five dead chiefs.
 The Sacs and Foxes. or rather the Tama Indians. by which name they are better known, are not long for this world. Already has their number dwin- dled down to less than 40e, and the pres ent appeal to Governor Cummins has only accentuated their weaknesses.
 The Winnebagoes are progressive The Sacs and Foxes are retrogressive The former are attending the Govern nent schools-the Sacs and Foxes think 1t Is a waste of time and energy to lis ten to the foolish talk of the pale face teachers. The winnebagoes are tillinE the disputed land, and have fine farms, which the Sacs look upon with covetous eyes. Not that they might own them, though. and prosper from their produce. but rather that they might own and sell them to the white man and live a. long as they may upon the fruits of the sale .r..
 The Sacs and Foxes make their home in the beautiful valley of the Iowa River, three miles from Tama. seventy miles from Des Moines. The Indians have been compelled to move many times. but the present generation will live and die in the confines of the Iowa valley The river valley is two miles wide. walled on the north by perpendic- ular bluffs widening out into beautiful meadows, comprising the hundreds of acres of the Indian reservation. On either side is the white man. To him