Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-12


guna refused To surrender the picture ana
the people declared they would defend IL
with their lives. So the struggle went on.
year after year. the people of Acoma de-
manding their picture at intervals and the
people of Laguna always refusing 10 give
II up.
After the annexation of New Mexico TO
the United States some one suggested that
the quarrel should lee submitted to the
courts, and the hea dsmen of Acoma filed an
application for mandamus. compelling the
people OF Laguna To surrender the picture.
Inc case was tried and much evidence was
submitted. The attorneys for Laguna made
the plea that the ancestors OF their clients
were members of the pueblo of Acoma when
the picture was presented by TIE king Of
Spain, and that they had an equal share In
Its ownership. but the court did not look at
1t in the same way Judge Kirby Benedict
decided that the people Of Acoma owned
the picture and instructed the United States
marshal TO go to Laguna and recover the
property for them.
The morning after the decision some sheep
herders discovered the picture leaning
against mesquite tree, half way along the
trail from Iaguna to AComa. and the pious
Indians still believe that II came that far
alone, being so anxious 10 get back TO its
old home.
Subject to Taxation.
In March. 1901, the supreme court of the
territory of New Mexico decided that the
Pueblo Indians are citizens of the United
States, and that their property is subject
to taxation. This decision created great
surprise and apprehension, While one
has ever denied that the Pueblos are citi-
zenS, few of them have ever attempted to
exercise the rights of citizenship. Some
times, when campaign has been close. tho
politicians have tried to persuade them to
vote. but ii was always difficult and usu-
ally impossible. They do not want to take
any part in politics. They mind their own
business, elect their own magistrates and
obey the laws. on the first of January II
Is their custom 10 choose governor and
war chief and n council. who serve for q
year, manage the affairs of the community.
try cases of misdemeanor and punish
crimes among themselves. according to
their ancient laws. They resent the inter-
ference of the officers of the federal or ter
ritoral government and require assist
ance or advice. They have asked nothing
but to be left alone SO that they can man
age their own affairs in their own way.
according to the customs of their anceS-
tors. But the white people have argued
that they should pay taxes upon their
lands, their stock and their crops and
suit was brought by the attorney general
of the territory TO have the court decide
whether they citizens and subject to
taxation or not. The Indians took little
interest in the litigation and made no fight
against ii, but when the decision of tho
court was made known to them the gov
ernors of several of the puebos went In a
body to Santa Fee and protested against hav-
ing citizenship forced upon them. Through
the Indian agent they made. Z, protrS, TO
the authorities at Washington. and | un-
derstand that, by the advice of the agent
they have employed a lawyer who will
carry the case to the Supreme Court of the
United States.
Plea of Agent Crandall
The agent, Mr.. CrandalI las made a very
earnest plea to the Secretary of the Interior
In their behalf. He says: He objects to
citizenship and those VINO have his inter-
ests at heart will do al they can to win
his fight for him. While a few OF these
Pueblo Indians are ready for citizenship,
and have indicated the same by their will
lngness and energy to accept services from
the railroad companies and elsewhere. and
by their accepting the benefits Of schools
and churches, a large percentage of them
are unable and not yet enough advanced
along the lines of civilization to take upon
themselves the burden OF citizenship. Il is
my opinion that in the event of taxation be-
ing imposed upon them il will be but a
short time before the masses OF the New
Mexico Pueblo Indians VIII become paupers,
their lands Will be sold for taxes, the whites
and MeXicans will have possession of their
ancient grants. and the government Will be
compelled to support them or witness their
extermina ton.
They Will not only be obliged to bear an
honest share of the taxes but in many cases
they will be taxed to excess. and a re-
suit their lands will be sold or taken from
them. The PuebloS have little money and
are in danger of suffering as few other In
dams have suffered The peaceful Indian,
the friend of the explorer and pioneer, the
Indian that alone between the two oceans
raised his own bread and mad a fixed home.
now is in danger of having that little home
taken away from him"
The Pueblos never attempted to exercise
the rights of citizenship under the Mexican
government, and We're from the very begin
ming of Spanish authority left to govern
themselves in their way There has
been very little change in their habits of
living since the time of their discovery.
Laws of the Pueblos.
The laws of the Pueblos are simple. but
they are complete and thoroughly in force.
Serious crime is unknown and minor Of
lenses are severely punished. The pa
triarchai influence is very strong. The pa
etrnal influence is stronger. and the re-
spect shown by the young for their parents
and elders Is an example for every evil
LIKED race. The children are never dis
obedient and are never spoiled parents
are never neglectful and never harsh. Con-
jugal fidelity is esteemed the highest
virtue and its violation is punishable by
death. The rights of women Clearly
defined. The tills the fields and they
belong to him. He owns the live stock and
the tools and everything that pertains to
outdoor life. For the same logical reason
the wife is the owner of the house and all
1t contains and has control of the children
until they have reached years of maturity.
No man can interfere with the internal at
fairs of a household. No woman die
tate what shall be done upon the farm.
If husband il-treats his wife chill
dren; if he neglects to support them prop
erly; If he is unfaithful in any way, or IL
he wastes his earning in dissipation or
speculation. he is evicted from his lone.
and if he does not reform after the adj
monition of his elders and the village coun-
Gil he will be evicted from the pueblo and
1. l.. IL
in neighboring village, but he will not
be received there: he may find employment
on the railroad in some town a.ong the
line, but the attachment of the Pueblo for
his home and his native village is in
tense that this self exile would be the
verest punishment that could be inflicted
upon him.