The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-08-09

wars with the Sioux and Chevennes.
For years they were the most power
full tribes, with the exception of the
Sioux, in the west, and they absorbed
more civilization than any of the
other tribes.
But along with the good of civili-
cation the Winnebagos and Omahas
also acquired a taste for whisky, I'M
til any member of the tribe would sell
his very soul for bottle of forty
rod" the meaner the whisky the bet
ter the Indian liked it. And this state
mas descended, with increased
strength, to the present day Indian.
For years the reservation of these
two tribes has been surrounded by
saloons and 'bootlegging'' has been
carried on by numerous parties. The
United States court at Omaha has
been burdened for years by number
less cases for selling liquor to the In
dams, and the penitentiaries are
crowded with it's convicts.
Years ago, before the love of whis-
ky became a tribal vice with the In
dams, the Winnebagos and Omahas
were the most progressive tribes in
the west. When their lands were d.
vided into farms and allotted to them,
each man received a deed to mis- prop
erty. These tribes Cor rather tribe,
for the Winnebagos and Omahas early
consolidated into one tribe), were we'll
to do, and were pointed to by the In
dian Rights association as an example
of what could be done with the red
man by kind treatment.
But wnen the Indians began to re-
ceive money for their farm products,
the "bootleggers" recognized that
their harvest was ripening, and small
saloons sprang up all around the re-
serve. It was unlawful to sell an In
dian whisky, but the profits were large
and the temptation great. The In
dams got the whisky and the ''boot-
leggers' became wealthy.
Soon the profits of the whisky were
not enough for the "bootlegger" and
different schemes were resorted to in
order to increase the profits. Indians
were piled with whisky and while I'M
der the influence, gotten to sign Or
ders on the Indian agent for cash due
them; they were induced to sign
deeds to their lands; immense bills of
machinery, groceries, dry goods, ETC.,
at fabulous prices, were sold the in
toxicated savtge, until the tribe was
almost destitute.
And as the taste for whisky in
creased the moral nature of the red
man degenerated.
Altogether the Winnebagos and
Omahas had reached a stage of degra-
dation rarely found in any people. And
then came the order of the United
States supreme court that any Indian
who had received his allotment of
land can purchase all the whisky he
wants, of he can pay for it. Practical
students of the Indian agree with Su-
perintendent Wilson, when he says:
1T means the utter annihilation of
the tribe
The Sisseton band of the Sioux is
another tribe of Indians fast ap-
preaching poverty and determination
from the same cause.
Ten years ago the Sissetons had
nearly 100000 on deposit with the
government, in addition to their farms,
cattle, stock, implements, etc. Every
Indian, buck, squaw and pappoose
had about $1,000 in cash, beside land
and other property. Today this tribe
is sunk in the mire. The men arc
drunkards and gamblers, worthless
and lazy; the women are no better.
Their money is almost gone, and from
a thrifty, energetic people they have
drifted back to responsibility and al
most savagery.