The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-16
TRICKSTERS UNLOAD
INDIAN MORTGAGES
White Earth Land rabbers Are
Frightened, Declares Com
missioner Leupp.
Finds Charges of The Journal
True-Pledges Effort to
Punish Leeches. s..
BY n. c. Stevens.

Washington, Aug. 15.-"The inter
ests of the Indians will be cared for to
the full extent of the government 8 re-
sources and facilities.
This was the announcement made by
Commissioner Leupp of the Indian bu-
dians.. upon his return to Washington
!ast night. He spent day of personal
investigation at the agency and another
day with Agent Michelet in Mime
apolis. "'
"The records of every one Of the
mortgages recently executed by mem.
bers of the tribe are being examined
gathered," continued Mr.. Leupp.
"The result of this activity on our
part is already apparent. One or two
Of the men who loaned money to In
dams have thrown up their hands and
returned the deeds to the Indians with
whom they dealt In other cases the
papers have been turned over to the
United States district attorney with
instructions to make an examination
to see if prosecution will not lie against
the persons who procured execution of
the mortgages. Other cases are to be
placed before that official as fast as
they are investigated. - $50 .: g.
Money Spent, Sober Now;
Mr.. Leupp's investigation, altho a
short one as to time, led him to indorse
Agent Michelet s report that drunken
ness and squandering their money was
confined to a comparatively small per-
centage Of mixed bloods-those who
would have done the same thing under
any circumstances which gave them
control of money in any considerable
amount.
"Those Indians are natural spend
thrifts and would have spent their
money on drink and other follies had
they obtained it thru big interest pay
ments, or from the sale of an inherited
tract, or in any other way,' he said.
~ know some Of them personally and
am thoroly convinced Of the truth of my
statement. They have now squandered
their money and in consequence there is
not so much excitement in the vicinity
of the reservation as there was few
weeks ago. ...:
"Were any one of the better.behaved
and more provident Indians included in
the number who mortgaged their hold
ings9" MI. Leupp was asked.
Good Indians Bilked.
Unfortunately, yes,' was the re-
ply. II was told that some of the
better class of Indians were induced
to mortgage their holdings thru state
ments that bordered peri1ously close to
violations Of the law. Representations
were made to them that the making Of
tho loan and the signing of the mort
gage note did not bind them to any.
thing-that the transaction was merely
friendly, with other statements along
the same lines. There are cases in
which the government will get after
the landgrabbers and seek the annul-
ment Of the mortgages. It was In,
some such cases as these that the hold
and got out from under"
Commissioner Leupp Is looking for
ward to more or less trouble regard
ing the determination of whether or
full bloods. He said that some Of the
Indians who were protesting last year
against allotments of timber land to
mixed bloods, claiming that they, as
full bloods, were being cheated out Of
valuable lands, are now claiming to be
mixed bloods, and therefore entitled to
the benefit Of the new law. -.
Landgrabbers Deceived7
He also admits the probability that
some Of the white landgrabbers have
been victimized Into loaning money to
the full bloods who claimed to be mixed
secure some sort Of proof that some
one Of their female ancestors married
q white trapper or trapper trader sew
s ssS msH not sa9 Te spon sy Ehi
but which would have to be refuted.
But Indians in this class, and in fact
all Indians claiming to be mixed bloods,
about whom there is shadow Of doubt,
will be required to furnish proof of
the presence Of white blood in their
veins before the Indian bureau will
will It that they are entitled to the
benefits Of the act
Mr.. Leupp foresaw this latter diff