The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-17

alone, and Register of Deeds Converse
says that twice that number of allot-
ments have been mortgagod in Norman
county, where two-thirds of the White
Earth reservation is situated. At Nah
nolnen, the contest is more open, for the
against the schemes. fhe town is On
the west side Of the reservation, snd is
more easily reached by the Indians. AS )
soon as they have disposed of their
holdings, however, the red men come to
are more and bigger stores and more
places to get rid Of the money.
Where the Money Goes.
No sooner have the spectators given
the Indians a few hundred dollars on
their holdings than men in other lines
OF business start out to get every cent
the money burns in Indians pocket.
and everyone has something to offer
him at two or three prices.
Horse dealers sell old broken down
teams for the price Of thorobreds and
an old dilapidated carriage viii sell for
| more than it cost when new. This
state Of affairs has created small
boom at Detroit and the merchants and
others whose tills are easily filed are
not active in starting movement to
| save the lands and to keep the Indians
from eventually becoming paupers and
| county charges.
Every man in Detroit knows exactly
what is going on for the conditions do
their own advertising. yet they wink
| the other eye, and what promises to be
| one Of the easiest land grabs on record
Is not even talked about at the hotels,
| in the stores or on the street. AS mat.
ter of fact the subject is avoided.
| The visitor to the town, however,
can seee at glance the results of the
with drunken halfbreeds day and
night, and only rainy day prevents
a free-for-an spree in the little park
owned by the Northern Pacific railroad.
On pleasant days it is usually the scene
of, disgraceful, drunken orgies by
mixed-blood Chippewas.
hin walking down the main street
one will always meet dozen or more
drunken Indians staggering along and
gazing into the store windows at the
trinkets that have been placed there to
catch their eyes and money. They
4 gather in little groups on the corners
watching the better dressed pedestri-
ans and try their best to emulate them
in manners. The things that appeal
to them most are the ways the white
man, has Of spending money and enjoy
ing life. They think that money Is all
that is required.
/ About the first expenditure the In
dian makes is for rig in which he
may speed recklessly up and down the
streets. Some of them have good
ponies and comfortable carriages, but
the majority have been inveigled into
buying broken-down skates from
interruptions horse dealers and they
make sorry showing.
Booze Camps Near Town.
/ Just north of the town many In
dian families have taken up their
abode for the summer. Their tepees
and tents are pitched on the hillsides,
where they may live after the manner
Of their ancestors and yet near the ex-
citement and the saloons. They make
a dozen trips to the town in day,
driving their teams and usually bring
Many Of the town Indians have dis
posed of their allotments and are liv-
ing in what they deem splendor. Liquor
is consumed by the squaws and chill
dren, as well as the men, and 1t is no
uncommon sight to see the entire fam
lily seated about small campfire, their
minds so muddled that they care for
nothing but rest and the smoke pour
ing into their faces.
At night and the little main street
is an Indian Broadway. Squaws come
into the town with the men and boys
], and gather In the little park, where
: they drink quietly but steadily. Some
Of them will be stretched senseless on
| the grass while the others, between
t drinks, win stroll along the street
, searching for some new sight.
Where all the liquor comes from is
somewhat Of mystery. All Of 1t is
not purchased over the bar in the sa-
= looms, even tho the Indians are admit