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

/
Detroit, Mimi, July 16.-With the
minds Of the White Earth Indians
by liquor and their, eyes
dazzled by money, of which they know
little, the White Earth mixed bloods
are in q fair way to lose all the gov
eminent allotments recently given to
them. The land Is fast passing into
The hands Of scheming land grabbers,
sharks IS maintained, the White Earth
reservation will soon be4a thing Of the
past.
The Indians now made citizens and
land owners, can obtain whisky as
easily as they can obtain water, and
once filled with liquor they become the
easy victims Of specializing schemers
who get the land for song. -,
Detroit, in Becker county, and
Mahnomen, in Norman county, are the.
bitter competitive war to get every
inch Of Indian land possible is being
waged in the face Of any public sem
timent that might be aroused.
Skin the Indian is the slogan at
these points and the red man, knowing
he can no longer live the wild life, is
seeking civilization thru the medium Of
large quantities Of fire water and
quantities Of pretty but worthless
things. 5.-E. Ell
A serious problem for both Norman
and Becker counties and the govern
ment is fast developing, and in the
end can only be solved by large ex-
penditure Of money.
Bars Down on June 81.
On June 81 the law making the
mixed Indians citizens and allowing
them to sell their allotments Of land
went into effect. For the first time in
their lives they could do exactly as
they chose. The land spectators knew
that they were not dealing with the
government, and were on the ground
ready to open the campaign. No one
apparently wanted to buy Indian lands,
but. everyone was willing to loan a
interest. The Indians took the bait as
expected. They had been advised not
to sell their holdings, but mortgage
that was different.
The mortgage is the thing that is
proving the downfall Of the newly
made citizens. It best suits the In.
dians in their own minds for they think
they can keep on owning the land and
owing the money indefinitely. OF
suited to the land grabbers, for should
public indignation be aroused they
would have the defense that they had
given the mortgages chance to re-
deem their lands and that there had
been no actual swindle.
On the day the law went into effect
the mortgages began to show up. The
Indians wanted the money quickly and
they found no trouble in getting it
ness men because they were no longer
under the eye of guardian, they will
ingly listened to friendly offers Of
money. The land spectators were wise
enough to allow the Indians to visi,
| the saloons first and talk business
Allotment Indians are citizens and al
such LIQUOR is sold to them freely. Il
/ the Indians had no ready money he
could obtain the liquor just the same
halfbreed was hard to find. In tn,
meantime the business was progressing
rapidly. Mortgages galore were flee
with Register of Deeds Converse a
1 Detroit,
From June q to the present time al
average Of eleven mortgages have beer
/ fled daily with the register Of deed!
and undoubtedly many others hav,
been signed which are in the hands o.
j money. Approximately $50 farms hav,
i been encumbered by the Indians in thi
way.
Little Chance for Redemption.
i Most Of the mortgages are for shor
4 time and every farm will ultimately q,
into the hands of the mortgages 70
i the Indians know little or nothing O
B farming, the land, is vet uncultivate
4 and yields nothing. Fertile as it is, i
1rcannot possibly yield enough under tn
Icrude aboriginal methods, to pay off tn
loans before the mortgages are fore
4 closed.
This number applies to Becker count