The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-05-25
SIOUX INDIANS ARE
TAXING ALL0TMENTS
They Drop Old Prejudices and
Ask for Best Land OBJ
tainable.
LAND OWNERS CAN VOTE
Indians Who Have Taken Their AIIot.
ments Have Full Citizenship Priv
ileees, Including the Buying
Of Liquor.

Deadwood, S. D.. May 22.-Major
Kelly. the Indian agent at Rosebud,
and Colonel John H. Brennan, agent
at Pine Ridge, have been in the city
attending United States court and give
some interesting facts regarding the
working of the allotment laws on their
reservations.
The Indians who offered the greatest
ing into line at last and taking their
own individual allotments. Over on
Rosebud, Old Grow Dog, one Of the
best known Indians in the west whose
famous trial for the murder Of Spotted
Tail has not been forgotten, has at
last announced his intention of taking
his allotment. For years he has fought
this movement. He thought that allot-
ting lands to the individual Indians
saNored too much of the habits and GUS
toms of the white man, and he an
nounced boldly that he would kill any
Indian who Nentured to take advan-
tage Of the allotment law.
All the Indians on the Rosebud with
the exception Of about ninety have
taken their allotments, and number
Of those who were half-hearted at first
are now requesting to have their allot-
ments changed so that they may have
better land. One feature that is es-
that when man takes his allotment
the government gives him a team, a
wagon, two cows, a plow, a harrow,
hoops and a cover for the wagon and
$50 cash. This accumulation of small
valuables looms up very large in the
Indians eye.
One interesting thing in connection
with this which is not realized by most
people is that when the Indian has once
taken his allotment he becomes citi-
zen of the United States with the right
to vote. Many Indians have been vot-
Ing in Gregory and Charles Mix coun-
ties for some time, and it has not been
an unusual sight to see Indian dele
gates at the state conventions.
One accomplishment of this law thas
is most undesirable is the fact that
when the Indian becomes a citizen of
the United States he has a right to
purchase liquor. AS the Indian seems
whisky than are most white men this
provision is much to be regretted The
one circumstance that has so far pre-
vented this from becoming a menace is
the fact that the liquor dealer Is often
unable to tell whether the Indian has
Is afraid to sell to him, for if by chance
he should happen to sell to a red man
Who has not yet taken his allotment
the dealer would of course become
liable. With the land allotment pro-
visions the wealth Of the individual IN
dians is increasing. Although citizens
Of the United States they are yet wards
OF the government, which looks after
their money interests with a keen eve.
They are not permitted to sell their
land for twenty-five years. and when
an Indian dies the estate which he
leaves is administered by the governs
ment. The heirs OF his estate are all
lowed to draw each $40 month from
their legacy and IL they desire to make
purchases OF land or cattle the agents
may approve their checks for the re-
qutred sums. Individual Indians have
given their checks for as high as 81 600
and have had them honored.
The first Of June 5000 cattle will be
distributed among the Indians on the
Rosebud in accordance with the Greg.
Dry county treaty Of 1901.