The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-02-13

corporations who are trying to take
away from various Indian tribes
their lands and their rights, or
course, in some cases the Indians
themselves arc party to this prac-
ticc. Few people know how rich
some cf these tribes, such, for OK
ample es the Cherokee nation, are.
Shrcwd promoters OF corporations
get hold of the chiefs, secure leases,
and pay the chiefs themselves "
the man seeking the franchise in an |
American city pays the y Doodle al
derman. The chiefs must get the
consent of all the members of the
tribe to ratify the lease. Then be-
gins the trouble. The big men who
handle the money for the tribe do |
all they can TO cut the number, of
those who shall share it. In most
cases these men are half breeds, and
sometimes even more nearly white
than that. The Cherokee nation is
said to be one of the closest busi-
ness corporations in the United
States, and the story. Of the exploit
alton of its people, and ,he profit
made by shrcwdN investors in its
rights would fill book not anews-
paper column.
lTHB SECRETARY AND THE
J. INDIANS.
| Curiously enough the retiring
Secretary Of the Interior has been
cceedMgly careful if the interests of
the Cheroliees in the far West. And
eyet there is little band Of them
left in North Carolina owning q
patch of timber land. the timber
being blnek walnut, which is grow
ing annually in value, who have
been exploited in way almost be-
yond belief. 1t is supposed 10 be
the business cr the Interior Depart
mcnt to guard the interests of the
Indians. Yet the. Chorokees in
North Carolina have ,been allowed
TO lease these timber lands on
such ts1ms t,Gt one years cut Of
the timber would pay for the en-
tire period of the lease. That a
! man closely connected by marriage
with the Secretary of the Inter-
ior should haT,en to be the at
tcaney for the people, who leased
these timber rights, may not be
important, but at least, it is true
and suggestive.
BROWNSVILLE AGAIN
i Tie testimony before the Mill.
tary Affairs Committee about the
Brownsville affray has thus 1aa
strengthened the position Of Sena-
a ton Foraker in way that had
n not beer anticipated and that has
really astonished even the men
about the Capitol who had stood
N with Foraker, True, in a certain
sense. it rs ex-pati'i testimony
That is to say It has beef rendered
\ by members OF the dismissed bat
talon. Yet, after brief visit to
n The committee room, can say for
'l.uyself that at least one of these
witnesses bore himself in a way
that indicated sincerity and truth.
When the sergeant, one Harris, of
Company d, testified as to the con-
dition Of the rifles belonging to
his men, and was able TO show thai
} when examined they we're clean, and
| that they could not have been clean.
ed at any time prior to the ex-
animation, he made n strong cnsc
in their favor.
| AS q matter Of politics the
Brownsville case has ceased to
liavo much importance. Senator
Foraker is pressing it earnestly
attending every meeting Of the
committee. SO, too, is Senator
Warner, cf Missouri, former com
nlander-in-chief OF the Grand Army
OF the Republic. 1t seems to be the
purpose OF the committee to in
vestigate not the President IS mo-
tives, but his me ihods. Not to
question his purpose, but to dis
cover whether, in characteristic
Of impetnousness, be did not lo
| SiR'V iiJtbotiCS W ~ DOuN III IHcii
Who in their time, have done good
, l-dyle to the 'nation. <
The details Of the committee
hearing, will no doubt be carried by
the press association. But it may
be interesting TO add to the mere
lly routine story, that the corridors
about the ctaninNtec aoom were
crowded with men, among whom
, were many white veterans, non
commissioned officers, now in the
army, who seemed to feel that an
|, attack on the colorcd troops wa-
on attack upon all troops.
j saw, myself, three or four such
wearing the cheyrons that indicat.
cd long years of service and hon
, orable rank. spoke to one. he
, lsaid, ~ don't know any of these
j fellows. i was not at Brownsville
III suppose, all they are going to ask
, me about, Is nv knowledge Of the