Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-30

very probable that there are others
that have been forgotten years ago.
The Indians have system Of gov
ernment on the reservation fashioned
on democratic principles. There Is
head chief, a second chief, and two
other members Of the council. These
are elected at stated intervals by the
Indians. The duties Of these local Of
ficers are merely theoretical, and hence
the honor is almost an empty one. The
real head man Of the Indians Is the
commissioner appointed by the COVER
nor. He handles the money that is ap-
propriated each year by the legislature
for the support Of the Indians and d.
vides 1t among them. The present
commissioner is Mr.. J. Dixon LESLIE,
leading young man Of LESLIE, s. c.,
and now postmaster Of that place. He
was first appointed by Governor Hey
ward, and he administered the affairs
of the office so satisfactorily to all con-
cerned that he was reappointed by
Governor Ansel. He is very popular
amongst the Indians, and they were
very much elated when Governor An
sci again placed their affairs In his
hands.
The Indians are given an annual ap-
preparation by the state, this money
being In the hands Of a commissioner
appointed by the governor. The mon
ey is divided by giving each one the
same amount This makes a larger
family get more than smaller one
and so the father of larger family Is
richer than one of the smaller family.
The state is bound to support the IN
dians according to a treaty made be-
tween them and the officials Of the state
about the year 1910. At that time the
Indian reservation contained forty-five
square miles, and they are now pressing
the state for final settlement. That Is,
they want the state to pay them so
much and then no more appropriation
would have to be made.
Under the system at present the In
dians are relieved from taxation and
are therefore not citizens Of the state.
The leaders all say that they think
that the way to do would be to give
each Indian his part, turn him adrift,
subject him to taxation and give him
the right of citizenship. The idea OF
having them all cooped up on one old
hill Is antiquated and not in accord
ance with ideas Of modern civilization.
Under this community idea the Indian
knows that he never can have much,
that his living Is due him and there
fore there Is a tendency to shiftless-
ness that Is very marked. IAN idle
brain Is the DEVILS workshop" and is
we'll illustrated in their case. With
nothing to do they drift into bad hab-
its and have degenerated into shift
less class Such Is the condition at
present.
The state of South Carolina owes a
debt of gratitude to the Catawba In
dians. From the first time that the
white man came into this country they
have been his stanch allies, fighting
against their own people in his behalf
and helping him in all his wars. There
were several from this tribe in the
Confederate army and they made
splendid soldiers. The state took the
best Of their land. leaving them only
625 acres of the poorest land In the
state, and making them yearly appro-
priation that is totally inadequate for
their support The final settlement
that is now being asked for by the In
dams is a matter Of much interest and
speculation on the part OF all South
Carolinians that know anything about
the Catawba tribe Of Indians.-Ander-
son Daily Mail.