Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-13
CLEAR, CRISP AND CLEAN
A SHAMEFUL STORY

'HHE annual report of the Indian
Rights association shows that the
Il Republican government has be-
haved in tyrannical and not in pa
triotic and American manner to the
original Americans who are now the
wards of us, the usurpers and enjoyers
of their great country By the terms
of the act of March 8, 1905, the Sho-
shone Indians of the Wind river reser-
walton, wyoming, ceded to the United
States all that portion of their reser-
walton north of Big Wind river. The
tribe was to be compensated for the
lands disposed of through homestead
entry, the highest price being one dol
lar and fifty cents per acre until the
expiration of eight years, after which
all the remaining lands were to be
sold to the highest bidder in cash for
each, the United States acting as trus-
tee only, not being bound to purchase
any portion of the lands ceded 1t Is
provided IN the act that members OF
the tribe who had been living on the
ceded lands should be permitted to re-
tain their homes by allotment if they
so desired. The Indian department
proceeded to alot to the Indians land
on the ceded portion and made report
of its work, after which the land de-
partment offered the remaining lands
for sale. 1t appears that there were
about one hundred and eighty MEM
bers of the ShoshOne tribe who cesired
to retain their homes on this ceded
tract who failed to secure an allot-
ment of the same, and thus they have
been forced to return to he dimin-
ished reservation, where they will be
compelled to accept inferior allotmcnts
by reason Of the fact that other MEM
bers of the tribe had previously select
ed the choicest of the available lands.
6 Some of these cases seem pitiable.
Broken Horn had lived on his farm,
it is stated, over twenty years; 1T is
good bottom land. Sleeping Bear had
used his land for twenty-four years
and would not leave until driven away
by the appearance of the homesteader
with his gum who had been success
full in securing the filing for this par
'ticular tract under the law There
should have been great care and pa
thence exercised in the matter of select
Ing these allotments, to the end that
every one of the Shoshone tribe desir-
ing to retain his home on the ceded
portion should have the opportunity to
do so. That such necessary care was
not exercised seems to be indicated by
the results, and the statements of many
of the Indians, who are apparently
heart broken at being forced to give
up their homes. The successful iler on
Broken Horns lands relinquished his
rights for fourteen hundred dollars,
which shows that the land taken from
Broken Horn is valuable.
The Indians in their distress ap-
pealed to their friends for aid. The
lands occupied by them were opened
by proclamation for settlement under
the law, and there appeared no way of
relief save that of instituting cause
in the United States court claiming the
lands for allotments. In such a pro-
ceeding the Indians would be obliged
to present proof that they had done
that which was necessary to secure the
allotments and not slept on their
rights when the allotting agent was in
their vicinity making selections of 9TH
er tracts. At best the litigation would
be expensive, with no certainty that
a successful issue would result, so that
but little or no encouragement could
be given them.
Stories like this are disgraceful to
the United States. They knock the
ground from under our feet and sub
iect us to as many more derogatory
metaphors as may be suggested, when
we would fain pose as champions Of
the distressed protectors of the poor
and the gracious officers of refuge for
the oppressed of all nations.