The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-10-21
ROCKY BOYS ARE
IN GREATEST WOE
Beveridge'S Pet Indian Tribe
Appeals to Nation
For Food.
BILL DUE TO REAPPEAR
WASHINGTON CLAN Is NOW URG-
ING THE INDIANA STATESMAN
TO GO WEST AND ASSIST HIS
RED CHARGES.

Washington. D. c.. Oct. 21.-News
of the starvation plight of Rocky
Boys band of Chippewa Indians was
received here and reminded the gov
eminent officials that the time was al
most at hand for the appearance of
Senator Bsveridges annual attempt to
obtain legislation for the relief of this
tribe. AS soon as congress convenes
it is expected that the senator will in
troduce his perennial bill providing
for the restoration Of lands to Rocky
Boy and his followers.
The dispatch was received from the
government agent at Glasgow, Mont,
and stated that the Rocky Boy band
was suffering from hunger and might
be impelled to commit depredations
to obtain food. The war department
Immediately ordered the commanding
officer at Fort Harrison, Mont, to
send plenty of supplies to Rocky Boy
post haste.
eeveridge Long a Defender.
Years ago when Albert J. Beverage
was new to the senate his attention
was attracted to a bill on the calendar
which provided for the relief of
Rocky Boys band of native-born.
wandering American Indians" The
suggestion of romance in the title of
the bill caused the young Indiana
statesman to institute an investiga-
ton. He found that Rocky Boy and
his hundred or more adherents were
in the habit of leaving the reservation
on long hunts and that when an allot-
ment Of the Chippewa lands was
made, Rocky Boy and his braves were
not present to substantiate their claim
to share in the division. So the land
which the Rocky Boys might have
possessed was handed over to their
fellow tribesmen.
When Rocky Boy got back to the
reservation and found out what had
happened he and his followers indulg-
ed in several appropriate dances and
then took counsel, which resulted in
the Introduction Of a bill to restore
their property rights to them. Who
ever introduced the bill in congress
must have forgotten about it. At any
rate, it was in way of dying a natur
al death when Beverage discovered
it's existence. He urged it's passage,
but was unsuccessful.
Introduces Bill After Bill.
After that he became the sponsor
braves, and at the beginning Of each
congress reintroduced the bill for their
relief. 1t was the regular thing on
the calendar days in the senate for
the senior senator from Indiana to
rise and request that justice be done
to the Rocky boys.
Senator Beveridges humanitarian
efforts attracted attention in Washing
ton. AS an outcome of this attention
Mr.. Beveridge gave a dinner in honor
of his sympathetic friends, and about
the time the coffee was served a new
Rocky Boy band of native born, wan
dering American Indians was formed.
Senator was given the title of Rocky
Boy" and by that name he is known
to the members Of the organization.
Others of the band are George AIDE,
Samuel G. Blythe, and John T. Nc
Cutcheon, who are known respectively
as Heap Wampum," Jumping Buff
falo' and Man Who Talks With.
Chalk" Members of the Washington
band telegraphed to Senator Bever-
idge last night urging that he go to
Montana and give a dinner to the real
Rocky Boy and his red skinned COM
panions.