The Washington times., 1909-07-26
WinnebagoeS Seek Removal
of Embargo on the
Peyote.
HAVE MADE 1T PART
OF THEIR RELIGION
Drunkenness and Crime Decreased
Since Its Innovation, Is Claim
of Their Spokesman.

Since the Government began its cam
paign against the use of the mescal
bean by the Indians, no tribe has felt
so much aggrieved as the Winnebagoes,
who live in Thurston county Neb.,
just across the Missouri river from
Sioux City, and they have been appeal
ing to the Indian Commissioner and
their Congressman, J. p. Lattap for a
repeal Of the embargo, which has been
laid against the sale of this narcotic.
The Winnebagoes have made the mes
cal bean a part Of their religion. To
them it is even a portion Of Christ's
body With the mescal bean in their
mouths. the Winnebagoes declare they
communicate directly with God himself.
and they have been the missionaries
10 other tribes. carrying the gospel
Of the bean. To them this bean is
holy. and it is holy only TO the Indian,
they declare. 1t has no effect on the
white man, for God meant it for the
Indian alone.
Tribes Attitude.
In a letter to Congressman J. P.
Iatta, Thomas Walker, a Winnebago of
Decatur, Neb., explained the attitude Of
his tribe toward this bean as follows:
I'VE have found out by actual expert
ence this mescal eating Of the Indian is
really and truly religious. We believe
that God sent this medicine to the In
dian, and no one else, and that He gave
this medicine to the Indian for pure and
righteousness sake; that the Indian
should eat and be right and wise to
ward God. Therefore, since we have eat
the medicine we have improved great
deal in improving our home. taking
care OF it. and being kind 10 one an
other. This we have never done be-
fore. This reservation was in a terrible
state when the medicine came: killing.
fighting. gambling. and drunkenness ex-
listed. Now everybody is peaceful and
quiet This year everybody seems to
want to get ahead of one another in
farming
Latta's Opinion.
Congressman Latta does not believe
the effects Of the mescal eating are as
bad as the Indian Bureau experts have
reported. He declares that the order
on the reservation has become mar
velously better in the past few years
since the Winnebagoes have had this
bean He has noted also that the sale
Of liquor 10 the Indians has decreased
and drunkenness is on the wane.
The Indian Bureau has asked DR..
Nylie to examine the mescal bean and
make a report as TO its deleterious in
fiuence-if such there is. It has been
generally understood that the mescaI
bean should be classed the same as
morphine, choral, cocaine and other
"dopes" which become so necessary
and so harmful 70 their users.
This mescal bean comes from Texas
and Mexico, and is not bean at all,
but is the top OF peculiar kind OF
cactus About forty miles east Of
Laredo, Mex, was the original home
of this plant. The Carrie Indians were
the drsI users of the mesCal bean or
PeyOte, as II is properly called. They
used it in their dances. At the be-
ginning OF these festIy ais the Indians
all sal around the fire and chewed
the same bean or PeyOte until they be-
CEme fairly intoxicated with It's mar
COtic influence.
It's Fame Spreads.
The fame Of these performances
reached Oklahoma Territory, and white
men came down into Texas and car
Tied the bean back to the Oklahoma
Indians. The trade became brisk, and
every tribe in the United States be-
came purchasers of the bean. Many
used IT simply as dope" but the Win
nebagoes attached to It a sacred eIe-
ment, and their missionaries have been
active in spreading this idea wherever
they have visited.
The principal source Of the bean is
now the little village OF Los Oiuelos.
where fifteen families exist and do moth
ing but gather the tops OF the PevOte
cactus for shipment to Indian tribes.
The plant grows wild and the Villagers
get $3.50 per thousand for gathering
them
II the Government succeeds in SUD-
pressing the trade In the mescal bean.
declare the Winnebagoes. the old reign
of drunkenness and crime viii return TO
their reservation. They believe that
God viii leave their reservation where
he has lived since the holy mescal came
10 them as a comforter and q revelation