The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-10-06
NO SALOONS
FOR INDIANS
MAKE REQUEST OF BALlINGtR
fetition OF Yakima Chiefs Is Made
Public and Involves Important
Questions.

Twelve requests relative to the
| management of the Yakima Indian
reservation We're made of Secretary
Ballinger during his recent visit to
North Yakima by twelve chiefs of the
tribe, after a tribal council, and the
petition handed him has just been
made public. In these twelve requests
are involved more important points
than have ever been placed in a SINH
| lar paper in the Yakima valley.
Probably the most Interesting is the
request of the Indians that the gov
eminent protect them from boot
leggers, for they ''implore'' this pro-
lection and also demand the removal
of all saloons from the reservation.
Regarding Indian Lands.
The Indians also ask that the treaty
of 1885 be followed by the govern
ment, that they be not required to
lease lands nor sell them and that
they be allowed to hold the Wapato
canal as private property. II the pc
tition of the Indians were followed.
the opening of the reservation to white
settlement would never be ACCOMPLISH
ed until the last Indian of the Yaki-
ma tribe had passed away.
This petition was formulated at n
council held at the l.. " McWhorter
ranch on August 2, and has been
translated. being made public Tues
day through Mr.. McWhorter. II IL
signed by Shaw-aw-way Coot-ahy-ah.
chief of the Yakima tribe and twelve
others of the head men. Umtee-bee.
chief of the Toppenish tribe was I'M
able to be present at the conference
to sign the paper. The following Is
the petition in full:
Honorable Richard Ballinger.
Secretary of the Interior.
Dear Sir:
by the act of the chiefs and coun-
ell of the Yakima tribe in session on
the Yakima Indian reservation. Yaki-
ma County, Washington, on August .
1909, we herewith submit the follow
ing petition to-wit
Petition to Uncle Sam.
First-That the United States gov
eminent shall not open the Yakima
Indian reservation without the con-
sent Of the Yakima tribe.
Sccond-That we shall not be re-
CURED to dispose of our canal at Union
Gap in the event that the large pro-
posed canal is constructed, but be
allowed to retain the same as the
private property of the Yakima tribe
because we do not wish to be requlr-
ed to sell sixty 600 acres of our land
to make 1t possible to bring water to
the remaining twenty (20l acres.
| Thlrd-That we shall not be requir-
ed to become taxpayers, by receiving
patents for our lands, as many of MS
are living in tepees and have no
houses.
| Fourth-That we be not required
to lease any allotments. or to sell any
deceased lands under our agent now.
because we have more trouble about
getting our money.
Fifth-That we shall be allowed to
have enough estate money, that
money which comes to us from the
sale Of allotments belonging to our
deceased relatives now being held by
the Indian agent, to pay the deceased
just debts and membranes remain
ing, without having to sell the per-
sonal property of the heirs, as is now
necessary very frequently to meet
| these debts also that the allotme rents
of deceased Indians shall be the prop
erty of the rightful heirs and not re-
vert to the government and be classi-
| fled as unallotted lands.
Sixth-That our agent, s. A NJ
Young, shall treat us as friend
should, and in all cases under his
jurisdiction. act according to Justice
in his dealings with us.
| Seventh-There are n great MANY
children born since 1904 who are de-
MED allotment. and we ask that they
be given allotments before the reser-
walton is opened
Eighth-That, owing to the fact
! that we are constant losers, from
thieving stockmen, we are deferred
from engaging in extensive stock rails
ing, no outside grazing permits shall
| be granted within the boundaries of
the Yakima reservation settlements.
and that a sufficient range in the
foothills be reserved for our exclu-
sive use.
Ninth-We implore protection from
bootleggers and demand the removal
of all saloons from the reservation.
Tenth-We ask in our efforts at
farming and instructions how to live
in houses, as our children are diving.
and We want to know how to prevent
it.
Eleventh-We ask that land values
on that part of the reservation 10 be
sold which can be irrigated by pump
ing plants, be increased accordingly