Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-03-30
FAMOUS CHEROKEE
FIGHTER HERE
WOMAN WHO WON LAND AND
JUSTICE FOR HER PEOPLE
ny FIGHT IN COURTS
Miss Ida Belle Allison Tells 81 Her
Success In the Courts.


resentativo Of the Evening Press vls-
tied the Hotel Idaho 70 meet Miss IDA
Belle Allison. OF MuakoEee, Okla.
the piucky young woman who d short
time ago had such 4 desperate nRht
with Uncle Sam. and through the
highest courts fought single handed,
and won one Of the most remarkable
eases ever passed upon BY the high
est tribunal OF Instiee. and thereby
saved 100000 acres 81 cherokee land.
and kept more than 1000 Indians
from becomins paupcrs and home
less people.
After waiting In the parlos 1 Few
minutes Miss Allison made her APP
pearance. and Immediately entered
into most interesting conversation
with the newspaper man. she vas
Tobed In 4 neat dress OF light orange
cloth, a travelling gown, and would
impress one ~ once as being or high
culture and In every way Quaiinod for
the task through which she passed n
winning her case agalnet the govern
ment. She coaversed freely ana her
story was most interesting.
Miss Allison aboat a year ago came
into national prominence BY winning
a case before the United States 50.
preme court. whereby the action of
ex-secretary OF the Interior Hitch
cock In striking from the approved
rolls OF the Ave clYllized tribes Of In
dians IN Oklahoma the namea Of .0oa
people entitled 10 land Ia the terri
tory. but charged wigh having siolat-
ed the tribal rules. was reversed. she
brought her suit against the govern
ment Ia the name OK herself and
family, but against the advice of
family and friends. aud met with suc-
cess in every court.
Miss Allison launched legal pro-
ceedings against the government By
securing the issuance OF a writ of
mandamus against the department OF
the interior. the first in IA years. Her
case Was test case aud Involved not
only the homes Of 1000 people, but
the ownership OF land valued APP
proximately at $40. 0g0, geo.
All proceedings In the new state Of
Oklahoma were az = standEtHl pend
ing Il decision 10 Miss Alliaon.a case.
The supreme court advanced this
case to the FIRST docket and a favor
able deciaion was prompt In coming.
Proud Of Cherokee Blood.
Miss Allison Is one-sixteenth chero-
kee and is proud Of her Indian blood.
In appearance she Is the typical Am
erican girl. being highly educated and
q fluent. easy aud entertaining eon-
Yersationallst She Ia OF medium
height. and plump: her features are
clean cut. her complexion Is clear
and rosy and a profusion OF light
brown, wayy hair crowns a weIi-
shaped head. withai, she has an lm-
pelIing and most pleasing personality.
9NAAAeAM VI AAA AAaAA Aa1 tue AAEA~
okees Miss Allison said:
The United States government IN
1885 gave 20 tia Cherokee. Choctaw
and ChirkasaW tribes certain parts of
the present state OF Oklahoma N lieu
Of their country east Of the Mississ-
lppi river. The tribes settled On the
lands and held title Ia common until
the government. through Us aseats.
p0rtioned It among the various mem-
bers and gave them patents.
They remained there Ia andlsput-
"a possession until March :. 1897.
when Secretary Of the Interior Hitch
rock acting on the advice Of Alter
aey General Bonaparie. struck from
he records 2.o00 names. deelaTiug
hat the occupants OF the territory
had forfeited the title given 1em BY
he government. / owned 100 acres
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