The Detroit times., 1910-11-29
QUEER TANGlE IN
LAWS AFFECTING
RED MEN
Chippewa Indian of Minnesota May
Drink Whisky To His Hearts
Content, But yellow Thun-
der" Is Denied Even q Sip.
National Museum Gets Two Inter
esting American Flags Of Early
Political Ages.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2s.-"Blsck
Hawk" Chippewa Indian and citi-
zen OF the United States may drink
whisky to his hearts delight.
yellow Thunder" also Chippewa
brave. is refused even a sip. Uncle
Sam has made II crime to sell
yellow Thunder" q drink OF whisky.
He 10 not recognized as u citizen and
1t IL stipulated In the several Indian
treaties signed between 1850 and 1860
that no spirituous liquors shall be In.
troduced In the Indian country until
otherwise ordered by congress-.
The state of Minnesota has q popu-
lation OF 100000. comparatively
small proportion OF which In Indian.
A troublesome and most complicated
condition exists regarding the en-
forcement of the Indian laws In that
state. AS the matter now stands ma
tional prohibition laws exist In that
part Of Minnesota which still II In
dian country The Indian lands COW
er even the city Of Minneapolis with
a population OF nearly 100000. while
ST. Paul, across the Mississippi river,
IL outside of the Indian country and
exempt from any restrictions.
ed by the agents Of the department
of interior in enforcing the prohibi-
ton law in the portions Of the dis
tricts where the law may be applied.
Complaints have been made to the
secretary Of interior that the enforce
ment OF the law has not been uniform
and general. 1t was alleged that the
officers attempted discrimination, per-
hitting saloons to operate in one city
but closing them in others. Charges
were made that certain saloons were
allowed to operate in town while
the ban was placed upon others in
the same place.
Federal Officers Arrested.
These charges were productive OF
considerable ill-feeling In Minneapolis,
resulting In the arrest Of several fed
eral officers and much bitter con-
troversy There are a large number
of prohibition advocates in the state
who urge a vigorous enforcement OF
the law. Opposed to them is another
large body which resents bitterly the
attempt to impose federal prohibition
on certain portions of the state. They
point out that Minneapolis il fully
able to handle the liquor traflc and
declare that its laws are better and
more adaptable to the purpose than
are the federal laws.
Further complications arise from
the fact that about four-hfths of the
Chippewa braves In Minnesota are
citizens and have ben 50 for the last
four years. Therefore. the federal
law prohibiting the sale Of liquor does
not effect them. On the other hand
there are numerous other Indians In
the same immediate neighborhood
who are prohibited from purchasing
liquor
The interior department caused
rigorous investigation to be made OF
all these charges and now make the
announcement that wherever II has
been found that improper methods
have been used. prosecution Of the
officers accused will follow.
The department also asserts that II
is not responsible for the law, but Ia
strictly charged with it's enforcement.
There are six separate treaties in
volved In the Minnesota situation. In
each OF these il Is declared that those
portions of the law of the United
States prohibiting the introduction or
traffic In spirits, wines, or other
liquors In the Indian country should
continue in force until otherwise pro-
vided. These treaties were made at
different times and with different
tribes.
The American flag has played an
important part In political campaigns
Of the past and has been subject at
times to unique decorations, accord.
ing to bulletin just made public by
the National Museum.
Two interesting souvenirs Of the
early political ages have been recent
ly presented to the museum and are
now placed with the exhibitional col
lections. The first of these il an
American flag with seventeen stripes,
altering red and white, with a blue
field of thirteen stars. Twelve of
these are ranged around q larger one
which IL placed In the center. On the
white stripes Immediately beneath
the blue field IL written the old
legend, THE Hero Of Ttppecanoe" In
black letters. This II q relic OF the
William Henry Harrison campaign.
The second relic IL also q flag II
10 more elaborate and carries four
additional stars, one In each corner,
making seventeen In all. The center
of the flag, however, bears the inser-
ton OF sailor, clad In the costume
Of that period and mailing to the mast
q large American flag, which bears In
its blue field, In addition to the stars,
the legend: Henry Clay and T. Ere
linghuysen" The memento was used
In the presidential campaign OF 1914.
Art Collection Enriched.
The art collection of Royal <. Ca
boil, commissioner of internal rev.
enue, has been enriched by the ad-
dition of q rare specimen, q photo
graph of the second largest moon
shine still ever captured by the rev.
enue oficers. The still 10 a product
OF the skill OF North Carolina moon
sinners. II was taken eight miles
south of Virgil, The government raid
ers called between midnight and day