Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-10-23
SAC AND FOX LAND PROBLEM
Present Communal DespOtism Of
Chiefs flinders Progress.
ABBOTT SUGGESTS ALLOTMENT
Assistant Indian COmuissioner De-
scribes Conditions which lie
says Are Disgrace 60
Govermment,
lFrom a 500 corlespondentl


WASHINGTON. Oct. 22.-(Special THE
present administration OF the lndion bu-
rcau is considering policy OF breaking
the communal despotism now existing in
the conduct Of affairs Of the Sac and Fox
reservation in Tama county,, Iowa. Dur
ing the last session of congress Senator
Cummins introduced a bill In the senate
which provided for the allotment OF the
lands Of the Sac and Fox tribe In Iowa,
and a similar bill was presented an the
house by Congressman Sood. No action
was taken, however, on these bills, as the
time was short and other mote important
matters crowded the Sac and Fox bills
out.
The Sac and Fox Indians Of iowa mum.
Der $50 souls. and own about 9, 80 acres
in Tama county, upon which they have
lived for more than fifty years The title
10 their lands is held for them in trust
by the secretary OF the INTERIOR and they
cannot dispose Of their holdings without
his consent, and furthermore he. the rec
rotary of the Interior also has absolute
control OF the payment Of their aunuities.
lie Iowa band of Sac and Fox Indians
has always resented any and every at
tempt which has been made u educate
their children and all other efforts looking
to the general uplift OF the tribe have been
vigorously fought by the old chiefs
The secretary Of tine interior recently
put into operation a plan whereby annui-
ties of all Indian parents OF THIS tribe
who refused to allow their children TO
attend the schools should he withheld.
This has resulted in the improve 1ent OF
the educational situation.
Abbott visits Reservation.
Assistant Indian Commissioner r. n.
( AsJott during his recent tour OF inspec
ton OF Indian reservations, rode all over
the Sac and Fox country, visiting the
| leading chiefs, and talked with the young
men, generally known as the prOgressives
Of the tribe. The latter favor tho breaking
up Of the communal form OF government
and would indeed be glad to accept allot-
ments and thus be able to farm indie
| pendently, but seem to fear to take the
Initiative because OF the hostility Of the
old chiefs 20 the plans Of tho department.
Words cannot describe the helpieBsness
/ Of the present situation in the Sac and
| Fox country in Iowa, said Assistant Com
missioner Abbott today In speaking OF his
| recent visit. There is not legal mar
rage among them The majority are
against schools. There is not decent
residence on their lapds All are pro-
nounced Pagans except five, and these
have been converted through the Mescal
Lodge Their condition is not only a
menace to their own future but it is a
constant disgrace TO the government that
is permitting the continuance OF such con
ditions."
THE work OF clearing the lands OF I'M
derbrush and ripe timber should be pushed
with vigor." continued Mr.. Abbott. The
old Indians object to having the under
L. a. ~, a
would drive the rabbits-their meat supply
out Of the country. and by threats Of vio-
fence have intimidated the young Indians
1 to the point that it IS impossible to get an
indian to engage in the work OF timber
clearing. 1t is highly important that all
the agricultural land-and most OF it is
agricultural in character-should be cleared
before individual Sllotments are made II
It is impossible to have It done with In
dian labor It should be accomplished by the
employment OF whites. There are thou
sands Of feet Of good cord wood rotting
large lots which will never be OF any use
unless marketed in some way.
The question Of individual allotments il
the most difficult OF all. number OF
young men are trying to farm, but, under
present conditions, there Is little hope A
young man who titled ten acres last year
.
the land. is forbidden this year to farm
the same ten acres unless he viii agree t
. give the chief half his crop.
? Another young man who put out
large crop Of corn last year frequently
found his field filled with Indian ponies
and when he attempted TO shut them on
was confronted with the query, VIVA
right have you to object? This is as mucl
our land as II is yours Still anOthe
young man was asked why he did not bull,
himself 8 house and some fence, instead 0
living in a wickey-up,' and he replied
= What is the use? How do 1 know 1 viii
have land near my house TO FARM"
r Mr.. Abbott recommends that new legisla
ton be procured which will permit the Al
lottlng upon the request OF an individual
Indian, his pro rata share Of the land, AM
that there be set apart to such Indian hi
, pro rata share of the tribal trust funds. L
be used under the rules and regulations 70
, the Improvement OF his allotment II
= makes this recommendation because, in hi
Judgment IT will be impossible, within tn
next ten or fifteen years to secure tn
consent Of the majority of this tribe OF In
. dians to an allotment OF their lands
Il will be possible, however, 70 secure re
{ quests from perhaps a dozen OF the younge
Indians for their individual portion, OF Tn
tribal lands. In fact only within the pas
few days the department has received
I petition signed by fourteen OF the younge
element praying that they may be Above
] to take individual allottments Of ten acre
! each, share individually I'm the tribal fun
4 and commence farming on their own &C
p count.
? II the Indian holdings are In the natur
3 OF a tribal family estate, it is believe
that It would be consistent with seners
Q law, upon authorization by congress- {
D partition this tribal estate upon the reQues
OF petition OF a number Of members Of tn
tribe without regard to the consent OF a
q or even a majority. and that the very at
most legal authority vested In the secrs
tary Of the interior should be invoked 10
10 the uplift OF these Indians.