New-York tribune., 1910-06-06
tFrom The Tribune Bureau,


Washington, June ).
MUCKRAKERS, ATTENTIoN,-Any in-
dustrious writer versed in the gentle art of
undertaking would do well to examine
carefully the history of Senate Bill 5,s35,
whereby poor Lo stood to lose no inconsid-
cradle part OF his patrimony until TIE
Indian Rights Association interfered, and
by illuminating the dark spot in this piece
Of legislation. what is commonly called
The Joker" led the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs hurriedly to recall his in
dorsement, and so. in the eleventh hour
prevented the final enactment of the meas
Ure. 1t may be that some phase of pro-
fessional ethics-if muckrakers know any
thing about ethics-forbids a union muck
raker from raking fellow members of the
craft. but If not, they will find an amplitude
Of muck in the legislative history of this
innocent looking little measure. OF course,
ii is not the purpose of this dispatch to at
tribute any motives to any one whatever,
merely TO set down incontrovertible facts
and to permit tho reader to draw his own
conclusions. To. make this quite clear it
may be we'll to set down first the dramatis
personsa in the little comedy on which a
startled Indian Commissioner rang down
the curtain when, with the aid Of the
Indian Rights Association, he had seen the
light
DRAMATIS PERSON4E-The chief actor
in the comedy was Robert Marion La Fol-
lette, senior Senator from Wisconsin, self
appointed censor of other peoples morals
and Chautauqua lecturer He is the author
of the bill, and he it was who. as member
of the Senate Committee ON Indian Affairs
reported it to the Senate He 1t was, too
who-but thai is another story, which shall
be told further along. The first walking
gentleman to the Wisconsin star is A W.
Sanborn. state Senator of Wisconsin. chief
political lieutenant OF Senator La Toilette.
guest in Washington of Mr. La Toilette
while he was seeking to lobby the bill
through Congress, and alleged holder of
certain powers of attorney for the Indians
also prospective recipient of a large con-
tingent fee from the aforesaid Indians The
innocent opponent of the Indians was the
Stearns Lumber Company, of Odanah, WIS,
and last. but by no means least. comes 1.-The
goat" about to be ably played by the Chip
pewa tribe of Indians, which is claimant
to the chief property. some 81. .o0o000 worth
of lands, which are also claimed by the
lumber company. As the goat does not ap-
before which Indian Commissioner va1en-
tine rang down the curtain, the Indians
have still to play their part.
THE PLOT.-Many years ago the United
States entered into q treaty with the
Chippewa Indians whereby the Indians sup
posed that they acquired title TO certain
land in what is now the State of Wiscon-
sin. Later Congress granted to the State
of Wisconsin in it's enabling act as school
land every section 16'' within the terri
tory that comprises the state. The State
Of Wisconsin in turn granted these sec
tions within the area claimed by the Ind
ians to the Stearns Lumber Company but
when that company undertook TO cut the
white pine on these lands, described as the
finest white pine in the country. the Ind
ians naturally protested An attempt was
made in the 9th Congress to settle the
case by legislation. That was resisted and
In lieu thereof Francis e. Leupp, President
Roosevelt's Commissioner of Indian affairs.
caused test case to be instituted in the
United States courts, with the United
States Attorney as counsel for the wards
Of the nation. This was entirely salts
factory to the Indians, and all went merry
as a marriage bell until Mr.. Sanborn ap-
peared on the scene. He says he became
attorney for the Indians. They say he did
not, but he appears to have secured some
sort of authority from some of the Ind
fans whereby he was to receive a per
cent contingent fee. Then Mr.. La Toilette
introduced his bill, the last clause of which
provides, in effect, for the settlement out
Of court of the-cases now pending. -sThen
Mr.. La Fouette's political lieutenant, the
said A. w. Sanborn, became his guest in
Washington, and appeared before the Ind
ian Committee Of the Senate TO assure the
members that the bill was good. This
committee, Of which Senator Claep is
chairman, authorized a favorable report,
which was made by Mr. La Toilette.
SUSPICION ALIAYED.-When Senator
Ia EolIatte called his bill I'D Oh the floor