The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-11-26
One Indian May Drink:
Treaty Denies Another

Special by United Press. ~
Washington, u, q, Nov. 2e.-Black
Hawk" a Chippewa Indian and citizen
Of the United States, may drink whis-
key to his hearts delight
yellow Thunder, also Chippewa
brave, is refused even sip. Un;ls
Sam has made II crime to sell @Yel-
low Thunder drink Of wh'skey. lie
Is not recognized as a citizen and it is
stipulated in several Indian treaties
signed between 1850 and 1865 that
no spirituous liquors shall be intro-
duced in the Indian country until other
wise ordered by congress.
The state OF Minnesota has popu-
laiion Of 100000. comparatively
small proportion Of which ia Indian. A
troublesome and most complicated con
dition exists regarding the enforcement
OF the Indian intercourse laws in that
state As the matter now stands ma
tional prohibition laws exist in that
part OF Minnesota which still is Indian
country. The lndian lands cover even
the city Of Minneapolis with popula-
zion Of nearly s0O.(oO, while 81. Paul,
across the Mississippi river IS outside
Of the Indian country and exempt from
any restrictions.
Considerable difficulty is expert
enced by the agents Of the department
Of the interior In enforcing the prohi-
bition law in The portions os the dis
tricts where the law may be applied
Complaints have been made to the soc
retary OF the interior that the enforce
ment OF the law has not been uniform
and general. 1t was alleged that the
officers attempted discrimination, per-
mitting saloons to operate In one city
but closing them in others. Charges
we're made that certain saloons were
allowed to operate in town while the
ban was placed upon others IN the
same place.
These charges were productive OF
considerable i'll feeling in Minneapolis
resulting in the arrest Of several fed
eral officers and much bitter contro-
versy There are large number Of
prohibition advocates In the state who
Iurge a vigorous enforcement Of the
law Opposed 10 them Is another large
body which resents bitterly the attempt
Ito impose federal prohibition on cer-
tain portions OF the slate. They point
out that Minneapolis is fully able to
handle the liquor traffic and declare
that it's laws are better ana r GRE adj
aptable to the purposes then are the
federal laws ss
Further complications arise from 'he
fact that about four-tif.hs Of the Chip
pewa braves are citizens and have
been so for she last -FOUR years. There
4 fore, the federal law prohibiting the
sale OF liquor does not affect them.
On the other hand here are numerous
ether Indians in the same immediate
neighborhood who are prohibited from
purchasing liquor.
The interior department caused a
rigorous investigation to be made Of
all these charges and now make the
announcement that wherever it has
been found that improper methods
have been used prosecution Of the off,
GERS accused will follow. The depart
ment also asserts that it is not re-
sponsibIe for the law but is strictly
charged with its enforcement.
There are six separate treaties in
volved in the Minnesota situation. In
each Of these it 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 provided
\ These treaties were made at different
4, time and with different tribes.
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