Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-01-11
TO END DISPUTES.
MEN FROM BECKER, MAHNoMEN,
CLEARWATER AND HUBBARD
GATHER IN DETROIT.
DISTRICTS PROGRESS INVOLVED
Committees Of Whites and Indians
= will 90 to Washington to Press
Adjudication OF q Test
Case,

O9GfOlIs 49, IN ESSpUu60 " d CAl
issued by the Detroit Commercial
Club, a public meeting was held
here. and upon the success Of
its efforts and the work that IL to
follow. say the promoters, will very
largely depend the prosperity and de
velopment of Becker, Mahnomen
Clearwater, and Hubbard counties
during the next few years. the inan
cial life of many business men in the
territory affected and the fate Of sums
of money variously estimated at from
$6.000.00o to $10.000.000 which have
been invested in White Earth reserva'
ton agricultural and timber lands.
Every town and community within
the reservation limits and the ada
cent territory was represented, which
is cited as evidence of the interest
which is felt in the prompt settlement
Of the questions involved. .
In June, 1906, the law known as the
Clapp act was passed by the congress-
under the terms of which all restric
tions upon alienation of allotments
now or hereafter held by adult mixed
bloods are hereby removed" Taking
this as an invitation to the white peo
pie to enter upon and become citizens
of the reservation country, which dur.
ing the more than 40 years since its es'
tablishment as a reservation had con
tinued practically 1nimproved. many
people invested in these lands, villages
have been built up, the new county OF
Mahnomen has been organized, the
county seat being supplied with sub
stantial courthouse and all other nee
essary equipment for the proper gov.
eminent of the community which ap.
parently had every prospect of pros.
porous future.
One year ago, after the law had
been in force over three years action
was taken by the Indian department
looking to the setting aside of many
sales that had been made and during
the last two months upwards of 400
suits have been filed in the federal
court, and it Is reported that a still
larger number of suits will be brought
as soon as the papers can be prepared.
This action on the part of the gov
eminent has put q stop to all further
land sales and the development of
the country affected and the people
who are directly affected feel that it
Is time to take action which will bring
about a speedy adjudication of test
case for the purpose Of establishing
their rights.
The conditions upon the White Earth
reservation since the enactment of the
Clapp law have been better than ever
before, and the reservation people by
a very large majority are opposed to
the course that is pursued.
It was decided to send a commit
tee to Washington to lay the matter
before the proper department and If
possible to secure the speedy adjudica-
ton of a test case which will settle
all question as to what constitutes
a mixed blood Indian, also as to the
status of title in many cases of lands
of deceased allotters whose land has
been decreed to regal heirs in the
probate courts and subsequently sold.
A delegation of Indians will also
60 from White Earth for the purpose
of demanding an adjustment of the
difficulties.