The Princeton union., 1911-08-10

amendment to the Indian bill which
permitted mixed bloods on the White
Earth Indian reservation to dispose
OF their holdings. The result was
that hundreds of the "bloods" we're
| virtually defrauded of their lands by
unprincipled white scoundrels in COL
lusion with government officials. In
many instances the "bloodsD we're
crazed with vile whiskey when they
signed the papers that robbed them of
their homes. The only ones who
profted by the enactment, for which
Senator Clapp was in large measure
responsible, we're the pine-grabbers
and land-sharks. Perhaps Senator
Clapp or some of his admiring "pro-
gressive" friends can give good and
sufficient reasons for the necessity of
such legislation. Proceedings have
been instituted by the government in
the Federal courts to set aside the
conveyances made by the "bloods, "
but it is the old story of locking the
stable door after the steed has been
stolen.
1t seems absurd that the govern
ment should set aside a reservation
as permanent home for the Chippe-
wa Indians, and then congress should
enact legislation that would permit
white grafters to despoil the unso-
phisticated red men of their homes in
the reservation so set apart.
A congressional committee is at
present engaged in Investigating the
frauds perpetrated upon the Indians
under the provisions Of the Clapp
amendment; but there are indications
that the investigation will not amount
to much.
The Clapp amendment should be re-
pealed and every conveyance of real
estate attempted to be made under its
provisions should be set aside and
the land restored to the Indians. Let
the scheming pine-grabbers and land
sharks pocket their losses. It would
serve them right.
Annexed hereto is an extract from
the proceedings of the congressional
Investigating committee, as the same
appeared in the Washington dis
patches published in the Pioneer
Press, which may prove interesting
reading to the friends of our junior
United States senator:
Doesn't Know Why Clapp DidIt
Representative Ferris asked Judge
Burch if he happened to know what
induced Senator Clapp to offer the
amendment to the Indian bill under
which the White Earth mixed bloods
we're authorized to ALLEVIATE their hold
ings.
II know nothing about that,' re-
sponded the witness. II do know that
prior to the passage of the amend
ment a man from Minnesota was in
Washington lobbying for such legis-
lation."
It was brought out in the course of
the testimony that in the presentation
Of the land cases to the courts the
government will set up the plea that
any Chippewa involved who has less
than one-half Of white blood shall be
adjudged fullblood, and therefore
incapable under the law of passing
title to his lands.
Representative Ferris of Oklahoma.
a member of the committee, made a
suggestion in the hearing which failed
to find sympathy with Representative
Graham of Illinois, the chairman.
Mr.. Ferris gave it as his belief that
the crux of the situation was the ne
cessity for the repeal of the Clapp
amendment. The whole matter, he
declared, should be referred to the
committee on Indian affairs, with a
recommendation for legislation pro-
viding for the repeal of the Clapp
law, which permits the mixed bloods
to ALLEVIATE allotments.
1t took considerable questioning on
the part of the representative before
Major Howard could be induced to
give half-hearted opinion that it
would probably be a good thing to
have the Clapp law repealed.
rs 1T UNCONSTITUTIONAL
On the spur of the moment the other