The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1912-08-16

the Octopus They Have No
Right to Operate Here Having
Broke There Contract.
Now as the Indian Department has start
ed on the right road by giving their ear to
the plea of the Indian and try and give them
justice we sincerely hope they viii not stop
there but proceed further and remove the
Octupus' store as it is the stumbling block
to the mercantile advancement of the In
dian on this reservation, along with the
coupon system of the same concern, and
which for years has been aided in every.
way by the former Indian Agent here as
an infant is by its parent. Now as he is
no more let them proceed to also remove
this menance to the bushes interest of the
Indian and give him the right of which he
has been so wantonly deprived andthe same
granted and protection given to this money
grabbing octupus, the Stearns company.
Fifteen years ago there was two OF the
most ur-to-date stores, at that time, and
both enjoying good business, while the
octupus had small, dark dungeon like
place which they called a warehouse or
rather supply house for their camps and
little by little they enlarged into the large
coupon system outfit they are today all
from iys1rehouse,A untii todaj they have
here established one of the greatest depart
ment stores in this part of the country.
They forced the other two stores out of
business drove them out of their own home
and usurpered the place thus vacated by
them, and that with the sanction of the IT.
dian Department but not of the Indian and
they are still monopolizing the trade SO
fairly (?) got on the Indian ground while
the Indian must accede to their demands.
We wonder how the Department can stand
idly by and see people they have sworn
to protect and aid denied of their right to
do business in their own territory and that
territory taken over by the worst ''leech"
on Gods green earth, the ]. S. StearnS
Lumber Company. The injustice of the
thing should appeal to anyone with the
least spark of justice in him.
1t certainly is a nice outlook for the ad
vancement of the Indian to have him tied
hand and foot and gagged while this mon
ster is given free rein to fog him into sub
mission. Can this continue? Are we
coming into an age of corporation slavery.
l. +
looks to one as though the Indian Depart
ment at Washington, D. c. is being operat-
ed. not for the benefit of the Indian on this
reservation, but for the express purpose of
this octupuS, this great timber and money
grabbing monster, this "sapper'' of the
Indians vitality.
We had an employee of the Indian De-
partment say to US that the only logical
thing for the department to do was TO chase
the Indian of the reservation and make him
seek opportunities elsewhere. Why chase
them off? Is it for the purpose of giving
to this octupus the opportunity they now
want to proceed in high-handed manner
and strip the small remaining timber Of
once gigantic resource in a grand finish.
He says opportunities off the reservation.
These Indians have all kinds of opportuni-
ties right here at home if only given the
right to utilize it unhampered by such an
obstacle as the store run by this Octupus,
the ]. S. Stearns Lumber Company. Sure
ly the Indian Department should feel proud
(:) of themselves in allowing such thing
to ever exist and that with their sanction.
Now if the Department does not know that
this Octupus is operating here now in di-
rect violation of the laws.
The Indians here on this reservation have
awakened to see the many opportunities
within its limits, thongh the same Some
what, by departmental privilege deminished
but as yet not dwarfed--have also become
suspicious of everything saying 81 am the
government, and will not be coerced by
officials and others to run away and leave
this vast wealth and their all that it may be
freely and without the necessity of acquiring
their consent dismembered by He, the then
ofFicialiStiC vendor, and ''of course" strictly
in accordance with Laws of Congress sought
for by and made by the vendee.