The Washington herald., 1912-07-07
PLANS TO FOUND
ALL-INDIAN TOWN
Wisconsin Tribes Plan to Become
Civilized and Govern
Rebels.

Shawano, Wis, July 6.-After more
than a century Of persistent refusal TO
accept the ways Of the white man. dur
ing which time their tribe has been rent
by fractional disputes over the allotment
OF lands. the famous Stockbridge and
Munsee tribes have decided to adopt
the customs Of civilization.
The result will be the establishment
in Shawano County OF the first gen.
uine American" township in the United
States. All the town officers are to
be full-blooded Indians, the direct de-
scendants of those who helped make
history in Massachusetts,, New York,
and other New England States.
The decision ends the dispute within
the tribe as to whether the lands shall
be individually allotted or held in COM
mon. and means the wind up of all con-
tests between these Indians and the
government. Congressman John ]. Esch
of La Crosse has been. in a measure.
responsible for the decision OF the war
riors to give up the gun, tepee. and
blanket.
Tribe Has Been Divided.
From the time of leaving New York
the tribe has been divided on questions
regarding land and citizenship. and
after interminaole negotiations with the
government agreement has been reached.
In 1879 the Stockbridges and Munsees
sold half their land and agreed to move
upon land designed them west of the
Mississippi River. The remaining por-
tion of land east of Winnebago Lake
was laid out as a town. upon which
those who desired to become citizens
were TO be permitted to settle. About
eighty moved to the land west of the
Mississippi. near Fort Leavenworth.
Kans This arrangement proved unsat-
isfactory, as had all other previous
agreements, and they were once more
united under tribal government. In 1856
they moved, with the exception of a
number who desired to become private
citizens, to a reservation west of Sha-
wano, Shawano County. Wis. where in
1909 the united tribes, including the
Munsee, numbered $50 souls.
Treaty aftetr treaty with this famous
band proved unavailing, and all attempts
on the part nf the government to settle
their affairs have proved fruitless. Tired
out by constant moving, their band
gradually decreasing IN number until
they are but a pitiful representation of
the once strong tribe. and none the
richer. they have decided to adopt the
white mans methods.
To Lay Out Township.
The result is the decision to have what
Lake Winnebago and the land which the
government intends TO give them laid out
into a township. They are to become
citizens, and already are planning the
organization of town government
Government officials in Milwaukee have
been appealed to for rules of order"
and they have been equipped with book
lets on parliamentary practice. The
government is pleased with this agree
ment, which apparently will solve the
difficulties between the government and
tribe
The Indians are to lay aside the marks
Of the "only read Americans They are
to become industrious and hardworkins
citizens along the lines laid down by the
whites. The campfire around which the
pipe OF peace was smoked IS to give
place to the town hall, where the vari-
Gus chiefs-or town officers now to be-
will meet at stated intervals to discuss
the future for the members of the band.
In a word. the famous Stockbridge and
Munsee Indian is to pass into oblivion
the town of Stockbridge, Shawano Coun-
~, Wis. is to spring up on the map. The
of Konkapot and other IA
nous chieftains are to take place in
history, and In the future they will be
known as merely citizens of the first
Indian township in North America.