The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-01-17
SAYS CHIPPEWAS
were PLUNDERED
Scathing Report on COndi=
tiOnS at White Earth.
OFFICIALS ARE SCORED

House Committee criticises Work OF
Men in Charge at Washington and
at the Reservation and Condemns
Legislation Enacted at the instance
of Minnesota Senators.
Washington, Jan. IA terrific ar
raignment of conditions on the White
Earth Indian reservation in Minneso-
ia and those who are alleged to be re-
sponsible is embodied in a report filed
with the house of representatives by
the committee on expenditures in the
interior department.
The charge is made that the Chip
pewa Indians have been plundered of
their holdings by lumbermen and 9TH
ers and the suggestion is made that
unless the Indian office can be made
a more efficient agency in the interests
of the tribes it might just as well be
abolished.
Acts of congress providing for the
disposal of land and timber on the
White Earth reservation are made the
subject OF bitter criticism.
The administration of the Indian of
flee conducted by Francis E. Leupp,
the former commissioner, and work
among Indians done by Major James
Mclaughlin, the veteran inspector,
are criticise, in caustic language.
Outcome of Investigation.
The report of the house committee
is the result of an investigation of
White Earth Indians made in the main
by Representative Graham of Illinois,
chairman, and Representative George
of New York, both Of whom are Demo
Gratis.
The charge is made, by inference,
that legislation has been initiated in
Washington affecting affairs of the
Chippewa Indians that has accrued to
the advantage of commercial interests
of the state.
Darwin S. Hall, ex-representative in
congress, who was an Indian alloting
commissioner for years, and Simon
Michelet of Minneapolis, former agent
at White Earth, are scored.
The Clapp legislation permitting
mixed blood Indians to ALLEVIATE their
allotments is held to be responsible
for much of the woe of the Chippewas
at White Earth. The Nelson act OF
1889 and subsequent legislation con-
eerning the Chippewas is denounced.
The report dwells at length on con-
ditions at White Earth as witnessed
by Representatives Graham and
George, who visited White Earth and
who held public hearings in the case
at Minneapolis early in 1912.
Terrible Condition of Indians.
Commenting on the visit of the CON-
mittee to the reservation the report
says:
Scenes more pitiful than these wit
messed by your subcommittee during
the trip over the reservation could
hardly be imagined. In the district
around Pine Point, in the southeast
part or the reservation, where about
500 Indians live, nearly every man,
woman and child is afflicted with ira
cloma, and many are totally blind
from its rayages.
twenty-five per cent OF these peo-
pie suffer from tuberculosis and 40
per cent from other dread diseases.
Each hut visited was a chamber OF
horrors. Sometimes ten or more In
dians were huddled together at night
IN single room trying in vain to keep
out the intense cold, but succeeding
only in keeping out the fresh air, with
scanty bedclothes which reeked with
fifth and vermin. In unbearable stencil
and awful squalor, little children, al
most naked, aged women, blind and
helpless men, once strong but now
oxen by disease, live a life without
hope"