The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1913-10-24
INDIAN now
HAS OPPORTUNITY
To Present Their Many
Grievances
FOR SOLUTION OF QUESTION
That Has Been a Most PrepIeins
One.

to take advantage OF their opportunity while
it is here to improve their condition by Sc
curing a large measure of independence.
The time is ripe for them to kick 'off their
swaddiing clothes. ss u"
Naturally we have more interest in the
Indians of Minnesota than in those of other
states. Those of this state have formed an
organization; they have in this way a united
influence and have chosen responsible lead
ers or spokeSmen. These men have their
confidence and are. worthy OF it
They should use them. They should
stop committing their affairs to White men
who are looking for fat fees and whose fees
would stop if they effected permanent set
tlement. They should use their representa-
tives the men they have chosen trom among
themselves for this purpose.
They should send committee OF these
men to Washington, not as blanketed curl
os;ties for useless pow-wow, but tor buSl-
ness. The blanketed Indian delegation has
but accentuated and confirmed in the minds
of the Washington authorities the system
which has, been the curse OF the Indian and
has prevented his securing his rights.
The delegation which should go is OF the
educated, civilized, competent members at
men ir modern dress. who have achieved
business success and who have made place
tor themselves in the white mans world.
With such delegation should go Cover
nor Eberhart, as we believe he would It
asked, to speak for the state and to adj the
weight IF his ceunsels- and influence. 1t
should BE shown thai thousands OF Miii-
nesota lDdians Of mixed and full blood are
thoroughly competent to take'care ot them
selves ana their own affairs. &
Such a delegation should assure Secretary
Lane of their thorough sympathy with ms
program. they should give President
Wilson the same assurance and should ar
range to cooperate with Mr.. Lane and with
the chairman ot tne committee OF Indian
affairs to carry through this program
The Indians must clear away the impress
sion that they are. blanketed and beaded
Incompetence; that they are unworthy OF
trust and unable to manage their own AFFAIRS
as Individuals. Nothing, we believe, would
be more effective to- Sucn an end than Such
a delegation, since seeing IS believing,
Il -[Duiutn News riDune. t->i
The above editorial in the Tribune is
certainly a good one and should not apply
only to Minnesota Indians but can be ap-
piled here as we'll as throughout the country
with equally good effect, and 1t is certainly
the Indians opportunity. This is a matter
that should be taken up at no distant date,
as we believe delegation of this character
would be benefit to us as whole. There
are manv things that such adelegation could
do well, chief among which would be
the settlement of the allotment question
here. The delegates sent should be the
strongest and most experienced men who
are capable of pres enting the wishes o. the
tribe in the most forcible and capable dnan-
ner, not saying that former delegations did
not do their best, this we think they did,
Another thing that could be eliminated with
good success here is the matter OF strife
among the members of this band. We are
coming to a stage, where our timber Will
be a thing of the past and we think it a
good suggestion if such delegation should
be appointed for these men to call on Mr..
Baker of the lumber company here and as
certain if, under certain conditions, ne
would secure control of the large tract OF
timber lying off this reservation and manu-
facture same here. If his reply is satistac-
tory, which we have every reason to believe
would be, we would IN this way kill two
birds with one stone. We would be guar
anteed 80 years more life for our village
and the adjustment of all past differences.
Remember "Nothing ventured, nothing
eaIned.' You are all interested in our vii
lage. Now is your opportunity to guaran-
tee long lease of life.
Mrs VIM. Goslih was in Ashland yes