The Tomahawk., 1918-02-07
James |. Cofey's Per6dy to the Chippewa indians
and his Mendaeous Attacks upon the legis|a-
tive Committe in Washington EndeavoIing to
Secure Relief to the ChippeWas
From the Oppressive Persecution Of the Indian Bureau, d Recover for them
Their Property UaawuI Coiscated AaIadmlnAed by the Indian
Bureau Officials.


no authority to speak for any
Chippewas in Minnesota other than
himself. Upon this point we de-
sire to be specific. Upon assur-
ances given by him to the Presi
dent of our General Council that
if appointed a member of the Leg
islative Committee he would co.
operate to the best of his ability
| with the other members of said
committee IN securing Il fulfillment
of all treaty and agreement obi
! cations to our people by the Unit
ed States and would carry into
effect the specific instructions given
the Legislative Committee by our
General Council and its Executive
Committee, he was appointed a
member of the Legislative Com.
mittce on Nov. 20, 1917. He came
to Washington and for a time
seemingly worked in perfect har-
mony with our delegation. He sat
as member of our committee day
by day and considered in detail
our various matters and Endorsed
the letter Of the Legislative Com
mittee addressed to you under date
Of January 2, 1918, which ap-
pears in. full in the Congressional
Record of Jan. q. 1913, pages
iI:I22y,6.c He asked to BE permitted
to sign that letter but the delega-
ton, following established form,
caused the same to be signed only
! BY its Chairman after it had been
approved by the entire Legislative
Committee including Cotfey. He
never realized before the extent
and magnitude of our claims against
the United States and che losses
we had sustained by mismanage.
ment of our estate. Then he con
ceived the idea that he could attend
law school in the City of Washing
ton, at the expense of the Chippe-
wa Indians, and in the course of a
year or two equip himself SO that
he. might represent the Chippewa
Indians, in the prosecution of their
claims against the Federal Govern
ment arising out of unfulfilled
treaty and agreement stipulations.
To effectuate this scheme and to
prevent action being taken that
would enable the Chippewa In
dams to secure an early and, speedy
adj stment of their matters until
he could equip himself to become
the self constituted legal adviser of
the Chippewas he commenced a
systematic course of interposing
petty and captious objections to
everything that was suggested by
the delegates except an appropria-
ton out of the trust funds of the
Chippewa Indians to pay the ex
penses of holding a General Coun
Gil and to pay tie hotel and other
expenses of a delegation to remain
in Washington and d.. nothing
other than afford him an opportun,
ity to attend law school. This the
delegation refused to accede to, in
sisting upon taking up the business
of the tribe aud disposing of it as
expeditiously as possible aud at a
minimum cost TO the tribe. The
situation became 80 into!erable that
the President of our General Coun-
Gil, Mr.. John G.. Morrison, Jr.,
was called tn Washington and the
entire facts, in the presence Of Mr.
Coffey, laid before Mr.. Morrison.
Mr.. Morrison approved our course
and insisted upon An immediate
change in the position taken by
Cuffey. Thereupon on the 9th day
of January, 1918, James l Coffey
rendered bis resignation as = mem