Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1922-02-17
SilETZ

The Indians held a mass meeting In
the Government School building Mon
day for the purpose of taking further
steps towards getting pay for lands
ceded to the United States by treaty
during the Rogue River War of 1885
and 1856. The meeting was called to
order by Russell Adams who acted as
Chairman of the meeting and Arthur
Bensell as secretary. The house was
well filled by the Indian people of the
reservation who are interested. The
chairman introduced George Wa sson
of Marshfield who gave full explain
alton Of the purpose of the meeting
and the state of the question as now
understood. Mr.. Wasson has much es-
perience and understands this treaty
question very well. He went to Wash
ington and locked up the records and
found treaty had been made between
these tribes Of Indians and Joel Pal
mer, superintendent Of indian Affairs
OF the Oregon Territory, August 18th,
1856. To this treaty 3S Indians, with
their mark before witnesses, signed
it but Congress has never ratified the
treaty and therefore have never per-
formed their part Of the contract.
The Indians ceded to the Government
over 100000 acres of the finest land
In the west-rich in timber agricul-
ture, fisheries and go.d-if this land
only brought the small sum OF $3.50
per acre 1t would make the Indians
rich. The strip Of land reaches from
the south bank of the Columbia river
to the California line on the south fol-
lowing the summit Of the coast range
OF mountains on the east. This Is
what the Indians want pay for and Mr..
Wasson thinks that they will get it.
The amount of money will be fixed
by the committee of Court Claims.
Five delegates were elected to work
with Mr. Wasscn in getting informa-
ton to be used ct Washington to aid
in getting the claim through. This is
important. The committee is as fol-
lows: Arthur Bensell, Russell Adams,
Norman Strong, Hoxie Simmons and
Archie John. By a unanimous vote Mr.
Wasson was authorized to go ahead
and work the matter out the best way
possible He will have power to en-.
plOy attorneys at certain per cent
of the money obtained. The Indian
are working as one person in this mat
ter and no doubt something will be
done to reimburse them for their
ceded lands. The meeting adjourned
sine die. In a meeting of this kind
where the Indians feel that an injus-
tice has been done him, you will hear
speeches of true eloquence. The In
dians don't ask charity or favors, but
only what is due them.
Friday evening the Community Club
held another of its popular meetings
in the High School room. Although
the evening was very unpleasant a
good audience was present. The new
president, Mr.. Pogue, presided and
seemed to be much at home. The pro-
gram was good and well rendered and
was as follows: Song, Nellie Gray, by
all; Toledo Improvements and what 1t
means to us, by Charlie E. Larsen, ex-
president Of the Club; song, Primary
Glass; prize Essay on Lincoln Edgar
Colvin; Battle Hymn of the Republic
by the School; talk on James Hill and
his opportunities, w. S. Hall. At the
close OF Mr. Halls address he tod
this anecdote about Ole and Hulda.
They were sweethearts, out in the
evening on the calm of the lake in a
canoe After they had padded
around quite a while without saying
anything, Ole looked up through his
eye brows and said to Hulda. will
you marry me?" She snapped out,
like a speclhed trout at grasshopper
and said yep" Then they floated
around again for time, when Hulda
said why don't you say something?
Ole responded maybe l have already
said too much. Marching Through
Georgia by the house. Be there and
show your colors, Community Club.
This week the seventh and eighth
grades have been writing papers on
she life of Abraham Lincoln. The pa
pers were taken up and judged by the
following committee, Mrs. c. e. Lar
sen, w. S. Hall and C. w. Pogue, The
highest score went to Edgar Colvin,
an eighth grade pupil. Anne Pompell
and Mamie Hoffman were the second