The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1922-04-20
Truth Will Out.

commissioner or lnQlan AualrS,
dated April 7th, 1922, that gentle
man makes a most desperate effort
to justify his action in the pro-
posed removal of the White Earth
Agency to Cass Luke. A careful
and consistent perusal of the Hon.
Commissioners why's apd where
fores as offered in his said letter
fail to reveal anything practical,
logical or economical that would
justify the removal in question.
Apparently the major stress or
incentive for the removal is credit
ed to the ''gradual reduction of
the annual appropriation made by
Congress and which has served to
greatly cripple administrative
and left little available for con-
structive work. etc. Immedi-
ately following this rank declara-
tionathe Hon. Commissioner pro-
ceeds to play his trump card by
stating: ..
''Tbe reduction in appropriation
made by Congress as indicated
we're directly due to the attitude
If the so-called General Council,
Minnesota Chippewa Indians, rep
resented by an attorney who has
been persistently active for many
years in obstructing and question
ing matters of administration and
seffecting the affairs of the Mime.
sofa Chippewa Indians
This is assuredly revelation~of
JOY and delight not only to the
members, and. advocates of the:
General Council but likewise q
high tribute of praise for the
splendid qualifications Of its able
and efficient representative sattor-
ney, Mr.. Webster. Ballinger, who.
has "been persistently active for
many years. = devoting large
measure of his time and means
gratuitously in keeping watchfal
eye on matters of administration
and effecting the affairs of. the
Minnesota Chippewas.' - And had
it not been for the very watchful
attitude of the General Council
and the persistent activity of its
able and efficient representative
attorney the annual prodigal APP
preparations by Congress and as
demanded by the Indian Bureau
would have been permitted to
flourish without limits and until
the very last penny of the Mime
sofa Chippewa Indian tribal fund
or estate would have been squan-
dered away, not for constructive
work however,. but mostly en-
ployed for administrative pur-
poses. ~ ~. -: =
|. Notwithstanding the fact that
the General Council and its repre-
sentative attorney represent fully
80 per cent of the Chippewa In
dians of Minnesota the Indian Blu
reau has persistently and strenuous
II opposed it's functional activities
and otherwise manifested its bitter
spite and animosity on every pos:
sible occasion. While on the other
hand it has fondled and catered to
the wishes of the Red Lake band
of Minnesota Chippewa Indians,
numbering some 1850 people, the
only non-progressive element
among the Minnesota Chippewas,
to the extent Of permitting them
the assistance of a representative
attorney, located at Washington,
az a salary of $4,000 per annum,
and this amount paid out of Chip
pewa Indian tribal funds, besides
favoring the said band with the
bulk of the annual appropriation,
mostly for administrative purposes
and. ostensibly secured under the
stereotyped justification of for
the relief and civilization of the
Minnesota Chippewa Indians. !"
If the question of economy was
the prime incentive which domi.
natea the motives of the Indian