The Indianapolis times., 1924-01-22
TRIBE
is RICHEST
IN WORLD
Indians Want MeaSIy Allow
ance of $4,000 Per
Year Raised,
Times Washington Bureau,
1922 New York Ave.

xvi AsHINGTON, Jan. 22-Folks,
IWI meet 1.-The richest people in the
IL world"
Having found it exceedingly difficult
for the average family of five to
make ends meet on II measly $14,000
a year-which is barely~$269 23 a week
members of the Usage Indian tribe
of Oklahoma are here to plead with
Congress for an increase in their al
lowances.
In feathered headdresses, gay bIan-
kets and soft-soled moccasins, they are
dividing their time between the com
mittee rooms at the Capitol and their
suites at the city's leading hotels.
With some of the braves are their
squaws and papooses, the delegation
numbering about seventy.
It's their own money they are ask
ing for-money produced by their oil
wells, about three-fourths of which is
now held back by the United States
Indian Bureau and banked for them.
Millions have piled up to their credit.
At present the wells are earning
about S12 600 a year for each of the
Of the tribe But adults are permitted
to draw out only $4,000 a year and en-
rolled children only 81 900, the rest be.
ing invested for them by the Govern
ment.
Want Allowance Raised
The Indians want the allowance for
enrolled children raised to $4,000.
They also ask that children born since
the tribal rolls were closed in 1906
and who now receive nothing-be al.
lowed $4,000 a year out of their par.
ents' money.
Congressman opposing the request
declare the Governments Indian
wards spend too lavishly and there
fore it is best the Government hold
the money in trust for their descend
ants.
You'd be surprised at what the
white mans civllization-and his
money-have done to the noble red.
skin.
For instance. take old Chief Bacon
Rlnd, counsellor Of the tribe. Just a
little past 60, he wears feathers and
blanket and looks for all the world
like a bronzed figure in q Reming-
ton painting. but the chief smokes
cork-tipped cigarettes and enjoys the
movies. Furthermore, back in Paw
huska, Okla, he has a high powered
red automobile and hired chauffeur
CorE.Tipped Cigarettes
Old Chief Red Eagle. principal chief
Of the Osaees. wears the white mans
clothes, but his long, shiny hair IS
braided in red ribbon. lie. too. puffs
nOnchalantly on cork tipped cigarettes.
lives in a home that has water. gas
and electric lights and owns a red au-
tomobile,
Mrs. Bacon Rind and the other
squaws also wear blankets with
gaudy green and red stripes and dress
generally In typical Indian costume.
So much for the older generation.
but how about the younger?
In an expensive suite at one Of
Washingvons leading hotels, you'll
find an elderly Usage woman and her
two daughters, both married. The
mother clings TO her Indian garb, but
the girls
Well, one Is Mrs Mary Bearskin.
Just turned IS. who wears her raven
heir bobbed in the height Of napper
fashion. IS stylishly gowned In a natty
tricolette dress and sports French
heeled shoes The other is Mrs.
Frankie Fitch. about the same age as
her sister and similarly attirde-
bobbed hair and all
Same World Over
''Yes." said the latter. who speaks
English as good as you do. It attend
ed school In Washington last year. but
this is my sisters first visit here. We
may run up to New York for a little
trip-sister has never seen New York,
you lSnow-before returning to okla
homa."
A photographer asked the pretty
little bobbed haired squaw to pose for
a picture.
"Oh, wait until We fix up a little
BIT" she countered as she reached un-
consciously for her powder puff
showing that, after all. women are
the same the wide world over.