The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-02-12
CH|PPEWAS STARvE AS
U. S. HOLDS TO FUNDS
ELEVEN THOUSAND REPORT
ED AS FACING EXTINCTIONS
FROM STARVATION.
HAVE $6,OOO,OOO in CAPITAL
Rations Issued by Government Out of
Tribal Money Held Inadequate.
Living in Pitiable Condition From
Hunger, Exposure and Disease.

MINNEAPOLIS.-Eleven thous-
and Chippewa Indians, members of a
once noble race, are facing extirpation
from the ravages of disease, exposure
and starvation on the White Earth
reservation in Minnesota
These Indians, living in pitiable, al
most unbelievable conditions, have a
fund OF S6,0O0,000 in the treasury at
Washington, fund that is growing
larger every year, yet they have not
the money to buy the necessities OF
life. Their rations, declared made
quate, are supplied by the government
and paid for out of the tribal fund.
Whole Families Dying.
A commission appointed by Gov. J.
A. O. Preus, of Minnesota, found that
whole families among these Indians
were dying of tuberculosis and malnu-
triton; that hundreds were blind and
becoming blind from trachoma and
that all were suffering from lack Of
clothing in one Of the most severe win
tiers Minnesota has had in years.
Yet the governor can do nothing,
though a state calamity board has a
fund of 100000 for use in such emer-
gencies, because the legislature in its
last session refused to take any action
regarding the Indians. The Red Cross
and other relief organization are pre-
paring to take steps to relieve Condi-
tons, but whatever efforts they make
cannot prove adequate to relieve en-
tirely the situation.
U. S Probe in 1912
Such conditions are not new to the
Minnesota Indians. A congressional
committee visited the reservation in
1912 and spent two weeks investigating
in White Earth and the surrounding
territory. When they finished the trip
they said they were shocked and lit
orally sick" from the sights they had
seen. According to their report they
found that in over six townships in
the reservation starvation, disease and
poverty existed in an unbelievable
state"
Thew found, as did the committee ap-
pointed by Governor Preus, that the
descendants OF the proud chief HOle-1n-
the-Dav. who signed the treaty Of
peace with the whites in 1867, were liv-
ing in midwinter in one-room novels
where old and young were going blind
of trachoma and suffering from NAL
nutrition and exposure, and that Is
per cent OF the Indians had tubercu-
losis.
Same Rations Issued Today.
Congressman ]. NJ. Graham, Of Hi
nois. member of the committee IN
1912, asked congress why, with
tribal fund OF $5,OOO,000, the Indians
were allowed to live without proper
medical attention and were allotted
only 10 pounds of pork, 80 pounds OF
flour, pounds OF tea, ) pounds OF
sugar and l pound OF soda a month
per adult.
Times have not changed. The same
rations are do1ed out now, according
to United State government, hgures,
10 ounces OF meat and 10 ounces OF
bread a day are required to keep a
soldier in health. These are in addition
to other ratiOns.
In addition to the rations they are
given each Indian gets $3.50 annually
as his share OF the interest on the
tribal fund. In all Minnesota there are
1000 Chippewas to share in the fund
which now amounts to $6,O0O,OOO.
Fishing and Ducking Ground Gone
Governor Preus, in commenting on
the situation. says that it is the result
Of the drainage OF Rice Lake, which
previously had been a resort OF ducks
and fish. Much Wild rice had been
grown near there. The Indians had
denended upon these for food.
The governors commission said
that officials of Booker county. OF
which the reservation is a part, had
refused to do anything to relieve the
situation, although they could ad-
vance no reason why this attitude
should be taken, especially in view OF
the TACT that the Indian cases investi-
gated are those of bona ide citizens
of Minnesota, and, according to the
laws of the state, are entitled to coun-
tv aid and mothers pensions"
Reports say that Indians on the
Pont Du Lac reservation are in the
same pitiab1e condition, though the
tribe there has $1O,OOO,O0O in its fund
at Washington.