The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1925-10-22
Montana Indians Having
Trouble Securing Their
Choice Of Tribal Attys.
Wolf Point. Montana,
July II, 1925.

July II. 1925.
Dear Mr.. Latimer:
We are having such a hard time
trying to keep the Bureau in its
right tracks, we have no time -
write. s.>1s... -. -
Mr.. Grorud was with US on the
14th inst. at our council. Hon.
Burke called this council to have
US to think over and reconsider the
action taken at the previous meet
ing where Burke and his pet at
torney tried to jockey the Indians
into employing James w. Wood
of Chicago. an exCopgressmau,
lame duck like Burke, but the In
dians absolutely refused to take
any recommendations of Burke.
The council at this last meeting
took q more decided and firmer
stand against the wishes of the
Bureau and passed resolutions
condemning the Bureau and all
others who are Interfering in the
claims of the Indians.
We have worked Increasingly
along the lines you suggested of
organization and we can, without
fear of contradiction, say that with
this program the indians will come
into their own very soon. We
have 80 impressed the Indians with
the need of organization that in
the near future all the Indians in
Montana will be united under one
organization. All this came about
because of your valuable paper
bringing the truth out. One In
dian after having his copy fead to
him said, This man must be a
fearless brave, because it takes q
lot of courage to make such state
ments against the Indian agents. :"
He then said that if we had a few
more good white men like you, the
Indian Bureau would not exist and
the Indians held as slaves as to-
day. ....-
Another old man told his story
and asked that his case be pub
ished so that the good people
might hear how the Bureau treats
the Indians. This old man is past
20 years and is a widower. The
Indian agent sold three head of
cattle, two full grown cows and an
early spring calf, all for only $50,
without his knowledge or consent.
One of the merchants said that
they could easily have brought
over $500 but they were sold
cheap. The Indian when he, Blue
Horn is his name, heard that they
were loading his three head of
cattle into the stock cars went
there and asked who sold them the
cattle and they said the Indian
agent did, and that the money $780,
was already paid in and held at the
Office. He protested and refused
the money and then just lately he
was compelled to accept the money
and they only paid him $55. This
all happened during the winter
and spring and now they sold bis
two 4O.acre allotments in the same
way. All this was done. because
some white man wanted tbe pro-
perty.
I have given Mr.. Grorud many
cases to present to the Congress.
ional Committee. He was fully
authorized to appear for the As.
siniboine Indians by the council.
Our organization work is stead
lily going ahead an1 we expect tc
ask you to call our first convention
here in Montana through your
valued paper. Mr.. Grorud ha.
all the information as he asked us
to bring all our troubles to bis
attention. He is to represent an
Indian in an adoption case next
Wednesday, the 22nd, and | know
he will show up the Bureau then.
We have finally succeeded in