The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-01-27
HY BRUCE tArIDN
Special (UrrcspuudtntD

HY BRUCE CATION
Especial Correspondent
Iawhuska, Okla. Jan. % Inc
white, men charged with responsible.
itv for the murders Of nearly a score
" Usage Indians may OF may not be
nunished; but whatever their fate
the Tong battle to protect The sud
denly wealthy trlb>smen from the
designs of scheming whites has APP
parently come u Il successful con-
clusion.
Pawhusa. viii always reap the
benefit Of the fabulous wealth Of the
Usage nation. hut the grating para
sites who waxed fat through unscrnp-
ulous methods seem To have shot
their bolt.
This is due largely TO the activity
of j. George Wright. federal agent
in charge Of the Usage reservation.
who has earned the bitter hatred Of
a certain element of the white clt-
zcnry by his unwavering fight to pro-
tcct hi, dusky- skinned charges.
For many years there were two
WAYS to accuirc wealth speed'l' ~
Oklahoma three. il you count bank
robbery; to str.ke an OF "gusnar
or to become guardian for an i'm
competent" Indian.
Justice at Last
The, tale ofNndians who were mu,ct-
Cd and defrauded by their white
guardians is !; sordid one. But. for
tunatcly, it els tale that is just
about told. Mr.. Wright, aided by
new and wise legislation from Con
gress, has seen to that
Here was the way the thing used
to work A white man, with the con-
nivance, perhaps, of some careless
court. would have a rich Indian de-
clared incompetent and would get
appointed his guardian. Then the
fun would begin.
First there would be a good sized
fee for the guardian, paid out of the
Indians estate. Then the Guardian
would need an attorney to represent
his own and his wards interests; and
this attorney. too. would benelit ny
good fee. And best or worst of
all. the control Of the Indians estate
would be in the hands of the guard
ian.
The result is easily guessed at.
More and more Indians were declared
"incompetent' and the guardians rode
about in costly autos and built lovely
houses. Every NulHS wa" "p's""''
for the lawyers.
Wright Changes Things
But Mr. Wright was on the job
Largely as a result of his protests
Congress passed law setting the
guardians fec for handling the at
fairs of an incompetent at $3.50 q
year and limiting the amount that
toui be paid an incompetent Indian
~ $1,000 per quarter. All money over
that went intJ trust for the Indian
and could be spent only under tho
approval Of Mr. Wright.
This is where Mr.. Wright earned
the hatred OF certain citizens. He mas
proved an uncommonly hard man ia
hootlxink Such bills as an Indian
incurs that appear lust he orders
paid: the rest he will not approve
Consequently. such Indians AS are
now on the "incOmpetent' list ar,
people who are genuinely unable t'
take care Of themselves; the res,
have no guardians.
Wright. in this manner. probably
has control over more money anhu
ally than any other man in the Unit
I'D States.
Another thing Wright has done has
brought him more unpopularity. HIS
powers, under the law. are enormous;
and he has established Il "drunk list
on which goes the name OF every In
dian who is confirmed drunkard.
Can't Draw Money
Such Indians are not allowed te
draw cent Of their money. The bill:
they incur are paid, provided Wrigh'
thinks they should be; otherwise not
The gay old practice Of getting al
Indian drunk and then selling him
everything from four-tube radio
set to building lots in Florida ha:
become passe.
One Indian, q Carlisle graduate
and q man Of intelligence, became I
victim Of the drink habit some TIM
ago. As a result he has not had |
cent in his pocket for over a year
although nearly $4,000 year is pill
ing up in his name on the books a
Washington. All Of his bills, evel
down to the BARRIERS and bootblacSs
are paid by Wright. Manv a man ha
tried to take advantage of him in hi
drunken moments, but none has sue
ceeded.
Many Bills Outstanding
AS q matter of fact there are nov
outstanding several hundred thou
sand dollars worth Of bills which In
dams have run up and which Wrigh
will not approve This. at least, i
the charge of his enemies.
But Wright is unmoved by an.
complaints. This is fortunate TO
the Usage nation. The old days o
oppression and high-handed swindlc
are lust about over. The red MAJ
has found real protection at last.