Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-02-11
CHIEF COOKS LAMENT.

Injustice swift, erect and unconfin'd
Sweeps the wide earth, and tram
pies Ger mankind.
Homer.
Sachem wahhun-sun-scook OF the
Pamunkey Indians in this State ana
who in plain English is known as
Chief Cook lost both his head and
his case in the debating bout with
the Senate Courts and Justice Com
mittee Friday, February 8, 1928. He
spoke against the bill which has al
ready passed the House of Delegates.
which bill defines Negroes as persons
having an ascertainable amount I
Eth 'opian blood without reference
fo limit of time or number OF gem
ecations, and would define Indians
as persons having one-fourth or more
Indian blood.
As this law would be retroactive.
il can be attacked as unconstttu-
e,onal. The measure was construed to
mean that an Indian having three
fourths or less Of white" blood
would still be regarded as an Indian,
but if he had any Negro blood what
$ ever within his veins, he would be
a Negro. When the bill was first
proposed to Chief Cook. he gave his
approval to the measure, but learned
Of the white mans wiles during the
heated discussion OF the issue.
Just how the proponents of the
measure could argue that person
with one-fourth or more of Indian
blood in his veins is an Indian. pro-
vided the other proportion contains
40 Negro blood Is q question fer
the gods to decide. By legislative
enactment an attempt is made to
define a race with an uneven and
unstable measure of explanation. 1t
was then that Chief Cook exclaimed:
II will tie a stone around my neck
and jump in the James River "a her
than be classed as a Negro. 1t would
he far finer to perish in The waters
of this stream, upon whose banks
my ancestors fought to help he
pale faces" achieve independence
from England than to- suffer such
Sn ind'gnfg after being chef OF
mine ancient and honored tribe for
nearly a quarter of a century.
This is rather tragic fate for this
"biood and thunder" leader Of the
Pamunkeys. Certain it Is that there
viii be a mighty big crowd Of Ne
groes present to see him make his
''take off, if he will notify them Of
the time and place Of. his entrance
Ia the Indians Happy Hunting
Grounds. 1t may be we'll to remind
the "Big Chief" that Negroes did u
much as his tribe to accomplish the
independence Of this country, in the
War Of the Revolution, the War Of
1912. the Civil War. the Spanish
American War and the World War.
II Chief Cook or his tribe went
overseas, We have not heard about
ie. Before he dies, he may be glad
% associate with these same Negroes
whom he so roundly despises. Certain
it is that Negroes join with him in
his effort to maintain the racial in.
tegEity Of his tribe and they do
not want any of its mongrel MEM
hers thrown over on their side OF
the contention. We thought that
dog eat dog" in the common In
dian parlanCe. To speak plainly, we
were under the impression that
Indian lived with Indian, married
indian and did not aspire TO either
association or marital relations with
the pale faces.
Judging from Chief Cooks ex-
eressions and attitude. he would
prefer the blood of a white horse
thief in the veins of some of the
members of his tribe rather han the
blood of the most refined Negro even
theugh that alleged Negro bore al
of the ear-marks and compilations OF
an Anglo'Saxon. The Committee gave
its approval to the bill despite the
impassioned protest of Chief Cook,
Of the Pamunkey Indians
There is another interesting phase
to this situation. The white man
messed" the Indians up with half
breeds and the attempt is being
made to protect the Indians in this
white mans messing. 1t Is brought