Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-01

Kansas, the Republican nominee for the
vice presidency, has in his veins the
blood of two tribes Of the Southern
Sioux His great-grandfather was White
Plume, a chief of the Kansa Tribe,
usually called the Kaw. His great-great-
grandfather was PswhuSka. chief Of the
OSageS, for whom Pawnuska, Okla, is
named. and PawhuSka has been known
as White Hair
Senator Curtis himself is one-fourth
Kaw Indian, and is 50 enrolled III the
records Of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
III the Interior Department.
Washington. from which went forth
orders 10 do battle With hostile Indians
in days saone. and from which today
the Great White Father exercises a
hardship over the Indians. has many
links with these people who inherited
tbs land before the white man trod
upon It, Even today Indians arc not
rare sight on the streets OF the Ma
t.onal Capital bus stretching back
through the years there is close con-
necaon between The red man and the
white man with which this city had
much to 60
Rcd men have done honor to the
Stars and Stripes. and today they arc
still adding luster to Old Glory for their
names are great III the legislative halls
Of the Nation. upon its battlehelds and
upon the rolls Of learning,
Commissioner Charles H Burke of the
Bureau of Indian Affairs has long held
ZIP Senator Curtis AS All eXcmplar for
Indian youth Speaking modsstiy of
his record. Senator Curtis is quoted as
having said
There was little in my early days
that offered me particular advantages
in reaching this goal, Since this jour
ney has been pcssible for me. who
started SO ohscurely and who had so
many early hsndicsps, is there any rea-
son why any boy anywhere should not
consider that to him all things are pos
sib,e9"
The Senator's high honor bestowed
By his party throws into bold relief his
antecedents--th OsaeeS and the Kaws
and Stirs anew interest in America
historic cltizens-the Indians.
-
HISTORIANS described the Osages
SIS the tallest men on the continent,
and now il is well known that the
Osages are the richest of the Indians.
due 10 the finding Of oil on their lands.
The Osages Of old were dressed in skins
and they inhabited and hunted over
the headwaterS Of the Arkansas and
Neosho or Grand Rivers They shaved
End suspended from them great guam
titles Of wampum and tinsel orne-
nients. according to the stories OF the
pioneer white men who saw them in
their hev-dey. They then often wore
profusion Of rings on their fingers.
with silver bands on their wrists. and
they painted in variety Of pictur-
eS1ue ways.
Some OF the Kaw chiefs-the for
bears OF Senator Curtis, and closely
akin to the Osages-visite6 Washing
ton IS early as 1920.
The Kansa tKawl Indians. too.
shaved their heads. save for the tuft
left 20 ornament the poll. decorated
with the crest of 6eer's hair. dyed red
with horsehair. A considerable part
of the face was as red as they could
make Il With vermilion, say the old
b~a'-s
7fume -Manshenscaw-signed
"a the United States on be-
hs.. u Kaw Indians on october
"a ! IT ST. Louis.
An English observer. John T Irving.
tr-, has left this pen picture of White
Plume:
He was tall and muscular. though
his form, through neglect OF exercise.
was fast verging toward corpulency. He
whites, a calico hunting shirt and |
rough leggins. Over the whole was
wrapped heavy blanket His face was
implanted. and, although his age was
nearly 10. his hair was raven black
and his eye as keen as a hawks. He
was White Plume. chief of the Kanzas
Nation. He had spent much time
among the whites and had gradually
become farniliarized with their man
ners'
His children had died Of the cholera
during the previous Fall, this narrator
relates. calling attention to the poetic
language White Plume used in telling
Of the tragedy: My children have
gone from me, the Great Spirit has
called them they have disappeared like
the snow that melteth on the prairie
i was lonely. I returned TO my
lodge. but it was deSolate, for they
were not there"
The Kansa or Kaw Indians, from
which Senator Curtis ancestors came.
gave their name to the present State OF
kansas. The word kama in the Sioux
tongue means fast wind" or smoky
wind" from the cyclones and fires that
were wont 10 sweep across the prairies.
Women were given high place in the
councils Of the Kaw Indians. The Kan
ga always strictly observed in the old
days, marriage among his own kind
When the eldest daughter Of a family
married, she controlled the lodge, her
mother. and all her sisters, the latter
being always the wives of the same man.
On the death Of the husband, the widow
became the wife Of his eldest brother
without ceremony. II there was no
brother, the widow was free to select her
next husband
The Cheyenne Indians and the Paw
nees at various times attacked the Kaws,
who termed the white men big kniyea"
The Kaws settled along the mouth Of
the Kansas River, but the white men
persuaded them. through presents. TO
take up their abode more toward the
setting sun. This they did. settling
along the Kansas River. on which Sen
ssor Curtis was born. at Topeka.
THE Kaws' big rendezvous was at
Council Grove, Kan, where they
vent in l347 remaining there until 1873
rs the Council! Grove tract was overrun
D. settlers, it was sold. and with the
funds another reservation was bought
for them In Indian Territory, next TO
the Usage, and with the exception OF
100 acres reserved for school purposes.
al their lands have now been allotted
31 SeVeralty.
Historians say that the Kansa figured
but slightly In the history Of the country
until after the beginning Of the nine
tenth century. and never played an i'm
portant part In frontier affairs During
the 20 years which the Kansa spent al
Council Grove efforts were made TO
cidlize the tribe. but with little sue
cess Que 70 the suspicion Of the tribes
men as 10 the ways Of the white man
So strong was this prejudice that il is
ralatNa d. HhEistAa.1 AEaAltnk1cn rHnnr.r