The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-05-10

Through an interpreter,
the representatives of a majority of the 500
Seminoles surviving in Florida asked do
main of 100000 acres in the Everglades and
S15 month each from the. government as
indemnity for seizure of the rest of the state
by "our white friends"
In return they offered to recognize the
United States and obey its laws except the
game laws.
1.-The Seminoles," replied Secretary Ickes
"are proud and independent people, l do
not know whether it will be possible to give
them all they ask, but in cooperation with
the state of Florida, the administration in
Washington will do all in its power to give
them the land and the game they require
to live the lives of their forefathers"
1t was a colorful scene with ranks of Ma
tional Guardsmen and huddles of Seminole
squawS and children in bright festive garb
forming a background along the sparkling
lake waters. Loud speakers carried the nego-
tiations to several thousand spectators,
mostly winter visitors from the North, in
boxes and bleachers.
There is no game left for me. I ask for
provision for my people," said Sam Tomme,
the chosen spokesman
Formerly had many grounds to hunt on.
Now l ask the white people to deed me
land" said Charlie Cypress
After the council the tribes In their many
pieced and many-colored dress danced the
green corn dance while the fashionable audi
ence applauded.
Not only did many newspapers print the story
one similar to it, but some of them editorial
lied at length on it, Others, however. ignored
the story or the opportunity for editorial COM
ment. Perhaps they considered it just another
press agent yarn" Or they may have remem-
bered that eight years ago this same 'war" was
going to be Officially ended" AT least, that was
what press dispatches from Miami said at the
time. Those dispatches told how Chief Tony
Tommy, ordained leader of all the Seminoles in
Florida" was going to Washington ito make for
NAL peace with the United States government
and ask for citizenship for his people" and how
the chief 'was buying yards of brilliant calicoes
which Mrs. Tommy, who was Edna John the
granddaughter of the great Osceola will make
into ceremonial robes which Chief Tommy will
wear when he calls on the Great White Father,
President Coolidge"
All of which made good copy for the newspa-
pers and good publicity for Miami and that part
of Florida. But short time later this press dis
patch from Fort Myers, Fla, appeared in the
papers:
Nuck-Suc- Hal Chez, chief of the Florida
Seminoles, vigorously denies that the glade
tribesmen seek American citizenship or rec
United States.
The position of sour little nation" is made
plain in letter from Stanley Hanson, secre-
tary of the Seminole Indian association of
Florida, to Judge George w. Storter of Col
ler county, life long friend of the Indians
in which the Indian chief repudiates state
ments made by Tony Tommy of Miami, self
styled leader for the Seminoles.
"All news dispatches carried out of Miami
recently" the letter continues, have been
unauthorized by Seminole leaders and there
fore without foundation. When the Seminoles
take action it will be through duly consti-
tuted council which governs the little ma
ton"
Nuck-Suc-Ha-Chee charges that Tony Tom
my married Edna John, Indian maiden, at
Miami last May for publicity and money.
West coast Semnoles say his marriage was
a fake.
All this wrath of the powerful west coast
Seminoles has been brought down on the
head of Tony Tommy because of letter
he recently wrote to President Coolidge
stating that the Seminoles had forgotten CEN
tury-old grievances against the whites and
desired to become citizens of the United
States. Although elected leader of the Fort
Lauderdae camp, Tony Tommy is said he
despised by most of the Chiefs who refuse
to recognize him.
The next item in this interesting situation was
a dispatch from Jacksonville, Fla. which said !:
Tony Tommy, self-styled Great Chief of
the Seminoles," has again retired with his
little band of lower East Coast Indians into
the Businesses of the Everglades to let his
proud and naughty spirit recover from the
wounds of chagrin.
Tony has been imbued with two ideas. He
has gloried for years in the belief that he
was the Great Chief and recently he came