Justice and Fair Dealing for
every Indian who desires to
become a good Citizen.
Vol. XXII .
THE TOMAHAWK.
Official Organ of the Minnesota
Chippewas.
L. LO6AN, \ Editor and Publisher.
Published Weekly at
White Earth Agency, Minnesota.
Entered at the Poatoffice at White
Earth, Minn., aa mail matter ot the
second class.
SURSGRIPTIOR: SI .BO PER TEAR IR AOTMCt
The American Indian
Citizenship Measure.
On the sth of last month Presi
dent Coolidge signed the bill
granting unrestricted citizenship
to the Indians. The New York
Times spoke of this act of the
President as “historical,” remark
ing that “In the one hundred and
fifty eighth year of the Independ
ence of the United States it has
pleased Congress to admit the
descendants of the original Ameri
can people to the same legal status
as aliens who have gone through
the necessary procedure after live
years ef continuous residence
here.”
This unrestricted citizenship law
is, following its enacting clause, as
follows:
“That all noncitizen Indians
born within the territorial limits
of the United States be, and they
are hereby declared to be citizens
of the United States. Provided,
That the granting of such citizen
ship shall not in any manner im
pair or otherwise affect the right
of any Indian to tribal or other
property.”
It remains to be seen whether
the law is quite as definite in its
effect as the Times assumes it to
be. At any rate, the bill does not
consider the new status of the In
dian as inconsistent with wardship,
that is to say, group wardship,
This fact would seem to differen
tiate the Indian’s new status from
that of the Alien. We have never
put aliens collectively or as a
group under the wardship of the
nation} or any state of the nation,
prior to “naturalization.”
Secretary Work’s article in a
recent issue of the Saturday Even
ing Post seems to indicate the in
definite continuance of the ward
ship, especially since, in a letter
written by him to Mr. Joseph W.
Latimer of New York, under date
of June 4, the transfer of the re
sponsibility for handling the
Affairs of the Indians to .the sever
al states in which they are resi
dents and have property rights, is
spoken of as “a gradual process.”
“Gradual process” has been a
favorite phrase of the Bureau of
Indian Affairs for many a tragic
year. It has an ominous sound.
The effect of the bill and the
real status of the Indian can, how
ever, be tested at once. He is
now supposed to have every right
of ah American citizen. Let him
claim the right which ail citizens
are presumed to exercise—the
right to go to the polls and cast
bis ballot. Let 'fiim, therefore,
fulfill at once the voting require
ments of the state in which he is a
resident. Let him register, get
his name on tbe polling list, and
•v
then use the power of the ballot to
effeet his salvation and the best
welfare of the communityt
The Tomahawk should be in
every Chippewa home. $1.50 psr
year in advance.
The Tomahawk.
Official Organ Of The Minnesota Chippewas.
‘Truth before Favor. ”
An Illustration ot Mach
iavelian Bureaucracy.
Department of the Interior
Office of Indian Affairs,
Washington, May 15, 1924
Mr. Joseph W. Latimer,
30 West 85th Street,
, New York, N. Y.
Dear Sir:
In a recent paper, entitled “Bu
reaucracy a la Mode” you publsh
ed a letter from Mr. F. L. Morgan
of Hoquiam, Washington, with
reference to the sale of the timber
upon the allotment of Sally Will
iams. Assuming that you desire
to know the facts, we are address
ing you regarding this particular
case.
Timber upon Indian reservations
is advertised and sold in units be
cause of the better terras and
prices obtainable as well as the
opportunity to make sales of such
areas instead of individual tracts.
The Sally Williams allotment is
within the Moclips unit sold to the
Aloha Lumber Company and lies
to the southorn border of the sale.
The timber south of it had been
cut by another company, that east
of it was being cut at the time,
and that west and north of the
allotment will ultimately be cut.
This tract was the key allotment
to the unit and if not sold and
logged at the time by that com
pany, future purchasers would not
be able to pay the same or as high
prices because it would require a
resetting of the donkeys and other
equipment and being the only
timbered tract in the area,, the ex
pense of handling would be so
great as to reduce the value of the
timber and the price obtainable.
Furthermore with the surrounding
timber logged, that on the allot
ment of Sally William& would be
exposed to great fire and wind
risk and serious depreciations
would result.
The allottee does not speak or
write English, is 62 years of age,
and has no means of earning her
own living. Because of her situa
tion and apparent incorapetency,
and in order to conserve her prop
erty and obtain the highest prices
possible, the Department granted
a revocable permit to begin log
ging her allotment. Although
advised 6f the estimated value of
the timber at $9,842 60, this wom
an had agreed to accept $7,200
from the company, which would
have meant a loss to her in excess
As it is, the timber
has been all cut and there has
been placed to her credit $9,975.-
96. She was advised oh numerous
occasions that her timber was be
ing cut and beginning wifch Feb
ruary 49, 1923, upon her own
application, she was given an al*
lowance of SSO per month for her
maintenance! She has also been
given other allowances and up to
the present, time has drawn
$1,990.80.
Sincerely yours,
(Signed) C. H. Burke,
Commissioner.
—o—
Hoquiam, Washington,
May 29, 1924.
Hon. Joseph W. Latimer,
30 W. 85th St.,
New York, N. Y.
Dear Mr. Latimer:
I bsve received your letters
concerning the sale of the allot
ment of Sally Williams and also
Mr. Burke’s letter written to you.
1 have delayed replying, hoping to
get some affidavits concerning this
sale and particulary with reference
to the misleading and erroneous
statements in Mr. Burke’s letter.
White Earth, Becker County, Minnesota, Thursday, July 10, 1924.
I have had the sad experience, as
no doubt you have, of finding that
the Indian Bureau very frequently
states facts incorrectly and worse,
sometimes willfully misstating the
contents of their own records.
In the first place, I would like
to have you understand that I am
not attorney for Sally Williams,
never have been her attorney ,in
any matter and haven’t the slight
est interest in this proceeding, Ex
cept as a good American citizen
who is standing by, watching this
wholesale robbery.
First, let us see in what we can
agree with reference to Mr.
Burke’s letter. You will note
that he does not deny that the In
dian Bureau has deducted eight
per cent of the amount received
and that, no doubt accounts for
the reduced amount now to her
credit. You will also note that
Mr. Burke states that this timber
was sold to the Aloha Lumber
Company as part of a large unit.
This is correct, but he does not
disclose the fact to you, which is a
fact, that this timber was sold at
the same rate per thousand in the
unit as timber which was miles
farther away from market and not
half so valuable. You will note
that Mr. Burke says this, “The
tract was the key allotment to the
unit.” This is correct and being
the key allotment to the unit, it
was worth at least twice what the
Bureau obtained for it. You will
note that Mr. Burke repeats the
old tale by which thousands of
small owners have been robbed of
part of their valuable timber by
stating that “if this particular
company did not take out this
particular tract at this time, there
would be no sale for it.” We
who are familiar with timber,
know that this old fairy tale has
been exploded these ten years.
Mr. Burke says, “The expense of
handling would be so great, as to
reduce the value of the timber ”
This is BUNK of the worst kind
and anyone who is familiar with
timber in these days at this time,
know that is not true.
We now come to the misstate
ments in Mr. Burke’s letter. The
allottee, Sally Williams, lives at
Chenoise Creek with relatives.
These relatives are active and in
telligent men with considerable
bank accounts, Tbe allottee is a
shrewd and capable person and she
well knew, as did her relatives,
Mr. Allan Chenoise and others,
the value of this timber. Notr
withstanding Mr. Burke’s state
ment, she absolutely refused to
sell this timber and she did not, at
any time, ever agree to sell it to
the Aloha Lumber Company or
any other purchaser, This waman
had other means of income, in
cluding a considerable deposit
with the Indian Bureau, and it is
out of this deposit and not out of
the Aloha Lumber Company tim
ber that she has been paid an al
lowance of $50.00 per month.
You will note that Mr. Burke
states that she was advised on
numerous occasions that her tim
ber was being cut I am informed,
and I believe, that this is a willful
and deliberate falshood; and the
fact that so late as last year the
Indian Bureau was then trying to
get a power of attorney from her
through mv office, does not bear
out thoir contention that she had
been advised that this timber was
being logged. At that very time,
the logging was in progress or had
been completed (a fact not dis
closed to me), yet she did not
know of this particular deposit
until after she was so informed by
her nephew who obtained the in
formation from my office.
Ido not need to again remind
(Continued on 4th page.)
Rare Ceremony is Wit
nessed Here During Re
cent Celebration.
Mrs. C. J. McConvilli is Adopted Into the
Chippewas of Minnesota.
On Saturday, June 14th, during
the celebration, a very interesting
ceremony took place on the lawn
at the former agency office, when,
on the invitation of the Chippewas
of this reservation, Mrs. C. J.
McConvil! of Minneapolis, presi
dent of tbe Minnesota division of
the N. C. C W. was adopted into
the tribe in appreciation of her
work and those of her organization
for the needy Indians of this sec
tion.
This is considered the highest
honor that can be paid any one
and so rare is it with the Chippe
was that this was only the second
adoption that has taken place with
in tho recollection of the oldest
members of the reservation.
The adoption was witnessed by
several hundred persons. The
Indians, all seated in a circle, were
addressed by Joseph Big Bear,
while Joseph Morrison acted as
interpreter. After relating the
work done in their behalf by the
Catholic women last winter, he
said in order to show their grati
tude he would urge the members
of the tribe to accept Mrs. Mc-
Conville as one of their own.
Having obtained their consent
and approval, the invitation was
extended to her to become one of
“Buy where the buying is good. ”
Come in and see what great buying power
a little money will have In
this up-to-date store.
them, and together with Rev.
Father Aloysius and the interpret
er she entered the circle to be
taken in charge by three Indiau
women representing (1) the family
life, (2) camp life and (3) wild life
Each was dressed to represent her
particular calling.
The newly adopted member of
the tribe was then dressed by these
Indian women in the Indian cos
tume worn by Minnehaha and
which was presented to her by
Mrs Jenny Ledeboer.
The Indian name given Mrs,
McCouvillo vVas Wah-sah gc »ig
go quay, which means “woman
who brings light.” Standing in
lino with leading men of the tribe,
their new sister was formally wel
comed by every member coming
forward and greeting her with a
cordial “Bejou” and with a hearty
handshake.
The entire ceremony consumed
more than an hour and was marked
with a seriousness thufc brought
(Continued on 4th page.)
White Earth
Bus and Ex
press Line.
DRAYING
between White Earth and Ogema
My prices ure right, and satis
faction guaranteed
White Earth, - - Minn
The Quality Store
B. S. Fairbanks.
Years of experience in buy
ing. and selling groceries has
taught us that the public
want the best.
Our shelves are always full of pure, fresh and, up-to date Gro
ceries, which we give to our customers at the lowest possible
price. Our line of
Men and Women’s
Wearing Apparel-
Boots and Shoes
is oomplete and up-to-date
B. S. FAIRBANKS.
White Earth, Minnesota.
Published in behalf of, and
to secure the welfare of the
Indians of the United States.
P. C. MARTIN, Prop.
Let me do your
»«r3KSr-
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HALL'S CATARRH MEDICINE con
sists of an Ointment which f. ves Quick
Relief by local application, abd tho
Internal Medicine, a Tonic, •rhlch acts
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faces and assists In ridding your System
of Catarrh.
Sold by druggists for over 4* Tears.
F. J. Cheney & Co., Toledo, O.
SOLOMEN SEAL'S
“Lodge by
the Dunes.”
A Camp for liltle Indian Child
ren. Write R. F. D. No. 2.
Chesterton, Indiana.
Tho faculty in charge of this
institution are admirably qualified
for their work. It is in churgo of
a college trained lady who is a
graduate of Smith Collego for
girls, and who also spent two years
at the Massachusetts Agricultural
College, and a term at tho Uni
versity of Chicago.
She has as an assistant a college
trained Indian woman who under
stands the Indian children and is
deeply interested in her work.
Charges are reasonable. Write for
paiticulars.
A GOOD SCHOOL
that guarantees satisfactory work
or refunds tuition. One mouth’s
tuition free while you investigate.
Write for catalog.
Intorstato Bussiness College,
Fargo, North Dakotn.
Subscribe for Tho Tomahawk
$1.50 per year in advaneo.
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No. 9