But Matthew, like James was only writing the words of the Master long before Columbus discovered America, before the Injun was even thought of, maybe invented.
THE SERPENT"S SLIMY TRAIL
A favorite method of swindling is to inveigle the Indian into enc.u.mbering an allotment with a mortgage which will seldom if ever be redeemed, thus obtaining the land by foreclosure. The following gives an inkling to this mode of "stalking" by the financial gun-man.
CENTRAL BANK OF TOPp.e.n.i.sH
Mrs. Lucy James Topp.e.n.i.sh, Wash., July 2, 1920.
Harrah, Wash.
Dear Madam:
I note that you have received and recorded Patent in Fee to your allotment in section 27-11-18 near Harrah, and in this connection, wish to advise that if you desire to either borrow money on the property or sell the same, we would be pleased to talk with you at any time it is convenient.
We are in a position to place suitable farm loans for three or five years at favorable rates of interest with prompt service.
Awaiting the opportunity of serving you, I am
Sincerely yours,
H. B. MILLER, Cashier.
Mrs. James" deed was filed for record June 29, 1920. Her "friend" lost no time in his offer of financial a.s.sistance (?). Nasty intrigue. Mr. H.
M. Gilbert is President of the Central Bank of Topp.e.n.i.sh.
"Let the white man get all the water he can in this life, for he is going where it is awfully hot and dry."--=Louis Mann= in =The Continued Crime Against The Yakimas=.
"Water is Life. =Tahoma=, the =Big White Mountain! the= source of water.
When I die, the Earth will take care of my body."
=Chief Sluskin=, the Yakima.
WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT?
Hon. Cato Sells recently visited the Yakima Indian Reservation ostensibly in the interest of the Indian, but so far as can be learned no Indian was consulted, no tribesman invited to council, none permitted to air their many just grievances. None knew of his coming and but few learned of his going, and this, through a few friendly whites. Perhaps the Commissioner had not the time to devote to his Red Wards. Banquets with officials and speculators in Indian lands could not be foregone. In Topp.e.n.i.sh a few of the Yakimas were informed of the stranger"s personnel as he and his "escorts," or "body guard," as one observer commented, stepped into the Agency car and was whirled away. One of the tribesmen exclaimed:
"What does this mean? Why does our Commissioner do this thing? I thought he was =our= commissioner, to look after =us=. What is he here for? What is he doing? I know some of those men with him. I know who they are, what they are doing to the Injuns. We want to tell Mr. Sells something about how we are treated, how we are robbed, but Mr. Carr keeps him from us. Why is this? What is wrong with Mr. Sells."
Let Mr. Cato Sells explain his course to this untutored Yakima.
There is "something rotten in Denmark" when an Indian who has a thousand dollars due him at the Agency is compelled to borrow fifty dollars with which to purchase grain sacks before he can thrash his wheat crop.
"=It is h.e.l.l to be an Injun!=" was the rueful self diagnosis of a Yakima allottee as he dejectedly surveyed his torn hog fence and ruined garden, ground and demolished by one of the Government dredges. The crew, finding a bridge on the public road possibly unsafe, had, without consulting the Indian or asking his permission, opened his fence, entered his premises with the many toned machine, pa.s.sed over a part of his garden, obliterating it, leaving the fence broken permitting his hogs to scatter at large. The Indian was not aware of this occurrence until hours afterwards when he found his hogs wandering on the highway.
When the dredge-crew was spoken to he was referred to the Indian Farmer.
When this official was approached, he was referred to the Agency Superintendent. Appealing to this worthy, he was informed that he "knew nothing about it." And yet it is expected of the Indian that he be law abiding, show love and reverence for the Flag and the Government--to lick the hand that vivisects him. Surely it is "h.e.l.l to be an Injun."
THAT SAWMILL
The Yakima Indian Reservation has timber valued at more than three million dollars, and yet the Yakimas have no way of making domestic or commercial use of this wealth. Building material must be obtained from local dealers at high cost. The saw mill built by the Government in compliance with treaty stipulations, burned more than a quarter century ago "under very suspicious circ.u.mstances," so the Indians declare, and has never been replaced. Under date of April 26, 1909, Mr. C. F. Hauke, Chief Clerk of the Indian Office, in answer to an inquiry, wrote Louis Mann: "The sawmill is to be put into shape for operation at an early date." No move has ever been made to redeem that "black and white"
promise. It will be remembered that at that time the Department was over anxious to secure Yakima signatures which would permit the looting of the tribesmen to the tune of undetermined millions. The signatures were not forthcoming and the sawmill promise turned out to be another Indian Bureau fabrication.
It should redound to the credit of the Yakima Indians who refused to accompany the Pack Train under the supervision of Head Packer Anderson, who served the Mountaineer Club on its outing in the Olympic Mountains this season. Anderson packed for the Club in its tour of Tahoma last year, with three or four Yakimas and their horses. The Indians, usually considered hard horse masters, got their fill of Anderson"s mode of over-loading and driving the long stretches of steep and rugged trail, ofttimes occupying seventeen hours without food or rest. The horses, with raw and sore backs, staggered under stacks of dunnage, leaving the trail red with blood from their worn and unshod feet. The personal effects of preachers, professors and teachers were included in those packs. On a previous outing of the Club, Anderson"s packers mutinied.
The Mountaineers are winning an unenviable reputation for this brutal treatment of its yearly pack-train. What is the Washington State Humane Bureau for that it does not interfere with this lawless disregard of the humane laws?