When Indians were brought into the offices of the buyers and hesitated about selling or mortgaging, more persuasive arguments were used. In the case of Grace Rock, who visited E. G. Holmes’ bank, the testimony now in the hands of the Government is to the effect that as she did not wish to sell at the price offered, and started into the hall, one of those present cried to Interpreter Morrison, “Go and fetch her back, and if she will not sell, we will throw her into the lake.”
Me-zhuck-ke-gway-abe in affidavit No. 268, July 29, 1909, states that one Fred Saunders got him to drink and then bought his land. A minor son, Willy Bassett, was told to sign papers, or he would be put in jail.
In the case of Mrs. Lawrence Roberts, her affidavit recites that she appeared before banker Anundensen with Interpreter Robert Morrison—“Anundensen asked if I was a mixed-blood and I said my parents are full-bloods. He said that is all right. We signed papers.”
I quote this case because it is typical of nearly one hundred others. The papers which she signed were not explained to this woman and may well have recited that she was a mixed-blood Indian.
ROSE ELLIS
One of the interpreters serving during the investigation of 1909. Carlisle graduate. Full-blood Ojibwa.
A number of Indians have stated that “If you are related to mixed-bloods, it is all right.” I make particular mention of this mixed-blood question because, before the Congressional Investigation Committee Gus Beaulieu claimed that I endeavored to prove all Indians full-bloods, and that these Indians, having previously sworn before the land buyers that they were mixed-bloods, should now be indicted for perjury. We were especially careful in all our evidence, and we discriminated against those who appeared to be mixed-bloods—if there was any discrimination at all. Only Indians who were undoubtedly full-bloods were entered as such.
The fact that many Indians may have previously sworn that they were mixed-bloods does not prove them to be such. They were made to sign these papers, the papers were not explained to them, and if there is any perjury, the white people are responsible, rather than the Indians who have been duped.
When the business of dealing in Indian lands was at its height, carloads of wild bronchos from South Dakota, and broken-down horses from St. Paul were shipped up to the Indian country. The business was apparently conducted on a large scale, for several hundred Indians testified to having traded their allotments for a little cash and teams of horses, buggies, harnesses and sleighs, not to mention old pianos, graphophones and other useless articles in the struggle of the aborigines for existence. As the Ojibwa are woods or canoe Indians, and not “Horse Indians” as are the Sioux, very few of them understood the management of horses. Even if the horses had been strong and active, it is doubtful if they would have been of any considerable value to these Indians. Some of the horses lived but a few weeks. Many of them were so old that their teeth were worn down. The broncho would run away and smash the old buggy or sleigh.
Five interpreters, who confessed as to their part in these proceedings in order to escape prosecution, told how the bankers and real estate men often stood in their office doors and laughed heartily as the poor Indians drove away after conducting their business.