“… That country, the United States, belongs to the red man, the American Indian …” — Bobby Fischer, 2005
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn New York, Friday, August 29, 1924
Wealthy Indians Fear Politicians; Flee With Riches; Always in Danger of Having Estates Put in Hands Of Guardian. Special to the Eagle.
Oklahoma City, Aug. 25—Several judges have taken a firm stand backing up public opinion in favor of justice to the Indians following a public plea in which it was stated:
“Why do we permit wealthy restricted Indian families to be driven out of the State to escape legal harassment? There are today approximately 50 wealthy Indians who are living either out of the State or just sort of drifting about from one place to another, afraid to purchase homes and settle down in once place. These are restricted Indians whose estates are under the guardianship of the Government. Experience has taught them, and Government officials, too, that just about as soon as one of these Indians acquire a legal resident some one bobs up with a court petition asking that the Indian be declared incompetent and that a guardian be appointed. Naturally these Indians especially the more intelligent ones—and most of them are sufficiently intelligent to be better off without a guardian than with one—resent this. It is for that reason that they live in California, Colorado, or any other place where they believe they are safe from such embarrassment. These petitions are usually brought for the sole purpose of getting a slice of the Indian's money and with no thought toward preserving his estate. These conditions are not peculiar to any one county but exist in all of them to a varying degree, in the territory of the Five Civilized Tribes.
“Of course these Indians do not need guardianship. They are already furnished that by law, the Government itself providing for such service. * * * Appointment of an additional guardian by State courts only adds confusion and expense to the Indian and makes easy picking for lawyers and guardians who can grab any part of it.
“The attitude of the judiciary could and should have a tremendous effect on a situation like this. If the county and district courts would assume a policy that would negative the efforts of grafters to get a hold on the estates of restricted Indians, and insist that the Government guardianship was sufficient for this class of Indians, the harassing of Indians would be greatly reduced, if not eliminated entirely.”
Wealthy Indians Fear Politicians; Flee With Riches 29 Aug 1924, Fri The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) Newspapers.com
