Show IP IC lb 1st L Was W ll ll Il 9 Il d sir b Z r t t k rr p i 1 s t rr a k F R y a y f a rr s 4 M 4 x j y 4 vT Y T Ts TK s K t wan ba u ur v tr St r s ran 4 f r 4 a f fa a a i iut t ut z 4 f S Sh ili h Tt gip gips s L II MECHE QUA OR LITTLE TURTLE T TLE Indian Who Was the Original Prohibitionist Says History N these days when en the question of wet and dry zones throughout I i the tte United States is under discussion and the question of restricted liquor traffic is being voted vote upon in many parts of the country it may be interesting In Interesting to know of the Original Pro Prohibitionist Prohibitionist Prohibitionist He was an Indian Some people called him a savage yet he lie was the first and only living Jiving man who ever persuaded the government of the United States to take any steps in the regula regulation regulation regulation tion of at the liquor other than to tax It One hundred and nine years ago yes yesterday yesterday yesterday the fhe Original Prohibitionist the English literal translation of which is Little Turtle appeared before the Great Groat Father In Washington who happened to be Thomas Jefferson and through an In Interpreter Interpreter interpreter Implored the President to for forbid forbid fort t bid the sale of liquor to the Indians within the jurisdiction of the United States Thomas Jefferson gave heed to the suggestions of the Miami Indian chief and sent a special message to Congress which resulted in giving the treasury department the power to re restrict restrict rei i strict the introduction and sale of spirituous liquors to the Indians William E Johnson chief special i n nent ent of the United States Indian service servIce service ice whose headquarters are in Salt S lt Lake has lias marked the event and con considers considers considers I siders a prominent I figure and the one who laid the foun foundation foundation foundation dation for the restriction of introduction and sale fule of or liquor within the limits of ot government Indian reservations According to Mr Johnson the great I chief and prophet of the Shawnee Indians also did his part to establish a superstition which for many years held held the Indians of North America in fear ear of firewater I was blind of one eye e e eTo To the Indians it was a mark of ot distinction dis distinction distinction and one which marked him asa as asa a n seer and a medicine man One day more than half halt a century ago ugo Law had a vision He dreamed that he was unceremoniously transported to the shades shade of hell There he saw an endless endle line of Indians with fire issuing issuing ing In from th their lr mouthy mouth like so many When he inquired of Satan why the Indians were subjected to such endless tortures he was In Informed Informed Informed formed by his satanic majesty that while on earth the Indians had been whisky drinkers and that the punish punishment punishment punishment ment of being twins everlasting blowpipes was the punishment made to fit the offense I ka communicated his vision to the Indian tribes of the earth He set them in fear that unless they ab abstained abstained abstained I stained from drinking whisky they would be subjected to the everlasting punishment of being lined up in helland hell helland helland and blowing fire from their throats and nostrils It is a matter of ot history that the word w rd of the Indian prophet had hall and still has a deterring effect on r the Shawnees I The old chief was not as much of a dreamer as his I Shawnee brother It was in 1801 that the yearly meeting of Friends was held I in Baltimore to discuss ways and means l to prevent the Indians from securing I liquor which crazed them and caused them to murder and maim each other in an appalling manner The Society of Friends accepted a proposal of ot the chief LIttle Turtle who then swayed much Influence with the Miami Indians scattered thickly through Indiana Lit Little Little tle Turtle through an interpreter made madean I an impassioned speech against the use t of liquor among his people His speech I Imet met with approval and a commission j accompanied him to Washington where the situation was laid before President I Jefferson and resulted in the Indian liquor act which has remained pealed and is in full force and effect today William E B Johnson Is the chief of that department of the government I which has for f r Its purpose the the enforce enforcement enforcement 1 ment of the restrictions against liquor on Indian reserves His headquarters have been in Salt Lake for a little less than two years but in that time he has convicted more than 1200 men many of whom are in the penitentiary of Indian liquor depredations Within Vi thin the past few weeks Mr John Johnson Johnson I Ison son has turned his attention to suppressing sin sing the introduction and sale of liquor among the Chippewa Indians in northern north northern northern ern Minnesota A short time Ume ago in inthe Inthe Inthe the town of Detroit Minn he permitted two saloons to remain open upon the pledge of the city government that they would refrain from selling liquor to the Indians The ministerial alliance of the town is now up In arms against the remaining remain remaining remainIng ing two saloons and has called a mass meeting to instigate sentiment to close the two places Mr Ir Johnson who Is known all over the country where wh re In Indians Indians Indians are located as Pussyfoot has been Invited to attend the mass meet meeting meetIng meeting ing |