One Man Races the Chiefs to Washington to Open the Reservation

James Reuben, of Lapwai, Idaho, a stalwart Nez Perce Indian whose knowledge of the country, the language and the methods of his white brother has made him a recognized leader among his people, although he is not a chief, registered at the Hotel Spokane last evening, deposited a roll of greenbacks with the clerk, and spent the evening quietly looking over the city. Reuben is on his way to Washington City, charged with an important mission. He is going to endeavor to block a scheme of the chiefs to prevent the payment of the first installment of purchase money to the Indians, and thus delay the opening of the reservation. It is not a small undertaking, for the chiefs are powerful, and they have money and have already sent a white attorney to the national capital to carry out their plans.

The Nez Perce are divided into two factions over the proposed opening of the reservation. One wing, numerically the strongest by far, is called the "treaty party," for it countenanced and aided the proposed change. The other is the "anti-allotment party." Mr. Reuben said last night that the latter was composed of chiefs who have large herds of stock. They will not be content with their share of the allotment. They want the residue of the reserve for a great range, on which their stock may browse and grow fat enough to bring many thousands into their coffers. To be sure, the great body of the people do not want it so, but history is full of the actions of great monarchs who did not always consult their people when they laid their plans.

"It is a tribal custom to obey the chiefs in matters concerning the tribe," said the delegate last night, speaking in quaint but correct English, and in a strongly musical tone, "but I have broken away from it, and I am going to Washington City to represent the people and not the chiefs. Those who are poor, who have no cattle and no fine houses, are anxious to see the affair settled up. The chiefs are selfish. They do not care whether the poor people have money or not.

"You see, there is a scheme to delay the payment of the first installment until the close of the fiscal year, for then it will go back into the treasury, and it can't be drawn out again. That way the chiefs and the rich men will hold their pastures, while the people wait. Everything they can do is being resorted to. They are finding fault with the census and the allotment roll, and have a white man in Washington City to keep the department from going ahead. The census is complete, and it is as nearly accurate as it could be. Col. Lane has the papers ready to close up as soon as he hears from me. I shall be in Washington City Tuesday morning. That day I shall arrange an audience with the secretary for the next day, and Wednesday night, if all is well, I shall send a telegram to Col. Lane that everything is all right. I go well prepared. I have my credentials and letters of introduction, and if any questions are asked I have the documents here to answer them."

Reuben is proud of the fact that his education was received at home. He has not attended Eastern colleges, as some have done, but he has traveled extensively before. This is his third mission to Washington City.

"I did not care to go," he said, "but my people said so, and here I am. Some of them say I'm a bad man, but I always do my best, and if I fail, why, it will be just as another man fail. It will not be my fault, I can tell you. I shall stay in Washington City until the fight is over. My people have given their notes for thousands of dollars for purchases they have made, and it means much for them to get this money when it was promised them."

"How soon do you expect to complete your undertaking?" he was asked.

"I hope to see the money all paid over the 1st of April," he replied.