VOL. 10.
MARCH 13, 1908.
NO. 38
Chief Sees
First Man of the Land and
the Chippewa
Chief Mah-Zhuck-ke-ge-shig of the
Mississippi band of Chippewa Indians of
Minnesota will take back with, him from
Washington two evidences of the friend
ship which the "Great White Father"
hears for him. Since his visit to President
ttoosevelt, in company with Senator
Clapp, a week or two ago, the Chippewa
chief has received from the president a
personal letter of thanks for gifts brought
hy the Indian, and a large photograph
hearing the president's autograph, and a
lengthy inscription from the president's
pen.
Chief Mah-Zhuck-ke-ge-shig came to
Washington from the White Earth reser
vation in Minnesota, to bear a message
of greeting from his people to the presi
dent. He had with him an Indian pipe
of exquisite workmanship, and an Indian
head bag, made by his wife, and which
she sent as a gift to the nation's ruler.
The Chippewa chief was presented to
the president by Senator Clapp, and in
the course of the talk with the president,
the Indian pointed to a picture of presi
dent Lincoln, and told of the recognition
which Lincoln had given him.
The Minnesota chief produced a
medal which President Lincoln had
given him, for his efforts to allay the
Indian uprising in Minnesota prior to
1862; and he told President Roosevelt
that he had had personal interviews
with Lincoln and had received a letter
of thanks from him.
The president was greatly interested
in the Chippewa chief, and accepted his
gifts of pipe and bead bag with profuse
thanks. The chief is now a full Ameri
can citizen, and he did not forget to telL
President Roosevelt that he had voted
for him at the last election, and hoped
to have the chance of voting for him
again.
The picture which the president later
sent to his Indian friend bears inscript
ion: "With the best wishes for the
Chippewa chief who was a friend of
Lincoln and who voted for me; and
with thanks for the beautiful pipe
Theadore Roosevelt, Feb. 6, 1908."
The letter to chief Mah-zhuck-ke-ge-shig
was one of thanks for the gifts he
had brought, and expressed the pres
ident's pleasure at having had the
opportunity to meet a distinguished
member of the Mississippi Chippewa
band. The Tomahawk.1 .