Donna Ennis: Ancestor starting asking about trust fund in 1900s

Several years ago I discovered correspondence between my great grandfather, Albert Leo Lord (1865 – 1931) and the Department of Interior. His ideas of economic self-sufficiency for Indian people and Tribes were scoffed at by the superintendent of the Department Of The Interior as were his assertions of discrimination. Mr. A.L. Lord corresponded with the Department of the Interior on at least 7 occasions between 1902 and 1928. In this response from the DOI, dated March 14, 1928, he is lectured about the per capita payment and race relations:

Dear Mr. Lord:

I have read with much interest your letter of March 12th.

I believe that you have correctly expressed the opinion of the Secretary of the Interior. As a general proposition he believes that the making of payments lead to either a cessation of work I understand, or the formation of tastes beyond earning capacity. However, in the particular case in mind I understand from the Congressional Record that the Secretary has withdrawn any objection to making of the twenty-five dollar per capita payment. The bill has passed both Houses of Congress but has not yet received the signature of the President, it having been sent to him only a few days ago. I judge he will sign the bill and that as soon as the ratification of the majority of the tribe is received here, the payment will be made. No steps to obtain such ratification can be taken until the bill becomes a law.

As to the attitude of the white people of the country with respect to payments, I do not believe that I am in agreement with you. It is my experience that local sentiment is always in favor of a payment. The Governor of the State and others in authority have discouraged the making of payments to the Chippewas at this time in view of the fact that steps are on foot to transfer management of Chippewa affairs from the Government to the State and naturally Minnesota would not care to have all the tribal funds dissipated before they took the responsibility of carrying out relations assumed by the public with respect to the Chippewas – by public I mean the Nation.