The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-08-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON D. c. Aug. 25 Is

WASHINGTON u. =. aug. 70 1910
Correspondence Of Somerset Press.
We are to receive visit from delega- |
ton Of the defendants of "Lo." Prepara-
tions are being made for them on scale that
would indicate them as being anything but
savages. The expenses of their trasporta- !
ton and entertainment, as has been estima-
ted, will be more than $4,000. What they
are coming for does not appear to be
fully understood by any one. but it is for
some sort of consultation or agreement or
negotiation with white Father" Hayes
and his honorable Cabinet. It has recent
ly been reported that the President is en-
deavoring to adopt new policy OF Indian
management, to consist in the abolition OF
the agency system, that has been abused to
ruch an enormous extent, and the substitu-
ton of army officers at all important posts.
in short to place the entire management OF
the Indians in the hands of the army.
Such step will be no easy one to take. 1t
will meet with decided opposition in Con-
gress, as was proven some years since when
Grant attempted to put his proposed meth
cd into execution, Congrss with great hue
and cry promptly passed law declaring
that an army officer would forfeit his Com
mission. by accepting an Indian Agency
The law did its intended work and the
measure was abandoned. Thus it will be
doubly difficult TO change the matter now,
since the law must be repealed. The rea-
son for the opposition to the measure is ap-
parent to those who are in any degree con-
versant with the alarming atrocities that
for generations have been carried on at the
expense of the ignorant squalid Indian
tribes. These have become SO notorious
now that scarcely any effort is made to con-
ceal them. They consist.of system of
thieving, and robbery, and deception that
have been carried on until it has gotten to
be a part Of the business Of the Agent.
The methods of robbery are various and
the proceeds have been divided between
the several agents and theISenator or Repre-
sentative, who procured his appointment.
Generally the goods sent by the Govern
ment to the tribes are intercepted on the
way, diminished in quantity or exchanged
for poorer quality, and often are sold for
} cash to the very people to whom they were
sent as a present. An other way is to pock'
ct appropriations. For instance the follow.
ing, which is true 100000 were appropri-
oted to build school houses and pay school
teachers for the Sioux, and to teach them
farming and the industrial arts. Half a
dozen brick school houses about as large as
Connecticut smoke house were built a.
longside of each other at the landing, and
7 20 plows were carried up and left TO rust or
: the level, and are probably rusting there
yet if they have not been confscated BY
i some white man-that is all the showing
the 500 900 made. And yet an other. The
: Agent who keeps the roll of the tribe among
. whom an annual fund is to be divided
q adds imaginary Indians names to the roll
e at his own will and approprites their shares
: to himself The methods of plunder ar'
endless, and the discovery of such thing
9 by the Indians, who are nearly all illitrate
o is what causes the dreadful outbreaks from
: which we have suffered 80 much. These
q are established facts, although they ar
8 mortifying and disgraceful, and it is higl
e time they were corrected. That they ar
). connived and winked asby the rulers of tn
). land only shows the sore need of reform il
q our country.
q The Presidential party has been the re
+ cipient of most complimentary ovations oil
,s its Eastern trip. Vermont has seen n
such event for scores of years as was cele
n brated at Bennington on the Tooth anniver
10 sary of the battle there.
is The President, Generals, Sherman, Sher
,s idan, Crook, Cox. Howard, Carroll an
4. other distinguished gentlemen will visi
ts Fremont Ohio lon Sept. 14sh. to be presen
r at the reunion of President Hayes oil
n regiment. WINNIE.