Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-22

ION top of this reduction Of food supplies
has come general bad agency management.
Men have been put in charge Of these agencies
who were, in many cases. unfit for their posi-
tons--men who were given these responsible
positions as rewards for political services.
Their fitness was not considered. Some OF
these men might in ordinary circumstances be
average successes as Indian agents, but in dis
turbed conditions like the present have proved
OF too small ealiber, unequal to the exigencies
OF the occasion, powerless when they should
control. 1t was such as these that made the
presence of the troops necessary I do not
question the fact that there is q generally dis
turbed condition Of the Sioux and other north
western Indians. brought on by the cause be-
fore mentioned. but do question the necessity
progressive people-the theater of the present
outbreak. II was simply pitched upon by the
Indian agitators as being the most weakly man
aged OF all the Sioux agencies and hence the
most desirable place for trouble. Had there
been proper management and discipline main
tanned at this agency, as in former years. there
would not today be any necessity for the pres
ence Of a soldier. What have said of the In
dian agents will apply to the Indian service
generally. One of the weakest branches of
that service-and branch that should be the
strongest-is the inspectors corps OF the five
men III this corps but one ever had days ex-
perience in the Indian service prior TO his ap-
pointment as inspector. As rule. inspectors
In other services are selected because they are
supposed to know something of that which they
are to inspect. To select men for any other
reason makes farce Of business, and therein
Is the weakness of the Indian service"
SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS.
"Can you not, out Of your long experience"
1 asked, Suggest something which you think
would materially improve the practical work.
ings of the Indian bureau?"
Il can, replied the doctor, ''but it is too
practical to be adopted. The Indian service
should be graded service. To start with
select men for agents who show some adapta-
bility or fitness for the positions There is a
great difference between the words adapta-
bility and ability. II a man proves. after trial,
that he is adapted for tn, position he should
be retained in office during his good behavior
Then appoint the inspector from among the
senior Indian agents, and when a commits
sioner Of Indian affairs is needed take the
senior inspector You will then have q service
made mp of accumulated experience--based on
the same principle that makes up the army
and navy-instead e the present lack
Of system, overburosned with fne-spun
theories and rose-colored reports
that are almost totally lacking in practical
knowledge. The people of the United States
and the Indians have right to demand this.
say the Indians because these various en-
pioyes and appointees are paid out Of money
that belongs to the Indians; part payment for
lands and properties We have purchased from
them under solemn treaties and agreements 1t
Is practically impossible today. under what is
known rs the home rule policy, for man in
one OF the new states to obtain place in the
Indian service unless he is willing to brand
himself q striker for some reigning politician.
In former years. while the reservations were
still IN the territories, the executive made these
appointments from the country at large and
occasionally men adapted to the places were
secured, but now the appointments are made
thrOuph i'm fha
instances show how disastrOusly the plan
works.
''As to those rose-colored reports? One of
the very material causes of this trouble has
been due entirely to some of the agency
farmers, particularly at Pine Ridge and Rose
bud, who, to show the valuable services they
were rendering, reported a large amount Of
produce raised by these Indians. Practically
nothing has been raised during the past sea-
son, but the bureau, figuring on these alleged
be sufficient The bureau thus indicated the
reports of the farmers and starved the In
dams"
THE GHOST DANCE.
''What had the ghost dance to do with this
outbreak
That dance was only side issue. Had
these people been well fed the ghost dance
would never have been heard of. The dance and
it's ceremonies was like the voice Of feast to a
starving man. All the prayer in the dance was
for food for themselves; for their women and
their children: they cried for help from above.
all other help having failed. Haven't they a
right to pray! Does this great Christian nation
attempt to say that the poor Indian--crushed
and starving-shall not in his own way put up
petition to his Great Spirit? Too much at
tention was paid to the ghost dance; too little
attention was given the Indians"
do you believe that the presence of soldiers
was necessary at Pine RidgeY'
''The calling in of the military was a great
blunder. 1t was challenge. 1t has always
been so regarded by the Indians. My expert
ence is that there are always enough progress
siye Indians to uphold law and put down re-
bellion. man does not have to be an Indian
agent unless he wants to be- but when he does
accept the position he accepts with it certain
responsibilities and with those responsibilities
goes authority. Having been given this an-
thority it Is his duty to exhaust every resource
within his reach to uphold civil authority, even
going 80 far as to risk the lives of himself and
his policemen before he calls for military inter-
ference No white citizen is more jealous of
his civil rights than is the Indian, and particu-
larry do the Indians resent the coming OF troops
into their country They call their agent
father, they naturally lean upon him and ex-
pect him by his personal influence and author
lty TO control matters hence Indian agent
should be endowed with courage, tact ana ad-
ministrative and execu tive ability !"
What should be done to keep the peace in
future?''
AS soon as things have quoted down the
Indian bureau should appoint agent some
thoroughly practical man. experienced in In
dian affairs. who will command the respect of
settlers and Indians alike. II under our present
system it is impossible to appoint such a man
then the safety of the frontier demands that
army officers shall be placed in charge. Then
Congress has duty to perform. 1t should APP
propriate money enough to feed these people
and to keep its treaty oblipations IL ou1bt