The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-07
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W MURPHY BUILDING, i
Market and Jones Streets.
ENLISTED INDIANS.
A Plan 10 Raise Several Regi-
ments of Red Men.
The President Of the Connecticut Indian Asso-
citation Describes the Worth Of
the Organization.

Mrs. S. T. Kinney of Hartford. Conn, is
visiting relatives at the Presido. The lady
is the widow of the late l.. C. Kinney Of the
Hartford Courant, and is herself President
and an active worker in that pioneer or
ganization for Indian education, the Con-
necticut Indian Association. The society
has for a number of years undertaken four
distinct departments of labor among In
dians-mission and educational work, in
structon in practical farming and home
building on the reservations.
Our association" said Mrs. Kinney yes
terday. twas the first in the country to
loan money to Indians to assist them in
building homes upon lands in Severalty
granted them by the United States Govern
ment. Part of its work has been in guaran-
teeing the support and medical education OF
Indians, with tue expectation that after
graduation they should return to their own
people in the capa"ity of missionaries. The
society was the first to receive from Ihe
Government permission TO occupy and use
100 acres of land Tor the joint work of its
educational missionaries, and the practical
farm instructor, who assists in the work of
civillzing and christianzing the Indians on
the reservation at Fort Hall, Idaho.
ADVANCED THEM MONEY.
This reservation is sixty miles long by
forty wide, occupied by 1900 Bannocks and
Shosh0nes. The people were low and de-
graded when educational work was first
commenced in their midst We have adj
yanced them money to build homes. have by
precept and example taught them practical
farming and encouraged them to be self
supporting.
Gratifying success has attended our
efforts. Last year one Indian alone raised
$500 tons of hay, worth So a ton. 1t has
often been said that the Indians are idle,
worthless and drunken. In many cases this
Is only too true, but We expect in time to
make good citizens of 20 per cent of these
people. That is the measure of our prog
Tess now, and it is sufficient to show that
our labor has not been in vain.
The members of our association are not
identified with it for mere sentiment. If
were Westerner and a taxpayer l should
seriously object TO sustaining these national
pauperS in perpetual idleness. My expert
ence has convinced me that in time, if the
Indians are given land and instruction, they
need be public charge no longer. The
younger generation are particularly docie,
and grasp with avidty the efforts being
made to enable them to HELM themselves.
PAY THEIR DEBTS.
with the money advanced to them they
erect homes, and are prompt to repay the
debt They learn to read and write and
conduct their business operations in man.
ner which would be creditable to any white
farmer. With permanent and profitable
occupation the tendency to drink is lessened
ana many OF the people are already total
abstainers.
The Indian trouble at Pine Ridge last
winter was the result of the weakness and
cOwardlce Of Agent Fisher, who sent re-
quest for troops when there was no occasion
Tor their assistance. On the arrival of the
soldiers the Indians had no intention
OF defying the authorities. Through some
accident gun was discharged and fighting
followed. Major Bartlett, the well-known
Indian tighter. said to me that In every in