Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-15

IEPEES AND THEIR OCCUPANTS.
When the Indians fred at the agency on the
29th OF last December there would have been
no answering shots had the police remained
quiescsnt Special Agent Cooper conducted
them to good position and tried to have them
protect themselves behind piles OF cordwood
They wouldn't do it though; they stood right
out in the open and fired away until Gen.
Brooke ordered them to cease.
THEY NEED RIFLza
The Indian police need rifles. Somebody is
erring when he prevents the issue of such fire.
arms. All the policemen have revolvers, but
the revolvers as rule cut no figure when the
Indian in front Of it is thoroughly mad. 1t
takes good rifle to soothe the savage breast
Not once in a year would there be the slightest
necessity for using the guns but when the
necessity does arise it is an urgent one. The
safety Of the policemen themselves demands
that they shall be at least as well armed as the
men they have TO arrest. When that is the
case they have no trouble in capturing tho de-
sired malefactors; but on more occasions than
one has an officer been compelled to see his
prisoner escape becaused the criminal
was better armed than the representa-
tive OF the United States and its laws. Had
the Pine Ridge police force last fall consisted
Of 100 well-eQuipped and fairly-paid men there
would have been no military campaign; no
unnecessary expenditure Of millions Of dollars;
no human lives lost. The penny-wise pound
foolish policy prevailed, however, and prevails
now to an extent almost as great as then. There
seems to be a decided antagonism on the part
Of the civil authorities to properly arming
these policemen. That sentimental seed will
bear pusillanimous and disastrous fruit. Some
Of the anti-riAe officials ought TO live for
awhile at semi-hostile agency, where an out
break may occur at any time. They would
speedily discover that it was "a condition and
not q theory" that confronted them and their
views would speedily be born again.
To tha hast tha bnt1ld
be the same as in the army for privates and
non-commissioned officers; the salaries Of the
captain and lieutenants should be little more
than the pay Of their subordinates. A cash per
diem allowance for horses should be paid las il
Is to Indian scouts) and forage for the animals
should be issued by the government; these
propositions are simply honest and fair.
You may so control an Indian by police power
| as TO make war impossible. Would not that be
good policy? Why should the Interior Depart
ment call upon the army to do its police worl
when it has within its own force the necessary
mind and muscle? Why should IL refuse to stanC
firmly behind its agents and then cry for out
side assistance, which would not have beer
necessary had the Indian police been properl,
| equipped?
A South Dakota settler, who 10 conversan
with the situation, talked Of this to me in Siou,
| City the other day. Said he: 'sThc Interio
Department should either support the authorit,
OF il agents by equipping . frst-class polio
force or IL s1oulo surrender physical and 0l
! other control Of the Indians TO the War De
partment"
PoLIcEMAS's FIDELITY.
There, now, I've got myself into discussion
again, when didn't mean to do anything Blu
write about Indian police. Just Q little stor-
and viii stop. The anecdo.e il fair instanc
Of the fidelity with which an Indian policemm,
obeys orders. A boy had absented himsel
without leave from one Of the Rosebud da
schools. The teacher notified the policemal
ON duty TO bring that boy to her; not to com
back without him. Several hours passed away
but neither truant nor policeman appeared
Finally, Just before nightfall, the biuecoa
J staggered in with hts arms full Of prisoner. ID
lastter's anatomy but thinly covered BY SINAI
blanket.
''Whers are his clothes?'' queried the tesche,
"His mother hid them" was the reply.
, "But don't want boy around here withou
any clothes" suggested the lady.
! 81 don't know anything about thai" rcjoine
the of3cer. You didn't say anything abou
getting his clothes. You aid You wanted iii
} boy. 4srs he b" Gro. II. HANNA