Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-04-03
.ANGEvILLE. IDAHO.
THE INDI1N ALLOTMENT.
Miss Fletcher Tentifates Her
JfeTs on the Subject to the
Indian Commissioners.

send greeting to you and to the kind
host and hostess at Mohonk and the
many friends gathered there. l recall
the faces that l met in years gone by.
Some are now transfigured in the higher
life; while others are still with you,
bringing their Joy with them. The
group of councillors at Mohonk may
change; but the spirit of the counsel re-
mains. and each year gains upon the
work in hand, to the lasting benefit of
the Indian.
For three years it has been my fortune
to be at the field end of the line, work.
ing out the measures that were so long
our earnest theme of discussion. From
my point of view, have sent words of
suggestion. They have all referred to
the changes imminent to the allotted
Indian but their practically could not
be demonstrated except by knowledge
OF the exact state of affairs. This
grant to be difficult to obtain. l had
almost said impossible; for it is among
the rarest of gifts-the power to discern
the invisible, to forsee events-and this
power the inspector. agent, or visiting
official smust possess if the truth is TO be
reached and the Indian benefited by
investigations.
Each year l am more deeply con-
WINGED that neither the Government
nor the friends of the Indians as yet re-
alize the changes that are at hand, and
already here. under the working of the
act of February s, 1887. These changes
nothing can deter, and they bring much
Trouble and distress that could be avert
ed, were they anticipated and suitable
action taken to prepare the Indian to
meet them. The seyeralty act confers
citizenship upon the allotted Indian.
From two to three years elapse between
the beginning and completion of the
work OF alloting tribe; that is, the
issue and receipt of the patents. Dur
ing this period.if not before, the Indians
should have training in f.government
based upon geographical divisions of
land, and officers should be elected by
the people. In word, the precinct and
the precinct election should be fore
Swallowed, and the Indians instructed
in the duties and responsibilities as we'll
as the privileges Of citizenship. This
can best be done before the agent loses
his legal control, as that totally dis
appears when the Indian becomes
citizen.
l am aware that this suggestion is
executive in character, but it is not
likely to be put in practical operation
until the Indian officer inaugurating the
change shall be assisted by sympa-
thetic public opinion approving the
adjustment OF a political office. There
are many reasons why such policy
should be considered impolitc and I'M
called for. These will easily suggest
themselves. | would not again mention
this subject. but that each experience in
allotment and the Neg Perez is my
third tribe to allot--oonyinces me of its
ihpoitahCoJ Vi no ichl hcCcSSlty 10 the
Indians.
AS to my present work the Nez Perez
Reservation is very rugged In parts, land
has been misrepresented as to the
character of its soil. In general terms
all this region of country is grazing
rather than agricultural. Grazing is
the chief, almost the sole, industry
among the white settlers. Grain ripens
In favored localities but the scarcity of
water. the dry climate-lttle rain from
June to September, none at all this year
the elevation of the land east of Craig
Mountain, known as Camas prairie.
where the bulk of the reservation lies,
all these natural conditions make this a
grazing rather than farming country.
West of Craig Mountain the land is net |
in character. The Opening
of the reservation" has been the theme
of the local newspapers for some months |
past. and the land has been talked of as
though it were veritable prairie. Fears
that might allot it without disorimina-
tion as grazing land have led to some
funny performances on the part of a |
portion of the people hereabouts: You
can fancy me followed about by persons
who consider it their duty to look
after the interests of the settlers;" and
you would be amused, if not incensed,
at the strange comments and almost
threats when it is discovered that de.
srable locations are already allotted.
II is often openly declared, 1.-THE In-
liaps have no right to the land; they
ought TO be made 10 stay in the canyons,
Perhaps the Indians have no right, and
perhaps the white men have none
,ither. Right to land is considered by
ome people as mooted question, but l
sncy the average Idahoan does not
bother his head about agrarian theories,
part from reservations.
| desire again to bear testimony to
he advantages which an education Oft
he reservation gives to an Indian man
r woman. The difference between the
Dung people of the same age and APP
aren't ability, who have led the differ
Mt kinds of training. has been marked
D my experience here. This tribe were
holly unprepared for allotment. and
ould not believe that l had been sent
allot them, they never having asked