The Portland daily press., 1894-12-11
WoMEN's INDIAN ASSOCIATION.
Return of the Maine Delegates to the Con-
vention and Their Report of the Proceed
ings

The annual meeting of the Womens'
National Indian association, held in New
Haven, Conn.,, last week, brought for
ward some facts that are of public inter-
est. There were present from Maine on
the occasion one delegate from Bangor,
Mrs. Paine, and four from the Portland
branch, Mrs. william E. Baxter, Mrs. j.
j.. Frye, Mrs. 81. j Bailey, and Mrs. c. L.
Ogden. A reception to the delegates was
given ON Wednesday evening by His Ex-
cellency, the Governor and Mrs. Morris.
At the first session on Thursday morn
ing, in Dr. 7. Mungers' church, 800
ladies were reported present. The pres-
dent of the assoeitlon is Mrs. A. S. GUM
ton of Philadelphia; the vice presidents
are Mrs. W. R. Brooks, of New Jersey.
Mrs. S. T Kinney of Connecticut Mrs. j.
S. Plummer of Brooklyn, Mrs. E. j. Ellis
of Louisiana, Mrs. J. Bidwell of CalifoF-
MIA. On the executive board are such
women as Mrs. Clinton B. Fiske, and
Mrs. Philip Taggart of New York, Mrs.
Lyman Abbott of Brooklyn, Mrs. BLIZZARD
of Boston. Mrs. E. M. Wistar of Philadel-
Dnl6 duQ ObuoISs uCSC udmCS dIC d
guarantee for the power and excellence
of the work, which the society proHCse,
viz, to rouse public opinion and infu-
ence the govel to take adequate
measures for converting Indians into
American citizens. This society keeps an
agent in Washington during the session,
clever and accomplished woman, who
watches legislation on Indian affairs and
communicates quickly with branches
in any congressional district in the Uni
ted States. Petitions are circulated,
public meetings are held and literature
is distributed. The far-reaching activi-
ties of the society make it powerful in
strument This sort of work had much
to do with producing the public senti-
ment that led to the passage of the bill
giving land in severalty to Indians. and
looking to the entire abolish ment of the
reservation system. Senator Dawes said
that the modern reform of our national
Indian policy "was born of and nursed
by the Woman's National Indian Asso-
ciation."
There is missionary department. con-
nected with the association; Thirty-five
missions have been planted in the last
ten years. It is rule always to break
ground, that is to begin work in trib be
that has had no missionary workssdon in
it," the society is strictly undenoIni-
national. Teachers, physicians, nurses,
field matrons and farmers are supported
in different tri bes as funds will allow.
The society has been permitted to nomi-
nate women employees to the Indian de-
partment of the government, thus doing
something to keep the service out of
poIitics. There is loan and home build
ing department; homes by loan funds
have been built for 68 Indians; sums
have been loaned for the purchase of
farming utensils, sewing machine,
cooking stove, etc. These sums are in
variably repaid, usually by installments.
The Maine branch has worked for the
Omahas, Seminoles in Florida, and
Shawnees in the Indian Territory: they
are now raising money for missionary
cottage in "Big Jim's Band of Shawnees.
We are not ashamed of our report when
it was read aG New Haven, though which
of us might not have done more?
From this time forward the association
will redouble it's efforts for moral and
religious training; urge the govern
ment to provide schools for all Indian
children on the plan of our general pub
lie school system instead of the present
one; petition that all the unclassiied
workers in the Indian service be placed
under the operation of civil service rules,
and that the jurisdiction of the United
States courts may be extended over all |
United States territory.