The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-15

Woodson and That If They Do Not Obey
Him Their Rations, Which are Con-
trIbuted Free by the Government, VIII
be shut On-Indians are in a State of
PupiiaGe.
Ell Reno, o. T., May 14-Captain
Woodson has received the following le:-
| ter from the department Of the interior,
| Office Of Indian affairs. The letter is
dated Washington, May s, and is as
follows:
'.Sir-I am in receipt OF your commun-
| ication. dated May 2, 1896, in which you
| report that there is existing among
the Indians of your agency rebelhous
spirit in opposition to the methods
which you have inaugurated, with the
sanction and approval Of this office,
with view to promoting their advance
nent towards a condition Of self-suP-
port; that this has eliminated recently
| in an open expression of disapproval OF
| your regime, which is distastful TO the
! old men who are welded TO barbarious
1 customs and who make cutlery against
1 any departure from the old methods OF
/ dealing with reservation Indians; that
| TO draw rations at regular intervals
| and live in idleness, and 10 be permitted
/ 70 engage in ghost" dances Claimed
| by them to be their mode Of worshiping
| the Deity), to use the mescal, and to
| indulge without hindrance in other
| hurtful practices, is their chief desire;
| that they do not want to be restricted
| in any of their former reservation Gus
| toms; that they see no good TO come
| out of the new methods that have been
| put in practice during your administra-
| ton; that to be compelled TO labor, and
| to live on their allotments, or in one
| locality, is utterly repugnant to their
| ideas; equally so is the prohibition OF
plural marriages and the lamentations
and practices Of "medicine-msn" on the
/ sick, and their former habit Of collect
| ing in large numbers for one weeks
| carousal in dancing. gambling. and 9TH
er vices; that the requirement to locate
| on their allotments instead Of in large
! camps, and for all able-bodied men TO
| perform manual labor under penalty OF
| having their rations withheld has met
with the pronounced opposition OF the
| old so-called chiefs, VINO have recently
| employed an attorney for the purpose
of preferring charges against you with
| on the 30th ultimo a large camp was
| esta blished near the town OF FL Reno.
where they went to engage in counsel
ing with their attorney. who had been
| retained by payment of money received
by the sale of beef hides, and that at
your suggestion this council was ad-
journed and held at thea gency. You
refer to the proceedings of the council,
and state that the Indians intimated
that If you did not leave the reservation
within thirty days, something bad might
happen to you or their people.
also say:
""The fact that have endeavored to
institute newer, and in my opinion, bet
ter methods tending to the Improvement
Of the condition of these people, by
bringing about a gradual change in
their mode of living, by localizing them
in permanent residences on their alloc-
ments; by cultivat ting pride in individ-
ual ownership in lieu of property in
common; by improving their moral
condition in the prohibition of plural
marriages, ghost dances and other OBJ
Jectionable customs; by encouraging Ia
Dor for their own support; by rewarding
those who work and Withholding ra-
tons from those who will not; and by
the conscientious discharge of my du-
ties as agent, regardless of the fact
that by doing so 1 would become I'M
popular with a large number Of the old
er Indians, has served to create in their
minds the belief that am not the kind
of agent they would like to have; and
consequently they are led to believe that
by the employment of an attorney, they
may effect my rmoval'
Replying to your communication, /
have to say that the rules adopted by
you with view TO promoting the well
fare Of rhe Indians of your agency, and
to hasten their progress towards con-
dition Of self-support, received the for
NAL approval of this office. with the
sanction of the secretary of the inter
for. 1t was expected that the enforce
ment Of these rules would result in the
opposition of some of the older and non
progressive Indians, but the object to
be attained was so desirable that 1t
was deemed proper to put them into
effect notwithstanding this anticipated
opposition. While these Indians are Cit
liens Of the United States. nevertheless,
under an opinion OF the attorney gener-
al they are, during the period in which
their lands are held in trust, in a state
of pupilage and subjects TO the guard |
ianShip and control of the Indian de- |
partment. If they are 10 become quail |
fed, at the expiration of this trust per-
iod, 10 take care OF themselves, this |
guardianship of the government must |
be exercised so as 10 restrain them from |
the indulgence in any practices which |
tend to continue them in barbarism, and |
70 guide and lead them into industrious |
habits and fixed abodes. I realize the |
difficulty of your position in the matter |
~, 0-ss ~.
had TO contend, but your efforts have |
met with the full sympathy and approx
al OF this Office. You will inform these |
Indians that your efforts 10 control !
them and guide them in more civiliz- |
ed method of life meets the approval OF /
this office because IL is believed that /
such a course will tend 10 improve their /
condition hereafter and place them in /
such a position that when the time |
comes for the government to withdraw 4
all control over them they will be able I
TO take care OF themselves. You will /
also inform them that this office propos-
es 10 stand by you in your endeavors /
and in the plans adopted by you 10 en-
force your orders and instructions in l
such a manner as you deem best, by
Withholding annuities not specifically
provided for by treaty stipulatiOns. and
in the other ways indicated in the rules
formulated by you and approved by me-
Let them know that the power OF the
government is behind you. and that you
viii be supported in all proper meas
ures for the advancement OF these In
dams
Moreover the Indians should be Civ
en- 70 understand that the money ap-
propr:ated annually for their support