The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-21
AND TRAIN HIS MIND ALSO.
GOODLY GATHERING of EDUCATORS
IN TILE INDIAN SCHOOL AT
THE CAPITOL.
WELCOME
SEEMED
CHILLY
But 1T Was an Accident, Due to the
Absence of superintendent
Gilbert.

toed sons and daughters of Poor Lo
is the all-absorbing~topic at very in
tereSting convention which was opened
at the state capitol last evening. The
teachers, superintendent and employees
or the various Indian schools main
tanned by the federal government In
the territory contiguous to Minnesota
opened five days institute last even
ing, at which some of the most noted
men in the work will speak. Last
year the convention met at Sioux City
The education Of the Indian is one of
the important branches Of work car
rted on by the national Indian bureau,
but there is wide diversity of opinion
as to the results accruing from the
policy being pursued by the govern
ment. There was some criticism of
this policy at last nights session of
the institute, and it is expected that
during the week many reforms will be
suggested. Among the notable men
present is w. N. Hailman, Of Wash
ington, D. c., national superintendent
or Indian schools. He is the head of
the Indian educational system, and
curing the progress Of the institute
he will read several papers upon top
les relating to the work of the depart
ment.
The Windsor hotel is the headquar-
ters of the delegates, and the CORR
dors have been crowded with scores
OF enthusiastic workers There are
many women In the ranks, perhaps
half the number being Of the fairer
sex. 1t is withal a heroic band. for
there IS little of romance connected
with their labors among the red men.
during the long, cold winters of the
northwest they suffer hardships
which would make aless resolute band
discouraged and homesick. The dele
gates to the institute come from Min
nesota, North Dakota, South Dakota.
Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
michigan and Northern Illinois. Wis
ltors are also present from Pennsylva-
MA, and from the Hampton institute
in Virginia.
Last nights session opened with a
disappointment, and 1t was rather to
the dlscredit of st. Paul that no one
was On hand to give the visitors an
aeHnclai reception. Prof c. B. Gilbert.
OF the st. Paul public schools. was.
ooWn for this part on the programme.
put being out of the city it was natu-
raj TO suppose some one else would
nave been provided to act instead
But the welcome had to go unsaid.
altnough 1t was accepted by inference.
Dr Ha1lman was down upon the pro-
sramme Tor response. After waiting
lohg past the hour for opening, Chair
man l.. V. Davis gave it up, aa5.
i. Dr. Halimann was thus compelled to
respond TO the unspoken, yet never
Tie less intended welcome. He said the
reputation of st. Paul for hospitality
ana good will was known all through
the land, and although the conventions.
had not been officially informed of the
fact, he knew the delegates were wei
come. Proceeding to his response, DR..
Halimann said the labor Of educating
the Indian was a work of patriotism
ana love. The Indian he said. was a
pe1ng who naturally had a profound
idea of duty and devotion thereto.
which was noble. But the element Of
olstrust which existed to a greater or
less extent, had perhaps degraded him;
yet through the efforts Of the educators
this distrust was being eliminated. The
ind1an was being taught American
IDEAS OF civilization. American methods
or progress, an appreciation of Ameri-
can refinement and institutions. The
work Of Indian education now conduct
ed by the general government. must
Germ Of the state and communities. near
which the Indian lives. These states and
communities must learn to bear with
the fraffties of their Indian brothers
and work out the possibilities in their
natures, and not feel discouraged by
the scant results of the past. In the
name of the Indian office, Supt. Hall
mann welcomed the delegates to the
convention, and hoped for extended
success.
John A. Oakland, superintendent of
the Pine Point school, White Earth
Mimi, followed in an address in which
he argued in behalf of separation of
the Indians. believing this to be the
only way to promote civilization among
them. AS long as the government con-
t1nued the issuance of rations Indians
would never work for themselves, and
learn agricultural pursuits The present
system. said the speaker, placed
premium upon idleness. The red men
had not the patience to become farmers;
they could not content themselves to
wait for crop The Indian lives for the
day and never plans for the future
Mr.. Oakland believed the only method
of furthering civilization among Indians
was by breaking up the reservations
and tribal relations, and scattering the
people all over the family, a few in or
near each city and town. They would
come into contract with modern life
q result which never would be accom-
plished by isolatlng the Indians on reser
vations. He believed it would largely
reduce the hardships suffered by the
Indian, and would make them self sup
porting.
W. w. Pendergast state superin-
tendent of public institutions, in an ad-
dress upon Education or All Races Fs-
sentially the same" the speaker did
not believe In the common theory that
early education of Indians and negroes
should be confined to the use of tools
He believed this practice was dwarfing
in its tendencies. Indians needed more
than drill In the use of agricultural
implements It was Industrial idolatry
ard would result in intellectual pagan
ism. The brain and not the hands Of
the Indian needed training
Speaking Of the results Of education
among white people, Supt. Pendergast
said there were hundreds Of men In
every community who were living ex-
emplary lives, but yet who did no good
to their fellow men. A. man was not a
success. however intelligent unless he
was useful to his community Indian
boys must have two things-the dispo-
sition and the capability for doing
Supt Pendergast, answering Mr. Oak
land. said Indians could be made pa
tent in agricultural pursuits by con-
slant training. The speaker indorsed
Mr.. Oakland's suggestion that the
tribes be broken up and distributed
among the white people Two things
always govern the Indian heredity and
environment Farms impress them
selves more wildly upon an indian
than q white man, but the former has
not been taught to follow a line OF
thought through to a conclusion: they