Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-11-25
THE INDIAN PROBLEM
Interesting Data Given In Dr. Han.
mann's Annual Report
4 new POLITICAL ORGANIZATION,
fhs American Railway Lsssss Changes
IT. Name and WIN Try 10 Elect Rail-
vay Men 10 the Lsgislaturss-
Greek Counoil ConvsusA

Greek Council ConvsusA
WARRINGTON, Nov. 23.-Some inter
esting data as to the educational a.
pect Of tho Indian problem are giver
In the annual report Of DR.. W. N. Hail
mann, superintendent Of Indiar
schools, which has just been mads
public In this the subject Of IRE
turned students" going back to theil
tribes after school life Ia taken up and
Superintendent Hailmann says he Ii
still collecting data bearing on thia
phase Of the problem, but the informa.
tion already obtained justifes the
statement that the severe criticisms
made, Of both the Indians and schools
on this score, II at all justiHabls,
are 20 only In Q limited de-
gree. Wherever on reservations
there has been marked progress In civil
lization 1t Is traceable largely TO the
returned students influence, the ma.
jority Of whom are measurably sue
cessful In the efforts to turn away
from tribal evils and drawbacks,
though many obstacles confront them,
not only in the stubborn conservatism
Of older Indians, but also in excessive
tutelage on the part Of the govern.
ment Honor and grateful admirs.
ton" he says, ARE due to the young
heroes and heroines who annually 20
forth from our Indian schools, pitting
their lives against adamantine walls
Of unreasoning tradition and supersti-
ton, wrestling victory from what seems
utterly hopeless"
As to the manual training movement
In the Indian schools, DR.. Hailmann
says few schools are doing creditable
work in this direction, but In the ma
jority Of them, even where manual
training teachers are employed, the
results are meager. This is due partly
to the lack Of facilities for systematic
work and to lack Of civil service eligi-
bles for this important branch Of In
dian school work. The former obsta-
Gle Is being overcome as fast as the
Indian office means will permit; the
other can be overcome only by making
the position more lucrative. The opin.
ion is given that the study Of agricul-
ture on an excessive acreage Of
land Is hindrance rather than help
from an educational standpoint. The
discovery Of many children Of very
little, II any, Indian blood in the
boarding schools leads to the recon-
inasmuch as there seems
TO be no remedy under existing laws,
that 1t is imperative, in the interest OF
justice to both races, that congress
should early indicate by statute what
degree Of blood shall constitute an In
dian and to what extent adopted In
aians shall be entitled to governmental
support in matters Of education.
A NEW POLITICAL ORGANIZATION.
CHICAGO, Nov. s3.-By changing It's
name and declaring new principles
yesterday, the American Railway
league has become Il full Aedged politi-
cal organization. Hereafter 1t will be
known as the Railway Employees and
relegraphers' Political league Of Amer
lea. Its proclaimed object is to deal
entirely in state and national politics,
chiefly on legislation lines. Behind
This, however, Is the desire and
determination to secure recogni-
lion, elective and appointive, for
railroad men. This Is shown in the
TACT that o movement Is ON foot to
'ccure the appointment by President
Of a railroad man on the In
Eerstate commerce commission Us sue.
scissor to Col. William r. Morrison.
The reason given for taking q new
name was to divest the organization
of every similarity to the defunct
American Railway union. 1t is pro-
posed to work for the election Of rail
way men to the legislatures Of the sew.
eral states, where they can secure the
passage Of laws that will be beneficial
both to the employees and the railroads.
SPECIAL CREEK SESSION.
MUsKoGEE, |. T., Nov. 23.-An extra
session Of the Creek council convened
at 0kmulgee, |, t., yesterday to con.
slider the advisability of consolidating
the five civilized tribes of Indian terri.
tory, preparatory to coming into the
union as a state, in the hope that
congress, seeing their intentions,
will not pass any sweeping legisla.
ton at It's coming session re-
garding the abolition of tribal
government There is considerable
talk OF an attempt being made at the
present session Of the council to i'm
peach Chief lsparhecher and reinstate
II. B, Childers, who was
on account Of an alleged
shortage Of over $4,000, but II Is al.
most certain that neither Of these at /,
tempts will be successful.