The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1897-07-24
Splendid Results of Determined Eff
forts to Make the Indians Self s
Supporting and Law 0
Abiding. !

sugar, clothing, farm implements, etc.
Good schools were established for them
and dwellings built at government ex-
pense, still they stuck to their rawhide
tepees and persistently refused to
school their children or to adopt civilian
dress, adhering to their breechclouts
and blankets and long hair. With the
millions expended annually in Indian
education, next to nothing was being
accomplished. There were about 500
acres of irrigable and good land on the
reservation, but the Indians were too
lazy to plant crops that would have
furnished them with the food necessary
for their support. It was much more
pleasant to draw rations from an in
dulgent and paternal government, and
reserve their energy for war dances and
brawls. There were rs strong, broad
shouldered bucks, educated at the ex-
pense Of the government, running
around the reservation in paint and
blanket. They were too lazy for manual
labor. Several educated squaws were
married and living in filthy tepees,
while girls were usually taken out of
school at ten and twelve years of age
and sold for ponies into bondage
worse than death.
Lieut.. Stottler's predecessor had Or
dered the bucks to cut their hair, and
revolution resulted. They refused
pointblank, and that settled it. Stot-
tiers first move was to increase the ra-
lions of the police. He then informed
them that they must all put on uniforms
under pain of duress. They reluctantly
obeyed. Then he ordered them to cut
their hair. This caused storm, and
the matter was allowed to rest for
time. His next command was to aban-
don the tepees and move into the dwell
ings. All children over five years old
we're ordered to attend school, This
was too much, and, by the advice of
some of the whites, petition was for
warded to Washington asking for Stot-
tiers relief as agent. No attention was
paid to the request, and the ringleaders
were spotted and severely punished.
The chief of police, an Indian, had been
one of the instigators in this move, and
he was discharged as such and put on
reduced rations. . d
Several of the head men of the tribe
were ordered to work and deprived of
the Office of spokesman, under which
system the other members made their
wants known through the agent. In
this capacity the head men had been al
lowed extra rations and a small salary,
and their reduction to the ranks made
it possible for any member of the tribe
to apply personally for what he needed
in the way of land, implements, etc.
This was an important point-to
break the power of the chiefs and de-
stroy tribal relations. It was constant
ly impressed upon the Indians that in a
few years rations would be cut off en-
tirely, and those who had not taken
land for cultivation would go hungry.
At first they laughed at this, but the
officer, by way of example, cut off the
food occasionally, and they at last came
to realize that it would be very easy
matter to stop all rations. This had
salutary effect, and induced many of
them to 60 to work. Every man and
woman caught manufacturing ''tiswin"
was made to understand that it means
a long season in the guardhouse on
bread and water.
Now all is changed. The govern
ment's agent is absolute master. Last
fall there was harvested from the irri-
gated lands $4,000 pounds of beets, co.
900 pounds of cabbage, 1000 pounds of
caulif1ower, $500 pounds of turnips,
1,400 pounds of onions, 500 pounds of
radishes,a 400 pounds of celery, 1900
pounds Of pumpkins and squash, 400
pounds of peas, $50 pounds of corn,
$500 pounds of potatoes, besides cucum-
bers, asparagus, etc. The school has a
pen of swine, focks of chickens, a herd
of fine mich cows, and all the hay and
fodder for them and ten horses raised
on the farm. ~
During 1896, upon recommendation OF
Lieut., Stottler, the government issued
5000 sheep for distribution among the
tribe, and 500 for the school. The idea
is to have the Indians raise their own
mutton, and then cut off the supply OF
beef, which cost the government 800
ILL Aooo' NJ y Wy AOAo oil AocAOAo
cept beef will be cut off.
These Indians have been made nearly
self-supporting within the brief period
that Lieut.. Stottler has been in charge.
Every male on the reservation has cut
his hair, put on civilized dress and taken
piece of land which he has fenced and
commenced to raise grain and vege-,
tables. They all have cabins with cook
stoves and utensils. There is no drunk;
enness. Every man has ten head of
sheep, and like number for each mem
Der of his family. Every child on the
reservation is at school. Every man
has wagon, harness and pillow. In two
years these Indians have been trans
formed from lazy, filthy savages in red
paint and breechclouts, into reasonable
working human beings, with a care for
the morrow, and desire to become USE
full citizens. The history Of government
Indian work has been series Of blum
ders from the beginning, but this seems
to be marked exception to the rule:
st. Louis Globe-D Democrat. Al