The Portland daily press., 1897-02-03
MAINE INDIAN ASSOCIATION.
Resolutions Passed by the National Associ-
alton at New York.

The Women's Maine Indian Association
held its regular monthly meeting in st.
Luke's Parish House yesterday after
noon. Mrs. Charles T. Ogden in the
| chair. on account of the absence of the
president.
Bishop Nicely opened the meeting with
a scripture reading and led in prayer. He
then made few remarks, referring to
the evening with President Gates of
Amherst college, as very interesting
one, and of the information gained by all
| who heard him. He expressed himself
in full sympathy with the work of the
association. The two barrels which
were sent last month to the missionary
of the association contained articles
valued at eight, dollars. A vote of
thanks was passed to all who gave go
generously.
| The following resolutions passed at the
annual meeting of the Women's National
Indian Association in New York in
December, were read and adopted:
First-1hat adequate appropriations
should be promptly made by Congress
for the secular education of all Indian
children of school age, and that the plans
suggested by the commission er of Indi an
affairs for providing gcho houses and
teachers should also proniplly be acted
| upon, thus rendering it feasible that
within the next two years every Indian
child Of such aga may be in school.
! Second-That the careful, thorough,
and businesslike methods Of the present
superintendent of Indian education, are
most comnieRdabls, and that we hereby
express our hope that he may be retained
| in office, and that bis work may be made
more etfectual by granting him more
power, and holding him personally re-
aponsible for the efficiency Of his depart
inent.
/ Third-That since the Indian falls an
easy victim to the rum seller, it is need
full that in all states and territories
where Indians reside, stringent laws
shall be passed for the regulation of the
| liQour traffic, laws which shall make 1T
practicalIys,, impossible for sp1rituous
liquors to be sold either to ci6izens or
reservation Indians; also, that we
earnestly endorse the liquor bill approved
should receive the immediate attention
of the National Cong ress.
| Fcuith-That adequate legislation
should be speedily enacted for the protec-
tion of Indians from 'land-gra bbers,
and gamblers, and from all evil influ-
ences of "Wild West Shows" and that
they should no longer be allowed to leave
their homes for the purpofe of such
"shows."
| Hifth-That Con gress shoHld speedily
| pass the Curtis hill, as the surest way to
| remedy the deplorable conditions now
existing in the Indian Territory.
Sixth-Since the work of field matrons
| has come to be recognized as most i'm
portant factor III the general effort to
| oiyilize Gnd Christianize Indians, that a
large number Of field NATIONS should be
employed, and that they should be sup
piled with needful and suitable sheiter,
Interpreters horse or horses, forage,
harness and vehicles also medicines,
cloth, and other neeiful appliances for
the treatment and care of the sick, with
food and fuel for the same, and that in
the above respects the field matrons
should be placed upon tie same footing
with the agency physicians and farmers.
Seventh-That our thanks are hereby
rendered to the present administration
for the extension of civil service regula-
tions over all positions in the Indian SER
vice below that OF agent and that, as the
browning reform needed, legislation
should at once be secured for the appoint
ment of the permanent commission on
lUulhll hIhlIS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES W IIobl00iiu
Cleveland and the Secretary Of the In
terror, thus providing for the retention
in that service of all competent and
faithful Indian officials; but that these
should be retained only until Iraian
citizenship, and the operation of common
law are practically adequate for the
civilization and protection of native born
Indians.
Eighth-That in declining to accept
further financial assistance from the
Unitad States government for mission
purposes, the missionary societies and
Christian people every where have placed
themselves under greater obligation than
ever before, to provide the necessary
funds with which to carry on the re-
ligious training of the Indian race. and
that the off ce $ of the various mission
bands woulu do we'll to confer together,
suggest practical measures and formu-
late defnits plans for increasing the con-
tributions from the churches for this
purpose,
A vote of thanks was passed to Presi-
dent Gates for his address given JanuaI y
13 in State street church.