The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-10-16

sonnel at every presidential election.
BY both democratic and Republican ad-
ministratlons men have been pvt al tho
head Of the Indian bureau who are neI-
ther familiar with Indian Affairs nor 40
quainted with methods Of education.
Indian agents and Indian inspectors
have been appointed without training or
any evidence Of their fitness for the Of.
fce, and In more than one Instance
drunken officials have been appointed In
the reservations and well authenticate
complaints have failed to secure their
removal or have resulted only In lranA-
fer to another field with an Increased
salary. In those cases In which the res
ervations have been discontinued and
the land has been allotted In severaIty
the entire machinery Of the agency has
been retained, though no conslderaDIe
service Is required and the rerenuUn IL
clearly against the spirit OF to- iew.
These evils have shown themselves
alike when the appointments have been
left with the Indian commissioner. when
they have been reserved by tho secre-
tary Of the interior 70 himself and when
they have been practically left to local
politicians. Some excellent otiiciaia
have been appointed and some excellent
work has been accomplished. but this Ia
not because, but In spite OF the system.
Two illustrations Of the evils OF this
system have been afforded during the
past year. The first is the removal on
Dr. Hallman. notwithstanding his splen-
did record as superintendent OF the In
dian schools. attested by protests against
his removal by men OF all parties ana
sections who are familiar with the work.
Including many educational experts.
The second Is the outbreak OF Chippewa
Indians. whose valuable pine timber the
government by the agreement Of 1850 COW
enanted 10 sell for their benefit and Is
still appraising and retappralslng as a
preliminary TO such sale. Two SUCCESS
i've aDpraisemenis extravagantiy con-
Quoted have already been set aside as
worthless. with third appraisement In
progress. We have applied to successive
administrations 10 remedy these abuses
and the abuses still continue We now
apply to the people Of the United States
to uemand Of their government that the
Indian bureau be taken out Of politics;
that the Indian commissioner DO no
longer treated as political officer to be
changed with every change Of adminis-
tratiOn. and that the work OF the bureau
be entrusted to experts and left in their
hands until It Is accomplished. And we
also appeal TO them 10 demand OF con-
gress that II set on foot at once meas
ures to bring the Indian bureau and It's
work to an early close; that II expedite
the dissolution Of the reservation and
the allotment Of the land in severaity;
that II give all Indians everywhere a
rirnt to apply TO the courts and render
all Indians everywhere accountable 10
the courts. and that 1t thus prepare the
way for the adjustment Of costly pol-
ley unjust to the Inoians, injurious to
the whites and an impediment 70 ciyili-
zation. -
The platform with slight verbal amend
ments was adopted.
The following resolution was adopted:
Resolved. That committee Of seven.
Of which the chairman OF the conference
shall be the chairman. whicn shall have
power to increase the number. be ap-
pointed BY the chair to prepare during
the next year scheme adapted to carry
out the policy outlined in the platform
and appeal and propose to the next con-
ference for its action.
The committee is also authorized to
gather in the interim between the next
conference. The facts concerning defects
in Indian administration and in behalf
OF this conference. IN their discretion, to
present them to congress- to the execu-
tive. and to the press.