The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1898-11-26
CT Elm g a PA IIEs.
Difficult Und ertaking or Govern
ment Agents. 5#S7

splentlid Rcsults Of Determined III
forts 10 Make the indians SELF
] Supporting and Iavv-
Abiding.
4 A marvellous transformation ha,
u taken place on the Mescalero Apach,
indian reservation in southern, Ne,,
\ Mexico within two years, during Whics
period v. p. Stottler, first lieutenan
Tenth infantry, United States army, hs.$
| served as acting agent. The Indian.
number nearly 500, one-ffth being chi
dren Of school age. Nurtured il ie,
norance and superstit ton and reared i:
filth and laziness, these Indians have 10
20 years stubbornly refused to respon$
Ito the governments efforts to civil
them. For q generation they have re
ceived rations Of beef, coffee, hou,
sugar, clothing, farm implements, ets.
GOOD schools were estab ished for then
and dwellings built at government ex
pense, still they stuck to their rawlaiee
tepees and persistently refused I t.
school their children or to adopt civilis
dress, adhering to their breeehcloui
and blankets and long hair. With IT, (
millions expended annually in India.
education, next to nothing was beins.
accomplished. There were about s.,
acres of irrigable and good land on Il:
reservation, but the Indians were to
lazy to plant crops that would 5ha -
furnished them with the food necess:s,
for their support. It was much me-:
pleasant to draw rations from an i,
dulgent and paternal government, az
reserve their energy orwar dances a..
brawls. There were rs strong, broa<
shouldered bucks, educated ct the c.
Pense of the government, runnin.
around Che reservation in paint a1lt,
blanket. They were too lazy for manua
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. H. ~.
Lieut.. Stottler's predecessor had or
dered the bucks to cut their hair, and a
revolution resulted. They refused
pointblank, and that settled it. stot.
tiers first move was to increase the re-
tons 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 a
time. His next command was to aban-
don the tepees and move into the dwell
ings. All children over five years cid
were ordered to attend school. Ihi
was too much, and, by the advice o,
some Of the whites, a petition was fer
warded to Washington asking for Stot
tiers relief SIS agent. No attention ws
paid to the request, and the ringleade.
were spotted and severely punishe:
The chief Of police, an Indian, had be1
one of the instigators in this move, ar
he was discharged as such and puto
reduced rations. go .s3ss. >s
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 thei
wants known through the agent. L
this capacity the head men had.b g.
lowed extra rations and a email salar,
and their reduction to the ranks mac:
it possible for any member Of the ttrilIss:
to apply personally for what he needle
in the way Of land, Implements, ete:
This was an important PoiEtt- IL
break the power Of the chiefs and Dig
stroy tribal relations. It was constant
ly impressed upon the Indians that il
few years rations would be cut Of ez
tirely, and those who had not take
land for cultivation would go. hung1S%
AT first they laughed ct this, but The
officer, by way Of example, cut off the
food occasionally, and they at last came
to realize that it would be a very easz
matter to stop all rations. This had e
salutary effect, and induced many 10
them to go to work. Every man an
woman caught manufacturing .'tiswir;
was made to understand thatit meant
a long season in the guardhouse O.
bread and water.
: Now all is changed. The govern
ment's agent is absolute master. Las!
fall there was harvested from the irri
gated lands $4,000 pounds of beets, 90
600 pounds Of cabbage, 1000 pounds q
eaulifoWer, $500 pounds Of turnips
1,400 pounds Of onions, 500 pounds 6.
radishes, 1,4oo pounds Of celery, 400
pounds Of pumpkins and squash, &C
pounds Of peas, s6o pounds OF corr
$500 pounds Of potatoes, besides cucun
bers, asparagus, etc. The school has B
pen Of swine, hocks of chickens, a her
Of fine mich cows, and all the hay an
fodder fo1. them and ten horses raisess
on the farm 55
During 1896, upon Recommendations
e !. stottler, the government issued
5000 sheep for distri but ton ano
tribe, and 500 for the school. The ides
is tozhaye the Indians raise 5Eleirs WI
mutton, and then cut of the suppiySof
beef, which cost the government SC, 500.