Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-16
INDIANS WHO WILL VOTE.
Capt. Allison Will Give Red Men First
Lessons In Ballot Casting.
Yankton "a. d. Con-. Chicago Record

During the next four months the Sioux
Indians located on the reservations In South
Dakota are to receive their first instruction
IN ciVics, II Captain f. H Allison has his
way about 1t. Captain Allison is particu-
larry well fitted to give this instruction to
the red men. He Is a member of the inc
pahpah tribe of Sioux Indians, having been
adopted by that tribe. in 1866 with impress
I've ceremonies. over which the great Chief
Gail presided He is one of the people Of
royal blood among the Sioux, and married
the Sioux princess Sinawin, daughter Of
oacrea Bear, who was for years head chief
OF the Cncpahpah. Captain Allison has
iived among the Sioux Indians, nearly all
MS life, and is familiar with their nature.
the pecullaritieS. of their political notions,
lheir physical condition and their history.
he IS familiar with the benefits the Indians
nave received from the federal government,
as We'll as the wrongs they have endured.
lie speaks the Indian language as fuentIy
as ne speaks the English. He was chief Of
the scouts for General Sheridan for several
years, and was chief scout and Interpreter
Tor General Otis in the western country for
some ten or fifteen years. 1t was he who,
after the Custer massacre on the Little Big
morn. went to Canada to induce Sitting Bull
ana his band, who had fled thither. to re-
turn to the United States. and he was in
charge OF the command which took Sitting
Bull to Fort Randall. BY both native en-
doWment and experience he is particularly
well lifted for the work he is about to I'M
dertake He not only knows the Indian
character. but he has always been the In
dams friend and holdsn their confidence to
an an. extent nas, not held bsoany other man in
Captain Allison WIS iii this city last night
and talked freelys'iof Dts proposed work
idential campaign said Captain Allison.
in which any considerable number of the
Sioux Indians will Have participated They
nave been wards, Of the government. and
for years have Observed the operations or
the campaigns, but have viewed them
merely as spectators sf1Their notions of
what constitutes citizenship and the respon-
SlDlltles arising therefrpm are very crude.
Large numbers of them know nothing what
ever about the Significance of casting a ball
lot. Ihey do nocsunderstand that a ballot
represents an opinion. In fact, but few OF
them can be said to have political opin-
lon IL Is my purposestD go out on all the
reservations westiof the Missouri and hold
meetings wherever a dozen more In
dlans can be gathered together. This work
VIII take three or four months. 1 shall
give them elementary lessons in civic duties
and shall try to show them what it means
Tor them to be citizens of the United States.
shaL explain why 1t Is necessary to have
eteStions. polling places and laws governing
Sucn Things. l shall have blank ballots and
conduct mock elections IN order to give
tnese new citizens OF ours a concrete Idea
or election methods ~ -.,-'
But my course of instruction will not be
connned to the voting Indians. 1 shall try
70 nave some Of the squaws and the young
indians. both boys and girls attend these
meetings. for it will be only few years
w raceiv they too win participate. either d.
Ieges OF citizens of the United States. The
political questions at issue in the present
campaign Will be discussed at some length
Principies which 1 shall discuss with my
indian audiencos." - '