New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-08
SELECTIONS FROM THE NAIL
INDIAN CHILDREN AT CARLISLE.
MAJOR PRATT DENIES THAT THEY Arr
SENT AGAINST THEIR PARENTS WISHES

MAJOR PRATT DENIES THAT THEY ARE
SENT AGAINST THEIR PARENTS WISHES
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Several clippings from various New-York
papers of the 2Sth have been sent me by friends
suggesting that l answer statements made by
Mrs. John F. Trow. Mrs. Lille Devereux Blake
and Mrs. T. st. John Gaffney, at a meeting of
the Society for Political Study March 81. at
Fifty ninth-st and Madison ave-. asserting that
Indian children are torn from their parents to
be sent to Carlisle or some other school-a
school the parents look upon disgrace
call this cruel"
do not know OF single instance where Ind
ian children have been taken from their parents
against parents consent and brought TO this
school during its more than twenty years his
tory. except two parties sent by the War De-
partment from prisoner Indians. and in these
cases there were no material objections from
parents. For some years the law has required
written parental consent. The following is the
Carlisle form:
l. .-......... of the .......... tribe of Ind
fans being in good health and of good charac-
ter -. years of age, acting for myself and
with the full knowledge and consent of my
parents Cor guardian), do hereby make applica-
ton to be admitted as a pupil IN the Carlisle,
Penn, Indian Industrial School, and do agree
IL so admitted to remain for the period of five
years unless graduated sooner; and do further
agree to obey faithfully all the rules and regu-
lationS of the school.
1, ............, being the ........... of
........, and as such duly authorized there
to, do hereby consent and agree to this act of
my .........., and do further promise to CO.
operate with the officers of the Carlisle, Penn.
Indian Industrial School to enforce this agree
ment to the end that my .......... may re-
ceive the greatest benefit possible from attend
ance at the school
On behalf Of the United States and in con-
sideration Of the promises and representations
above made. it is hereby agreed to accept Of
.......... a pupil of the Carlisle Indian In
dustral School for the term named
superintendent
The allegation "a school that parents look
upon as a disgrace" is equally without founda-
ton. multitude of written statements and
letters from parents prove it I have care
fully preserved every letter written me by Ind
fans and students during the more than twenty
years since the establishment of this school
They number many thousands A search
through them will show facts contrary to Mrs.
Trows statements.
However, fully to meet the case l make the
following propositions: will pay the reasonable
expenses Of any one of the three ladies
toned if she will undertake a most careful in
vestigation of this subject in her own way and
on her own lines at four or five separate agen-
cies of her own choosing, and make public her
findings. Or l will share half the expense if
two of the said ladies will go together and do it,
and will then make public just what they dis
cover, giving the names of their informants and
the questions and answers well as the names
OF those who suggest and direct their move
ments and inquiries I will make no suggestion,
nor willingly permit any friend of Carlisle to
make any suggestions to the direction, tenor
or character of the inquiries, leaving that abso-
lutely in the hands of the ladies mentioned to
be conducted as they may choose. Copies of all
| letters ever written by me to parents, pupils
and others are carefully preserved in books,
and these, together with all letters re-
ceiVed by me, will be at the fullest scrutiny of
| the ladies. They will also be given every OPP
portuntty for just such consultation they
care to have with every pupil and employee at
the school, if they to look into the matter
here. From its origin Carlisle has been open
house to every visitor and inquirer.
If there is any wider facility that have not
thought of in the above propositions that would
assist in arriving at the facts, it is included
herein. r. H. PRATT
Major 10th Cavalry, Superintendent.
Carlisle, Penn. April f. 1900.