The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-28

action would surely result in the ruin OF
the nation. Immediately after his death
the tribe held a meeting, and it was the
unanimous vote of the council that the
wishes of the dead ruler should be car
red out. Roddy was notified that he had
been elected chief of the tribe and that
in the future he should be known as
white Buffalo"
Green Cloud. however, was not willing to
let matters rest without a determined
fight He called his friends together, and.
although none of them had been promi-
nent in the affairs of the council they
were able to get together nearly 1900 men.
The leader OF this faction then took an APP
peal to Washington. urging the disadvan-
tages of permitting a white man to as
sumo the rulership of tribe of Indians.
and while he was waiting TO hear from
the department of the interior he inaugu-
rated an active campaign on his own ac-
count.
A majority of the members Of the tribe,
however, still stand true to Roddy, and he
expects TO be inaugurated at an early date.
lie has already made arrangements to
leave Chicago, and will build a house for
his family in the very heart of the Win
nebago country. Then he will proceed to
do all in his power to improve the con-
dition of the tribe.
ROddy Promises Reform.
AT the present time the Winnebagos are
ny no HiSdHS lIe most civilized OF the In
dian nations. They are faithful bright
and intelligent, and maintain a sort of tri-
bal government sufficient to emphasize its
native character, but they have never had
the opportunities TO improve their condi-
tion that have been accorded many less
peaceful nations. Even to-day there are
practically no schools on the reservation,
and the young men and women who de-
sire to obtain an education are compelled
to travel distance of fifty miles
The tribal lands are extensive and the
members might easily support themselves
by farming. Several times during the past
ten years efforts have been made to per-
suade them to adopt agriculture, but the
men have never taken kindly 10 the pro-
posal, and they are now left TO work out
their own salvation
As soon as Mr.. Roddy takes control OF
the helm of state he will make a deter
mined effort to interest the men in the
cultivation of their lands He will intro
duce reform measures into affairs of the
councils and will put the government upon
more modern basis. He will also engage
number Of teachers and will open schools
In the villages, attendance at which will
he compulsory in the case of children and
younger men and women. Even the older
people will be permitted TO attend, and the
new chief is confident that within a few
years those who visit the Whine bagos will
see marked Improvement in the condl-
lIVH OF the tfiDe
In the carrying out of this work Mr.
Roddy viii have an able assistant in his
wife. Although Mrs Roddy has never
lived among the Indians she has frequent
~ visited the tribe, and her heart Is thor
oughly in sympathy with the work that
is to be undertaken. 1t is her intention to
devote herself chiefly to the women of the
tribe. During her visits to the reservation
she found that the squaws were lazy and
careless that they had only the vaguest
IDEAS about housekeeping and cooking and
she will do ner utmost 90 persuade them
TO adopt cleaner and more practical meth
DDS
While 1t is a question whether or not The
Indians themselves will take kindly 10
such a broad system of reformation, there
can be no doubt that il would be greatly
to their advantage to allow themselves to
be governed by their white chief in all
things. Black Hawk who was not una
ware Of Mr. Roddy's intentions, but who
felt that he was too old 20 undertake such
sweeping reform. realized that the civili-
zauon and moral Improvement In his tribe
could be obtained in no other way. and he
undoubtedly acted wisely when he pre-
vailed upon the tribesmen TO see that his
last instructions were carried out