The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-08
NEW INDIAN POLICY,
VIEWS OF SOUTH DAKoTANs FAMILIAR WITH THE SIOUX.
Hardships Which Would Result rom the Sudden Withdrawal of Ha- tions and Enforcement of
 Land .Allotments.

Sioux Falls (S. D.) Special Correspond
 ence N. Y. Evening Post.
 As South Dakota has more Indians within its boundaries than any other State in the Union, it is perhaps natural that the people, especially those living in the towns bordering on the Indian res ervations, should take a lively Interest in the new policy of the Indian Bureau. whereby 1t is proposed to cut ofr the ra- tions of the red wards of the Govern ment and compei them to become self supporting Those who have lived in proximity D the Indians for twenty years or more do IT.. agree as to the justice and wisdom o2 tn: new policy. Those who oppose the cutting off of the food > will be impossible for the Indians of South Dakota, especially the wilder Sioux who live on reservations west of the Missouri River. to adapt themselves to the new order of things. These In- dians because of the opening to white set clement of the best and greater portion of their reservations, are now located upon land which Is not at all adapted to farming It Is safe to say that ifsthe most experienced white farmers were placed upon any portion of the area now embraced within the reservations belong ing to the Sioux Indians, efforts 10 cul- tivate the land would result in failure
 Where white farmers would certainl! fail success could not be expected of the Indians.
 Probably no man in the United States
  of the Indian question than V. T. McGtl- licuddy who from 1879 to 1886 had charge of the thousands of then turbulent Sioux Indians living on the Pine Ridge reser- vation. Since retiring from the Indian agency he has kept in close touch with Indian affairs
 ''I sec" said he to your correspondent. Commissioner Jones is taking steps in cutting down the rations of agency h. di ms. which indicates that the crisis in the reservation method of handling them by the Government Is approaching. His recent order is absolutely necessary in order to accomplish anything in the di- rection for which the system Is devised. which was to make the Indians ulti- ma;ely Sels-SupDorting; out before thl result can be achieved 1 am afraid there will be tro.,ble again in the West. Com missioner Jones has ordered that rations shall not be issued for half-breeds, nor for white men who may be married to Indian woman. nor for children who may have attended the national schools at Carlisle. nor for Indians who may own a certain number of head of cattle. It IS estimated this will reduce by about 1i per cent. the cost of the rations supplied by the Government. While this will be considerable of an item as a matter of economy, I understand the reason for the order is not so much to save the expense as it is to call halt to tho breeding of paupers on the reservations
 Something must be done as start to ward .he time when the Indians will no depend upon being led IneTe never va community of white men that coult have been brought toward a hleher if by being fed without labor. and no bet Ser ought to be expected Of the red men But among the difficulties which will con front Commissioner Jones and his sue cessors, not the least is the fact that tn area which It Is practicable to retail for the Indians cannot possibly turnlsl them with sustenance. Not much of i will be adap pted to agriculture, and ther' Is not enough range land to be secured to give them room for the amount Of cat tle they must turn out in order to have an adeouate income. The result of thi: will be that the pinching down of tho rations will many times bring actua hunger and then there will be resistance and it is not improbable that another out break or two will be experienced before