The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1902-07-25
INDIANS GO TO WORK
SPHERE OF USEFULNESS FOUND FOR
OUR REDSKlN WARDS.
AAo"1 Braves TOiIing In the Fields
ana on the Highroads of Reserva-
uons Become Self Supporting Mem
bers OF Society.


and on the Highroads of Reserva-
uons Become Self Supporting Mem
bers OF Society.
Especial Correspondence
Rosebud Indian Agency, s. D., June
I'-The experiment of putting the In
uiahs on the reservation to work has
proved a success, much to the surprise
Oh number of people who declared
that 1t could never have good re-
suits. So pleased is the government
with the way the Sioux have developed
rs laborers that an extension of the
scheme is already under way, and res
erVatons all over the country will soon
present the spectacle of industrious
bucks toiling in the fields. 1t is esti-
mated that about Z per cent of the total
indian population of the country Is
now a part of the wage earning COM
munity.
The method adopted to induce the In
dams to go to work was simple in the
extreme. The Indians on the Rosebud
reservation were told that no more ra-
tons would be issued to any except
tr1besmen who were too old, infirm or
sick to work. At first the Indians did
not take the order as serious, but when
their food began to run short they
aWoke to the realization that the great
white father meant what he said. So
they held a lengthy powwow, which re-
suited in some of their number apply
Ing for work, much to the surprise of
the squaws, who had hitherto borne
the brunt of the labor on the reserva-
ton.
When the agent was approached by
Red Feather, White Crow and Big
Moon and requested to give them
work, he could scarcely believe that
the redmen were in earnest. However.
he got out some spades, and they set
out to dig a new road that had been
surveyed so long it had become a
standing joke at the agency More In
dians fell into line as they made their
way to the scene Of their prospective
toll, and the agent soon had the pleas
ure of seeing the dirt fly in earnest.
Meantime word had spread through
the surrounding country that the Indi-
ans had gathered at the agency and
were making a threatening demonstra-
ton. Posthaste the palefaces hastened
up in order to render assistance to the
officials, and they, too, were stunned
when they saw the unexpected sight.
1t was predicted that the newly found
ardor Of the reds would not last, but
when they discovered that they were
they entered into the spirit of 1t with
an ever increasing earnestnesS. The
news was carried afar by Indian run
ners, and in a short time a number of
redskins from the Pine Ridge reserva-
ton swOOped down upon Rosebud with
the demand that they, too, be given
work. When they were told that there
was nothing for them to do. they went
away grumbling,
The Indian laborer receives as much
considerat ton as does the white. He Is
paid at the rate of $1.25 day, and his
working day is of eight hours. Farm
ers are ON hand to act as instructors as
well as overseers. Most of the Indians
on this reservation are engaged in
building roads, bridges, reservoirs and
fences, but some are at work upon the
land allotted to them. While the Indian
Is proverbially averse to labor, he is as
well aware as any one else of the value
Of American dollars, and the fact that
he is paid in cash has done more to
WOO him over to the new order Of
things than anything else possibly
could.
The results Of Indian labor as fac
tor in the economic problem cannot be
estimated yet. Some Of the white set
tiers are already growing at the al
legged paternalism Of the plan. Should
the Indians ever begin to overproduce
there will be of necessity an overflow
into the open market, and the reds wifi
then actually become competitors oi
the whites. At present, however, the
officials are not worrying over this as
pect Of the situation, their one endear
or being to compel the Indians to be-
come self supporting.
LEONARD BALDWIN.