The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-10-25

Robbed Of His Glory and Poetry, and
Power Nearly Gone.
THE Indian chief Of today is rob-
beG of all his glory and poetry. He is
! nothing more than ward heller for
his people His power is practically
all gone, but he is something of a
leader and acts as sort of spokesman
and schemer for the people" This
was the estimate place. on the lead
ers of the red men by Mr.. J. H. Mon
teath, who has charge OF the Black
feet reservation in northern Montana.
"All the war chiefs of the Blackfeet
are dead" Mr.. Monteath continued.
THE last great chief was Lame Bull
He has been dead many years. The
present chiefs on the Blackfoot res
ervation have never distinguished
themselves in battle. White Calf is
is now living. He is more than Is
years old, and has considerable in-
fiuence among the members of his
tribe He has three wives, which is a
sign Of his Importance. His favorite
wife is Wells in the Night" He likes
her SO well that he permits her to do
all the work around his home An
other one of his wives is 'Wades in
the Water Plural marriages are pre-
vented on the agency now, but White
Calf had all these wives when the
reservation came under government
control, and no attempt was made to
interfere with his household
Little Plume, Wolf Tail, and Run
away Crane are other influential
Blackfoot chiefs. None of them has
as much influence, however, as White /,
Calf. Age is supposed to add much |
to the wisdom of chief. Still this |
old leader finds himself on the level !
with the humblest men Of the tribe |
when he deals with the government. |
His ration ticket calls for no more |
provisions than that of any of his |
subjects. 1t is amusing to hear the
various stories which the chiefs create |
for the purpose of getting more ra-
lions. But Indians are all the same
In Uncle Sans eyes, He treats them
all alike
The Blackfeet will soon disappear.
At one time the reservation contained
nearly 1000 Indians. Now there are
,nly 2,100 Indians there. The Indians
Tho are on the agency have intermar-
led for SO many years that many of
hem are weaklings. When they were
II their savage state they roamed
bout. and marriages were entered
ITO with members of other nations. |
The more enterprising Blackfeet have
eft the reservation and are making
heir own way in the world. The in
[olent ones are contented to remain
N their old hunting grounds and let
he government take care of them.
Most Of the yong Indians have
ONE to the conclusion that they must
work.. and are taking care of cattle
nd making some attempt at farming.
The older ones still live in idleness.
The Indian schools maintained by the I
government are well attended and the
government employees have very. lit
lie trouble kepig the young Indians in
chool. Years ago many Of the men
rho went into the far North with
he Hudson Bay company married
indian women: For the most part
hese men were thrifty lot, and did
ipch to improve the condition Of the
ribes. 0f late years, however, a
'orthless lot OF schemers have mar.
led women On the reservations that
hey might get hold IT lands and re-
Five supplies from the government. 4,
III the indians on the reservations
:ntinue to decrease as rapidly as they
ave in the last quarter of a century,
lie government will have but few
ards to care for Reservation life
rs no charm for the better class Of ]
,dians, and the worthless red men
re dying of and intermingling with
le whites SO rapidly that they will