The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-10-24
MOHONK INDIAN CONFERENCE.
PROPOSED ALLOTMENT or LANDS
TO VEN YORK INDIANS.
Nr. Nreriand Explains the Pr0>isiO ~
Ills Hin Now before Congress AMI
Says mat the Conditions on the Res
er, atoms Are a Disgrace 10 the state.

MoHoNK LAKE. y. Y, Oct % Tho three
days session 81 i'le went et h annual con-
ference Of the friends Of tine Indians
which began hero Yesterday morning. was
continued to-day, Samuel J. Barrows pre-
siding. Yesterdays session was devoted
10 the orga niza,icn Of the conference, to a
general review Of the work Of the Indian
Office for the pes, year. and 20 the report
Of several workers in the field. among OF hers
DR. Sheldon Jackson Of Alaska. In the even
ing Archbishop Ryan Of Philadelphia al
dressed he assembly.
This morning the conference took up
ono of the most important subjects on
this years programme. viz. the alot ment
Of land in severalty TO the New York Indians
The Hon. A y. Vreeland OF Salamanca.
\. y, explained the provisions Of the bin
in Congress which bears his name. providing
for allotment among the Seneca Indians.
He prefaced his explanation with some
account OF the unfortunate condition
now existing on the reservations. which.
he said were q disgrace 10 the State OF
New York. because Of the prevalence of
immortality and vice, the degradation Of
womanhood. and the corruption Of the
Indian courts having in charge the tribal
property.
Bishop Huntington Of Syracuse, a long
time friend of the Indians. made an elo-
quent address. in which he testified to the
abominable conditions mentioned. declared
the reservation syst em To he but makeshift
and urged citizenship for the Indians be-
cause it promotes manhood and protects
domestic order.
Judge Andrews, formerly Justice Of the
Court Of Appeals Of New York, gave ju-
dcisl view Of the legal aspects Of the bill
and expressed the opinion that the claim
Of the Ogden L,nd Company is valid and
canno, be ignored In securing 10 the Indians
"A clear tit 10 10 their lands.
4 warm discussion followed, in which
Charles T. Andrews, state Inspector Of
Indian schools. the Rev. W II Hubbell
ID. D.; John Van Noorhis of Rochester and
others took part. Al the close the con-
o'ns,is of opinion Of the conference. while
condemning one Of its provisions. appeared
to be in favor OF the bill,
Al the evening session. the Hon. william
A. Jones. Commissioner Of Indian Ahairs,
reluctantly consented 70 address the con
ference. He announced his hearty in
dorsement Of the Vreeland bill, criticisiug
only that part Of the measure which re-
Quires the consent OF the Indians. After
comparing the situation iii New York state
with that among tho five civilized tribes
he declared that this consent would moi
he gained in fifty years
Tine Commissioner then outlined what had
been called the new policy" Of the ID part
ment The aim of h policy is to remove
the great evil Of idleness in the Indian
communities and 20 induce the red man
LIKE his brothers white and black, To earn
his bread in the sweat of his brow. To thl,
end the Indian Department has aIroa!Y
cut on the rations from IL 90 ble-hodicd
Indians on the reservation and undertaken
to provide all Indians 80 deprived with
some kind OF work by which they may
support themselves While the movement
met AZ frs, with much opposition. the
progress already made has been such a.
10 warrant faith in its utir'a'e success
Commissioner Jones. in the cours" Of his
remarks produced a copy Of a letter In
The SEX, in which the correspondent COM
mended the policy in the highest terms and
testified to the progress of the Indians
under it, regulations
Or Merrill +. Gates. secretary Of the
Board Of Indian Commissioners. intro
duCed another important subject. After
briefly reviewing the steps already taken
toward bringing the Indian into full and
,clf-supporting citizenship, he ssid that in
his opinion the next most import ant move
must - the breaking up Of the vast tribal
funds, now held in trust for the Indians
by the United State- Government. and
their division into individual holdings A.
rapidly a. the Indians may he safely trusted
with their management.