The Washington times., 1902-01-16
INDIANS MAY
CAUSE TROUBLE.
Government Order Against
Decoration OF Faces.
SPIRIT OF UNREST PREVAILS.
Red Men Claim Same Privileges Ez-
tended 10 the " hites-N caring af
Long Hair Tabcoc:!-protcats E:.e..
With Secretary of the Interior
Hitchcock.

There Is trouble brewing among the In
diars, ana if reports from the various In
dian agencies are to be believed Il would
not be at all surprising to the Indian au-
thorities in this city if the unrest now pre-
vai1ing among the red wards cf Uncit
Sam would culminate in hostiIities.
The whole trouble was brought about ny
en- order Of Mr.. Jones. the Indian Comm;s-
sioner, in which he directed the various
Indian agents throughout the United
States to direct the Indians in their
charge to stop painting their faces, TO cut
their hair short, and TO prohibit Indian
dances and Indian feasts. The order di-
reels the agents to use all possible meas
ures TO accomplish what is directed, and
even authorizes them TO Withdraw raticls
from those Indians who are ohstreperous
Not only withdrawal Of food and the nee
essaries Of life, but confinement in the
guardhousc is threatened
Customs Held Sacred.
The Indians regard their customs and
usages as sacred. The wearing of long
hair and the painting Of faces, as well as
number OF feasts aud dances. are part
OF their religious belief. They hate to
part with the eagle feather bonnet and
the bulls tail and horns. 4 number OF
thom have given Mr.. Jones, through their
agents--t to understand that they are not
willing 10 surrender to the order.
MIR. Jones received d reply in answer
TO his letter from IN Indian agency out
West, wherein the Indians say that they
would heartily obey provided he would
in return for the favor send them horse
and gun for each man and woman. An
other agency reported that the Indians
at the reservation ridlculed the order
and said that if civilized people. and
ite ladies' as well as men have a
1t to paint their faces and wear their
la n as they please. the Indians should
We the same privilege.
People in this city interested in the
welfare of he Indian brand this order.
which they lay a the door Of Mr. Hitch
cock, the Secretary Of the Interior. as
entirely uEcalled for and autocratic
They intend to file protests With the
Secretary OF the Interior and request
MIN TO modify the order, which is as fol-
lows:
Dances Must stop.
This Office desires to call your atten-
tion TO 4 few customs among the indians
which, it is believed, should be modified
or discontinued.
The wearing of long hair by the male
population of your agency is not in keep
ing with the advancement they are max
ing, or will soon be expected 10 make, in
civilization.
The wearing of short hair by the males
viii be 4 great step in advance, and viii
certainly hasten their progress toward
civilization. The returned male student
far too frequently goes back to the res
ervation and falls into the cid habit OF
letting his hair grow long. He also
paints profusely and adopts all the old
habits and customs which his education
in our industrial schools has tried to
eradicate.
The fault does not lie SO much with
the schools as with the conditions found
on the reservations. These conditions
are very often due to the policy OF the
Government toward the Indian. and are
often perpetuated by the agents not car
ing to take the initiative in fastening any
new policy on his administrator of the
affairs OF the agency.
Both Sexes Paint.
dams of both sexes paint, claiming that
it keeps the skin warm in winter and
cool in summer; but instead, this paint
melts when the Indian perspires and runs
down into the eyes. It's use leads 10 many
diseases OF the eyes among those In
dams who paint Persons who have given
considerable thought and investigation to
the subject are satisfied that this Gus
tom causes the majority Of the cases of
blindness among the Indians OF the United
States.
You arc therefore directed to induce
your male Indians 10 cut their hair, and
b N sexes TO stop painting. With some
OF the Indians this will be an easy mat
ter; with others il Will require consid-
cradle tact and perseverance on tile part
OF yourself and your employees 10 success
fully carry cut these instructions.
with your indian employees and those
Indians who draw rations and supplies it
should be an easy matter, as a non-com-
pliance with this order may be made
reason for discharge or for Withholding
rations and supplies. Many may be in
duced to comply with the order volun-
tarily, especially the returned student.
The returned students who do not comply
voluntarily should be dealt with sum
marily.
Tact Is Needed.
Employment. supplies. etc, should be
withdrawn until they do comply, and If
they become obstreperous about the mat
ter snort confinement in the guardhouse
at hard labor, with shorn locks, should
furnish cure. Certainly all the young
er men should wear short hair, and il is
believed thar by tact, perseverance, firm
ness, and withdrawal OF supplies the
agent can induce all to comply with this
order
The wearing CT citizens clothing in
stead CT the Indian costume and blanket
should be encouraged Indian dances and
so-calied Indian fessts should be prohib-
tied In many cases these dances and
feasts aro simply subterfuges to cover
degrading acts and TO disguise immoral
purposes. Ycu are directed TO use your
best efforts in the suppression OF these
evils.
"On or before June 30. 1902, you will
r@""-' IS cfflce the progress you have
10 I0 -rying out the above orders
orS.'
'i Extension of Time.