The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-25
Snecial to The Globe

Special to The Globe.
SIOUS CITY, Iowa, Feb. 24.-To per-
sons who observe the progress of the
Western tribes of Indians toward civ
ilization it is an evident fact that the
Winnebagoes, who occupy a reserYa-
ton in Nebraska not far from Sioux
City, have advanced at a much less
rate than any other tribe of red men
in the West. The opportunities which
are offered for the development of
their mental and moral qualities are
absolutely disregarded by them and it
Is only by the enforcement of strict
! rules on the part of the agent that
much lawlessness among them is kept
down.
The average Winnebago has improv-
ed but little during the thirty-seven
years that lie has resided on Nebraska
soil. While he has, of course, lost much
of the savagery in his makeup during
that period, yet he still clings to old
superstitions and customs of prini-
tive days when he roanaed the forests
of Eastern Iowa and Minnesota.
His nature is devoid of ambition. He
resents the measures promulgated from
time to time by the national govern
ment, which are intended to fit him for
the responsibility and dignity of Amer
lean citizenship
He still insists upon the weird dance
logged in war paint and feathers, with
gaudy costumes and he glories in the
worship of his shiftless ancestors, in
sists upon wearing long hair and de-
mands the native blanket to be worn
about his shoulders. 5t
Family Records Unknown.
His moral tendencies are very bad.
He disregards the marriage relation to
the extent that family records are al
most as unknown as among beasts.
His habits are incorporate and often
vicious. In a word, he is truly bad
Indian.
Civilization has gone ahead too rap
idly for him and in a few years from
now when the guardianship of the ma
tional government over his destiny
shall have expired he will certainly be
i'll prepared to take the bat1le of life on
his own shoulders. 1t will not be long
before the patents which the govern
ment issued and held in trust when his
lands were allotted shall be exchanged
for deeds by operation of law, and this
will mark the beginning of the descent
Of the Winnebago.
Where he will end can now only be
conjectured. He will be privileged then
to barter his lands at will. His nat
ural aversion to labor, his lack of in
dustry, his instructive and Unsuitable
thirst for intoxicating liquors and his
debased moral nature will not augur
we'll for his future welfare. The close
restraint Of reservation rule will give
Igl
state laws and the Winnebago will
take advantage of the independence
given him. -z#Fs taS
The records Of the state and federal
courts in Sioux City, Omaha ard other
places adjacent to the reservation al
ready contain many instances OF
crimes committed by Winnebagoes.
Every federal grand jury is called
upon to investigate cases of white men
charged with Illicit traffic in liquors
among the Winnebagoes. White men
who engage in this business know the
weakness of the Winnebago in this re-
81 ect.
Have No Use for Thrift.
Although the government has pro-
vided many conveniences designed to
promote ambition and thrift, especially
Winnebagoes, yet they have, taken ad-
vantage Of but few Of them. The ma
1ority of these Indians lease their lands
to white men, through the agent in
charge of the reservation and live
solely upon the rental thus received.
This money Is paid to the secretary Of
the Indian department of the govern
ment and is distributed at regular in
tervals to the Indians. The money Is
soon spent, the most of it for frivolous
things among merchants of nearby
towns. t no
A few years ago the government or
dered houses built for a large number
Of Indians on the Winnebago reserva-
ton and the agent was shocked a short
time afterward to find that the red
men were using the dwellings for their
horses, while they themselves were liv-
ing in rude tents or huts built Of rough
boards or brush.
The records Of the agency show that
the Winnebago tribe is decreasing in
number at somewhat alarming rate.
In the twelve months from July 1, 1901,
to July 1, 1902, their population de-
creased to the extent Of fifty. There
are now about LOO Winnebagoes in
Nebraska. The decrease has continued
at a gradual rate from year to year.
This state Of things is said to be due
to their unsanitary domestic. life, their
immoral tendencies and their dissipa-
ton. They have had frequent cpl
denies Of disease in past years which
have carried them off in large numbers.
Two Tribes Contrasted.
Adjoining the Winnebago reserva-
ton, which consists of about 10000
acres, is the reservation Of the Omaha
Indians, containing about. 10000 acres.
The contrast in the development of
these two tribes is very marked. The
Omahas are, as rule, an Industrious,
ambitious tribe, whose members have
utilized most of the privileges and OPP
portunities afforded them by the gov
eminent. They have built comfortable
homes on their allotments and many
of them carry on an extensive business
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