Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-02-05
THE INDIAN PROBLEM.
It Recurs Every Time the Ap.
preparation Bill Comes Up.
FAULT FOUND WITH THE SCHOOLS
In spite Of Opposition, However, the
Carlisle and Hampton Institutions
Will stny-Tillmnn and the Presi-
Dental pcc.

Dental pcc.
Washington, Feb. 5.-tSpecial. 1.-The
consideration of the Indian appropria-
ton bill in the house of representatives
developed the same fight that has been
going on for ten or fifteen years past.
Men representing states and territories
where there arc Indian reservations
and Il large Indian population crlticise
the educational system Of schools ut
Carlisle, Pa, and Hampton, Va. 1t is
an old subject, but 1t is an ever recur-
ring one every time an Indian bill
comes up. The western men Insist that
the education Of Indian children in
eastern institutions does not fit them
for the life they must lead after they
return to their homes, and it is assert
ed that an Indian who has been educat-
ed becomes the worst sort Of q reserva-
ton Indian aftcrward. Many instances
are pointed out where girls who re-
turned to the tribes are ever dissatis-
fled and oftentimes lead a much worse
life than those who have remained on
the reservation. 1t is the claim Of men
who represent Indian states that the
best system is the education Of the
Indians on the reservations, where they
will not become dissatisfied with their
home surroundings and associations.
The Schools Will Stay.
No matter how much opposition may
be shown, the eastern schools will stay
for the reason that they do accomplish
a great deal Of good and that some In
dams have been educated there who
refuse to return to the tribal life and
who have become useful citizens among
the white people. Both the Carlisle
and the Hampton institutions are al
ways advocated by men representing
those states. and there are always some
men who are familiar with examples
of good results that have been accom-
plishcd in these schools. They never
fail to produce testimony to that eff
feet. While there are many instances
of Indians going to the bad after hav-
ing been educated in eastern schools,
at the same time there are also xam-
pies where those Indian pupils have
returned and undertaken to arouse am
bition in their fellow tribespeople with
some success.
Bound to Have It.
The friends Of the army staff bill ad.
vocated by Secretary Root are deter
mined that it shall pass at this session
and the bill for the retirement of off,
GERS of the civil al with advanced
rank as well. If they do not go through
as separate measures, they will remain
as riders on the army appropriation
bill.
They Talk Irrigation.
During the discussion Of the state
hood bill the subject of irrigation of
the arid land in the west frequently
comes to the surface. The opponents
of the states make the point quite fire.
quently that New Mexico and Arizona
are arid wastes, and the reply of those
who favor admission is that irrigation
is going to do a great deal in the way
Of developing both Of these territories.
Then there generally ensues Il sparring
match as to what irrigation has done
for the west, and the senators opposed
to statehood declare that until there
has been some development under the
new scheme of i~rrigating the arid
lands these territories should wait
and see If they would develop. When
these c%olloqules take place, 1t is
easy to pick out the men from the arid
land states. They are the men who
thoroughly understand the subject of
irrigation. They make few mistakes
because they have studied it for years
and have had personal observation of
the effect of irrigation, the building of
reservoirs, etc.
This Is a Rumor.
l heard n Democratic senator say the
other day that there We're evidences
that the presidential bee, which is
often an indiscriminate insect. has
been buzzing about the rugged head of
Benjamin Il. Tillman of South Caro-
lima. 1t would certainly be an interest
ing thing if Tillman should become a
candidate for the presidency. Stranger
things might happen. His South Caro-.
lima delegation, if l remember correct,
ly. voted for him at the Chicago con.
vention in 1896, although his candidacy
was not taken seriously, and it was
simply a compliment showing that the
men from South Carolina had conf
Gence in their leader. 1t may or may
not be true hat the insect which has
disturbed the equilibrium of so many
men in the past has flown southwark
but at all events it aL1s an interesting
feature to the political gossip Of the
day.
Old Soldiers With Him.
Senator Scott Of West Virginia since
he delivered his speech upon pensions
has beer receiving hundreds of letters
from all over the country commencing
him for the stand he has taken in favor
Of a service pension to those who
served ninety days or more in the civil
war. Some Of these are extravagan'
in their praise, and they go so far a.
to declare that Scott ought to be the
nominee for president on the Repub
lican ticket. That this has not serious
ly disturbed his mind or made hin
think that there in anything in it II
evidenced by the fact that the Yves
Virginia senator tells it himself. Sen
ator SCOTS candidate for the presi
dency all along has been Senator Han
ma, and he frankly tells Presiden
Roosevelt so whenever he happens Il