Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-14
DUE TO MERIT ALONE
SELECTION OF CAPT. MERCER AS
GEN. PRATT's SUCCESSOR.
New Superintendent of the Carlisle
School Has Had Extended Expert
ence With the Indians.

Officials of the War and Interior depart
ments assert with some vehemence that
the removal of General Pratt, superntend-
ent of the Carlisle Indian School, was not
caused by his recent utterances in criticism
of the Indian office, but is the result of
decision made by the President under the
advice of the Secretary of the Interior over
a year ago. 1t will be remembered that
some time last spring there was some little
trouble between the Interior Department
and Colonel Pratt, and between the War
Department and the officer also. At that
time Colonel Pratt forwarded to the Secre-
tary of the Interior his resignation of the
superintendent of the Carlisle School, and
this resignation has never been either &C
cepted or rejected by the Secretary. 1t now
lies among the files of his letters in his
office here Before the resignation was re-
ceived, however, 1t was determined that
some change should be made in the office
of superintendent of the school, and Secre-
tary Hitchcock then and there recommend
ed Capt w. A. Mercer of the 7th Cavalry
for the place After obtaining the consent
Of the President and the War Department
for the assignment of Captain Mercer some
business matters came up which prevented
the immediate execution of the plans laid
out. Captain Mercer had been the agent Of
the government at the Leech Lake Indian
agency, and while there had entered upon
the prosecution of certain business Tor the
government with the local courts. This
business had not been completed at the
time of his transfer to another and more
important post, and was hanging Are for
several years. 1t was of such an important
nature that it was impossible to relieve
Capt. Mercer of it entirely until a final set
Element was accomplished. This, it was ex-
pected would have been reached some time
last summer, and then Captain Mercer
would have been free to go to Carlisle. AS
it happened the business was not finished
at that time, however, and has only Just
been finally closed up
This much is told of the events leading
up to Captain MERGERS assignment to show
that it decided upon over year ago,
and that Colonel Pratt held office only for
such time as would serve to complete Cap
tain MERGERS other business for the govern
ment.
The new superintendent of the Carlisle
school is regarded as one of the foremost
authorities on the Indian in the country,
and was highly recommended for the posi-
ton by all of the officials Of the Indian bu-
reau and the Secretary of the Interior.
Captain Mercer was born in New York
state, March 49, 1855. He lived in Ohio
of the boyhood friends of Secretary Will
lam H. Taft of the War Department. He
was appointed a second lieutenant in the
18th Infantry in November 1880, and be-
came a first lieutenant nine years later. In
August, 1897 he was made a captain, and
in November, 1898, was transferred to the
7th Cavalry. During his military career,
except during the time he served with his
regiment in Cuba, Captain Mercer has been
on duty among the Indians. He was in
charge of the La Pointe Indian agency four
years, and had under his care seven reser-
vations of the Chippewa Indians. He was
the agent at the Omaha and Winnebago
agency two years, and had under his care
the reservations of the Omaha and Winnie
bago Indians. He was the directing spirit
of the Indian congress at Omaha, and cared
| for the representatives of thirty-nina Diff
! ferent tribes, attending to their wants and
representing the government with them for
| the corrections of the evils they alleged
For two years he had charge of the
Leech Lake reservation, being relieved of
| that charge to go TO Cuba with his regi-
ment in the war with Spain. This agency
| has under it's care six reservations and is
one Of the hardest to manage In the coun-