The San Francisco call., 1904-12-07
indians Progressing
Oowara Civi21zatlon
Benefited by Ne7r Policy That
CombeLS Them to Work for
Subsistence.

The progress of the Indians toward
civilization, though not rapid, is per-
haps all that could be hoped for IN
view Of the circumstances. Within the
past year many tribes have shown, in
a degree greater than ever before, an
appreciation of the necessity Of work.
This changed attitude is in part due TO
the policy recently pursued of reduc-
ing the amount of subsistence to th-
Indians, and thus forcing them,
through sheer necessity, to work for
a livelihood. The policy. though severe,
is useful one, but it is to be exercised
only with judgment and with a full
understanding of the conditions which
exist in each community for which it
is intended. On or near the Indian res
ervatiCns there is usually very little
demand for labor, and if the Indians
are To earn their living and when work
cannot be furnished from outside
(Which is always preferable), then it
must be furnished by the Government.
Practical instruction Of this kind would
in a few years result in the forming of
habits of regular industry, which would
render the Indian producer and would
effect a great reduction in the cost Of
his maintenance.
1t is commonly declared that the slow
advance of the Indians is due to the
unsatisfactory character OF the men
appointed to take immediate charge Of
them, and to some extent this is true.
While the standard of the employees in
the Indian Service shows great i'm
provement overi that of bygone years,
and while actual corruption or fragrant
dishonesty is now the rare exception,
it is nevertheless the fact that the
salaries paid Indian agents are not
large enough to- attract the best men to
AQ1H of tn ffc-
factory results the official in charge Of
an Indian tribe should possess the
high qualifications which are required
in the manager of a large business, but
Cnly in exceptional cases is 1t possible
to secure men of such type for these
positions. Much better service, how
ever, might be obtained from those
now holding the places were ii prac-
ticable to get out of them the best
that is in them. and this should be
done by bringing them constantly into
closer touch with their superior officers
An agent who has been content to draw
his salary, giving in return the least
possible equivalent in effort and SER
vice, may, by proper treatment, by
suggestion and encouragement, or per-
sistent urging, be stimulated to greater
effort and induced to take a more
active personal interest in his work
Under existing conditions an Indian
agent in the distant West may be
wholly out of touch with the office Of
the Indian Bureau. He may very we'll
feel that no one takes a personal in
terest IN him or his efforts. Certain
routine duties in the way of reports
and accounts are required of him, but
there is no one with whom he may
intelligently consult on matters vital
to his work, except after long delay.
Such a man would be greatly encour-
aged and aided by personal contact
with some one whose interest in Indian
affairs and whose authority in the
Indian Bureau were greater than his
own, and such contact would be certain
to arouse and constantly increase the
interest he takes in his work.
The distance which separates the
agents-the workers in the f1eld-from
the Indian Office in Washington is a
chief obstacle to Indian progress.
Whatever shall more closely unite these
two branches of the Indian service and
shall enable them to cooperate more
heartily and more effectively will be
for the increased efficiency of the work
and the betterment of the race for
whose improvement the Indian Bureau
was established. The appointment of
a field assistant to the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs would be certain to
insure this good end. Such an official
If possessed of the requisite energy
and deep interest in he work would
be a most efficient factor in bringing
into closer relationship and a more
direct union, of effort the Bureau in