Arizona republican., 1904-03-15
THE SUN AND THE PInAS
Story of the Setting up of Constitu-
 tional Government.

The New York Sun, the most accur- ate of newspapers invariably goes wrong when it gets to dealing with the Indians of this territory. Some years ago the Sun heard in round about way that the Pima Indians were en- gagged. in the building of an airship which would be launched within the course of a week. A reporter for The Republican received telegram from the Sun desiring further details about the airship and for complete de- scription of the incidents, and result of the launching.
 It appears from the following edi- torial in the Sun. on the subject of a constitutional government among the Pimas that somebody has been "stringing" that excellent and reliable journal again:
 The Indians of the Piman stock live in southwestern Arizona and the adjacent regions of Sonora. The Pima tribe is on two reservations in the val leys of the Gila and Salt rivers. Ar tistic basket makers and tolerable pot ters, tie Pimas live, or try to live. by farming. Of late years they have had evil days Those about the Giia agency could no longer irrigate their farms, as the white settlers higher up on the river have ditched out the water and cut off the Indiars' supply. In the Santan reservation, there were other troubles. The old chief rich in cattle and horses, is penurious. Some of the young men, educated in eastern schools bubled with new ideas. Tn tae fall of 1901 a new system of canals was completed. The young men re- solved to elect a new chief and buil1 a constitution. In the Journal of American Folklore the late Frank Russell of Cambridge gives Q copy of this document and describes its origin and fate.
 Who were the Pima Fathers? So- lon Jones, interpreter, proposed that constitution should be written. Earl A. Whitman. disciplinarian at the boarding school. wrote the constitu, ton. Another employee of the school cut down the draft one-half but didn't alter the language. Modelled after the constitution of the United States. the Pima constitution is the work of young English speaking Pimans. Naturally, it is not always sufficiently exact in language. The arrangement might be improved and bylaws and constitution are fused and cOnfounded Here are the preamble and first article. or first two sections:
 We, the Indians of the Santan Reservation, in order to promote the general welfare of our Indian, do or dain and establish this constitution and bylaws for the government of the Santau TeServat tiOD.
 'l. The executive power of the reservation shall be vested in a chief, who shall be elected by the people; such election shall be subjected to ap- proval by the United States Indian Agent at Sacdton, AIiz. He shall serve four years. unless he for misbehavior be impeached by the council and re- moved from office. the same to be ap- proved by the United States Indian agent
 =. The legislative power of the said reservation shall be vested in the chief and the council. the latter to con sist of eight councilmen, two assistant chiefs and the head chief
 8. The said officers shall be of good repute and have the qualification of voters One fourth of the said council shall be elected every year Dy the people"
 MT. Russell tells us that four is the magic number of the Pimas, which thus happily corresponds with the term of the president and the head chief. The term of the assistant chiefs is for two years. They communicate to their people the orders of the head chief and distribute the raticns issued by the Indian agent. They also supervise the Minute Men, who superintend tie can al or dam work of the farmers on the reservation. These Minute Men. the manner of whose election is not pro- vtded for, are called 'undermen' in an- other article and are subject to the canal president, the manner of whose election is equally unprovided for
 'The council discusses and decides all general questions and tries suits referred to it by the head chief Road improvement is young among the Pimans, but the longest article in their constitution relates to the duties of the road master and of the community in regard to the roads. A curious pro- vision requires every male resident on or off the reservation who uses road in it to work on the roads by person