The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-15
MRS. A. s. QUINTON,

Not many persons know that the poll icy of giving lands in severalty to In- dians was originated by women--in truth. chiefly by one woman, Mrs. Ame- lia Stone Quinton of the Women's Na- tional Indian Association. Such is the fact. Neither is it commonly known that another most important part of our present system of Indian education largely originated from the same source. This was the founding of the industrial schools for Indian boys and girls.
 The story Is a notable one. In 1879 there lived in Philadelphia Miss Mary l.. Bonney, who was at the head Of c large and hourishing school for girls. Miss Bonney's sympathies had been stirred profoundly over the wrongs suf- fered by the nations Indian wards and by their helplessness to resist the ever increasing aggressions of white men. They knew only to resist aggression by going on the warpath, and in this they were invariably worsted. the only result being to shove them faster and faster upon that fate of extermination which seemed inevitable. @The only good Indian is a dead Indian" was the merciless dictum of white men who wanted the Indians rich lands.
 The attention not only of Miss Bon- ney, but also of the government and all humane citizens. was called to the deplorable condition of the vanishing red man. Something must be done for the Indian. Miss Bonney had a philanthropic friend. Mrs. Amelia Stone Quinton, lady of wide culture and in- telligence and one who sought above all to be helpful in her day and genera tion Mrs. Quinton was born in New York State of Mayfiower ancestry.
 Miss Bonney begged Mrs. ouinton to take up with her a work for the somehow they two might start Q movement which at length should spread over all America. From that day to this, now twenty-six years, Amelia Stone Quinton has wrought single hearted. in some places almost single handed, for making a good h. dian out of the live Indian. No move ment ever started in our country has had a grander outcome than this one of the women.
 Miss Bonney and Mrs. Quinton be- gan quite alone. Mrs. Quinton's first move was to draft a petition to the President and Congress. It was short and to the point. It most earnestly requested the President and Congress to take needfui steps to prevent the encroachment of white settlers upon
 
 Indians in the enjoyment of all the rights guaranteed to them on the faith of the nation"
 The two ladies printed the petition and circulated it in fifteen States. In February, 1880. the list of signatures was 300 feet long, and the petition was presented to President Hayes. Judge Kelly of Pennsylvania introduced 1t in the House of Representatives. Imme- diately following this the ladies began circulating another petition of like in- tent. Four other ladies meantime joined them. and to their second peti- tion were affixed 50,000 signatures Henry L. Dawes in a powerful speech presented this second petition to the Senate.
 In December. 1880, the women es- tablished their first formal organiza- ton, Mrs. Quinton being made or ganizer and secretary. Mrs. Quinton was and is a clear. persuasive speak CT. enlisting at once the sympathy of an audience with any cause she pre- sents. In March, 1881 the faithful any energetic workers for the red man adopted the name Indian Treaty Keep