New-York tribune., 1905-04-09

~ Indian Affairs. Francis E Leupp, has been
long regarded by all who take interest IN the
subject as the highest authority on all matters
relating 70 the present day descendants OF the
aboriginal American. Among others. Presidents
Harrison. Cleveland and Mckinley gave him
hat recognition. and at least ono President tried
70 induce him to become the head OF the ma
t,snal governments bureau OF Indian admins
,raeon before President Roosevelt finally IN
ascsd him TO make the personal sacrifices neces-
sary 20 take up the Official duties Tor which he
has publicly said no other man was ever so well
fitted For twenty years Mr.. Leupp's vacations
from arduous journalistic work have been given
70 study Of Indian affairs. most OF his summers
have been spent in visiting the Indian reserva-
ions, and their welfare has seldom been out OF
his thoughts in the whole period.
since he assumed official responsibility for the
Indians. their rights and betterment, he has
been rapidly putting into effect the reforms his
great experience and fine judgment showed TO
be Immediately necessary, practically having TO
deny himself 10 the world in the mean time. but
to-day for the first time. he managed to find
sins 70 impart. through The Tribune. some In
formation about conditions OF the Indians which
VII be news to most persons. whether they
thought they knew something about the sub
jeCt or not
A6SlM4AahlAUM 4NEk1l66lE.
When asked what was TO become OF the Ind
ian when the West filed up. as it seems likely
70 DO IN the next ten years. he replied:
Il wish could speak more encouragingly of
the future Of the Indians OF this country, but
an forced 70 admit that their outlook as a race
e not bright Many individuals viii come out
o. the present process Of readjustment in good
condition physically, financially and morally.
but a far greater number. undoubtedly will be
unable 70 hold their own and will go 70 the
wall. The Indian has a social economy OF HIS
own which does not merge into ours as any
other Caucasian social system merges into the
American, FOR instance, and as II would be
futile TO try 10 ingraft his patriarchal system
upon the more complex one which we have de-
veloped our people have come down TO the
hard basis OF saying: You must come into our
body polite as individuals If you cannot como
e race. but come you must or perish This
seems cruel. yet what is left for the Indian but
10 yield? And since the irrevocabie edict has
gone forth. the most that We who are charged
with his protection can do IS to safeguard his
interests as far as We are able 10 stand between
him and the oppressors who would prey upon
him. and 10 exert every energy to prepare him
for the great change toward which he is now
moving"
You refer TO the openings OF the reservations
and the process OF making the Indian into
citizen?"
Il DO The ignorant Indian IS a victim Of
somebody's wiles al his life. While his reser-
walton remains closed. his affairs are run for
him by certain facticnai leaders Of his tribe;
they conduct the negotiations between him and
the white outsiders who wish to make some
thing out Of him, and usually pocket a good
profit as go-betweens When his reservation is
thrown open and the white man Genes in freely
he simply passes from the hands Of some red
sharper into those Of some white one It keeps
the administration at Washington busy all the
tine beating off human harpies OF one race or
the other"
CHECKING CORRUPT TRADERS.
I do not mean by this that all the Indian
CHIEFS and head men are corrupt" continued
Commissioner LeupD. Il have known some as
hne characters among them as I have ever
iound anywhere Nor do mean that the bulk
OF The white settlers ia a partly opened Indian
country are IN collUson 10 cheat the Indian
On The contrary the sentiment Of a large ele-
ment is sympathetic and the government re-
celFes much VARIABLE cooperation in its efforts
from that source. BUT the good people of either
race are not the ones who stand forth as con-
splcuous figures in the scene, any more than the
nl4Aens oi honest, upright respectable men and
women ~ white communities are those who fill
the largest share Of space in the current news
o. the da-. Il is the bad ones who become
prominent, by very virtue Of their contact with
une larger mass Of their fellows"
DO the traders give the Indians as much
trouble as they used to-"
They are stil a good deal in evidence. sut
Aol exactly in the same way as Of old. Their
0-ie1 shortcoming row is allowing the Indian to
iuA up huge bills, which he is in no position to
pa since the law went into effect which permits
He s34e Of the allotted land Of the dead Indian
-0l lhe benefit Of his heirs. the traders have
s1A'A advantage Of that to give a prospective
-.A tAoToitant credit. and then pounce upon his
inheritance as soon as il comes to him. We are
now oFerhauing this branch Of business and
e-1silg 10 lend any aid 10 a trader in collecting
4'olS except where contracted for obvious neces-
ao''es' II 2 trader has helped an Indian family
sNioush bad season by advancing 10 them the
.Oo1 aho clothing and medicine needed to sus-
=" me we are willing to let the Indians con-
s--ea spend enough OF their Inheritance 10
% - lhls valid account; but where the trader.
- 'he strength Of the family's prospects. has
oeen lending them money 10 fritter avav ON
--o'Sehse or possibly 10 buy liquor. or where. as
- one instance that came under my notice re-
10y ne furnishes lot Of penknives and gew-
'-''a canoy 10 an Indian with sick wife
ue piea Of pity, we leave him 10 collect his
-.oi.e. s best he can. This is one reform have
!" motion which trust wiz convey a warn
"E lesson of some value"
INDIANS MONEY MADE SAFER.
,..''. mhat 90 the Indians do with the money they
Fs ~. ron the sale of inherited lands?"
- - deposited for them in bank. and they
-. psIili-ted % draw on IT, as a rule. at the
-0te OF SO q month Cnca gn n ,Ubtla 20 an