The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-12-08


"a and adultera.ed foods. drinks. and
mate manufacture and commerce. and
would tend to secure the health and well
faro Of the consuming public. Traffic in
aduIterated SO as to intn-e scalth or to de-
ceivS purchasers should be forbidden.
The Indian Question.
During the year just past. the psase OF
the Indian question which has been most
sharply. brought to public attention is the
larger legal significance OF the Indians
Induction into citizenship. This has made
Itself manifest not only in a great excess
figures as a party defendant and In a more
widespread disposition to levy local taxa
ton upon his personality. but in a decision
struck away the main prop on which has
hitherto rested the governments benevo-
lent effort to protect him against the evils
feet, that when an Indian becomes. by
virtue of an allotment of land to him., a
citizen OF the state in which his land Is sit
troll in such matters as this, and the. acts
Of the prohibiting the sale or
gift to him Of in~toxicants become substan-
tially+inoperative. 1t is gratifying to note
that the states and municipalities of the
west which have most at stake in the well
fare OF the Indians are taking up this sub
ject and are trying to supply. in n measure
at least, the abdication of Its trusteeship
forced upon the federal government.
Nevertheless, I would urgently press
upon the attention of the congress the
question whether some amendment of the
Internal revenue laws might not be of aid
in prosecuting those m~alefactors, known
in the Indian country at "bootleggers,"
who are engaged at once In defrauding the
United States treasury of taxes and. what
is far more important, in ~debauchtng the
indians by carrying liquors illicitly into
territory stil completely under federal
jurisdiction.
Among the crying present needs of the
Indians are more day schools situated In
the mids of their settlements. more eff
fective instruction in the industries pur-
sued on their own farms. and a more lib
eral extension of the feld-matron service.
which means the education of the Indian
women in the arts of home making.
The Philippines.
During the last year the Philippine
slanIs. nave been slowly recovering from
lean occupation. have greatly reduced the
amount OF agricultural products below
what was producea in Spanish times. The
drought, and the cholera have been unit
ed as causes to prevent a return Of the
prosperity much needed in the islands.
The most SERIOUS is the destruction by
the rinderpest of more than Is per cent.
Of the draft cattle, because it will take
several years of breeding to restore the
necessary number of these Indispensable
aids to agriculture.
Would Reduce Tariff.
The agricultural conditions Of the
islands enforce more strongly than ever
tariff on the products of the Philippine
Islands entering the United Stares. 1
earnestly recommend that the tariff now
product Of III Philippine. islands. be
entirely removed, except the tariff on
and TOBACCO. and that that tariff
rates under the Dingley act: that after
July I, 1909. the tariff upon tobacco and
sag anti ReG9q rsmo IN the and dh thpF 9eee ast tande
between the islands and the United States
in the products of each country then be
provided for by law.
wise laws Of the United States upon the
earnestly recommend that this suspen-
sion be postponed until July l. 1909.
Would Fortify Hawaii.
In my judgment immediate steps should
be taken for the fertilization Of Hawaii.
Pacific to fortify in order to conserve
the interests of this country. 1t would
this Aa need. Hawaii sss1atHt IS DC heavily leapvlsS' taxed d.
Laws should be enacted setting aside
for g eep neri of t Sr. Iayys :. 5Mep rsyeg ysars and q
customs receipts from Hawaii as a spe-
cial fund to be expended in the islands
for for e SaSpar imp ana pps1,s b sna mgii,t snS
and naval defenses. 1t cannot be too
often repeated that our aim must be to
develop the territory Of Hawaii on ira
ditional American lines.
Citizenship for Porto Ricans.
I earnestly advocate the adoption of
legislation which will explicitly confer
American citizenship on all citizens of
Porto Rico. There is in my Judgment.
no excuse for failure to do this. The
harhor Of San Juan should be dredged
and improved The expenses of the fed
eral court OF Porto Rico should be met
from the federal treasury, and not from
the Porto Rican treasury. The elections
in Porto Rico should take place every
four years, and the legislative should
meet in session. every two years. The
present form Of government in Porto
kiico, which:provides for the appointment
by the president of the members of the
executive council or upper house ofe the
legislature, has proved satisfactory and
has inspired confidence in property own
ers and investors. l do notIdeem 1t adj
visable at the present time to change
this form in any material feature. The
problems and needs of the island are in
dustrial and commercial rather han po-
litical.
Needs Of Alaska.
L earnestly ask tina Alaska be given
an elective delegate. Some person should
be chosen who can speak with authority