Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-02-02
Law Evaded for Benefit
OF the Catholic
Missions
OWN ExPERIEN
Institutions Under His CHARGE
Closed Through Rigid
Enforcement.

New York. Feb. 2.-The Evening
Post today prints a statement from
Right Rev. william II. Hare. Protest
ant Episcopal missionary bishop of
South Dakota, in which he charges
that the law prohibiting government
aid TO sectarian Indian schools has
been evaded. and that money has been
paid out to Catholic mission schools
strive 10 secure Relief
Hares statement Is dated at Sioux
Falls. 5. d.. Jan. >. He described the
pecuniary embarrassment and anxiety
On the part Of the schools following
the abolishment OF the contract sys-
tenn OF government aid and recites his
efforts To- secure some measure of re-
lief from its rigid application.
1T was urged" says Bishop Hare.
that when ratiOns and annuties had
reached the Indian country and the
parent who had a child in the mission
boarding school consented that that
child's fair share of ratiOns for his
family should be turned over To- said
mission school in compliance with his
wish Il could not fairly be held To- be-
an appropriation to a sectarian
school
Presented the Ca--.
Il vcntured To- present this view of
the case to the commissioner OF Indian |
affairs. Hc rejected Il. I then carried |
the case 20 the secretary Of the in
terror He upheld the decision Of the |
commissioner. I then took the matter |
up 10 the president who referred the
matter to Attorney General Knox"
The stateAent then relates that !
KnOx's reply upheld the Indian conf
missioner and declaring that that Off
ciaI has no authority 10 grant Harc's
application"
This opinion" continues the state
ment. was sent To- me by the presi-
dent rs reply Co my appeal. This !
of course. finally settled the case.
What its effect upon the school work
of the other missionary societies was. |
I can only imagine.
Cave Up Two schools.
In regard tony own school work
II made Il necessary To give up en-
tircIy two OF the mission boarding |
schools. namely 81. Pauls Iankton !
agency. and 81. Johns Of the Cheyenne !
river reserve and center upon the two
remaining boarding schools all the
boarding school funds which I could
command ! was ultimately driven 10
sell ST. Paul's school for about half its
value. and 81. Johns for about one
tenth its value. The only comfort lay
in the fact that the highest executive
officers OF the government seemed 20
have been driven to- a seemingly pitt
less act by a high and imperative
sense OF public duty. that public duty
being not To- use funds in the hands
OF the government for denOminational
schools.
R~a.ou for Details.
Il have gone into some retail in
making this statement in order that
the fact may definitely appear that the
government officials CHon. W. \.
Jones. commissioner; Hon. +. y.
Hitchcock. secretary Of interior: Hon.
Theodore Roosevelt. president. and un-
der the advice of Attorney General
Knox reached and avOwed the opin
ion after much thought and despite
the great hardship that this conclusion
brought upon the missionary effort
that II was the settled policy of the
government not To use money entrust-
ed To IL in the aid Of any denomina
tfouaI School-not even a fraction of
tie rations in charge Of an Indian
agent could. at the request Of the head
of the family be set apart for the use
of his child IL that child was in a de
nominationsl school"