The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1905-06-02
Cheap
House and Lot near Mill
see
Deed H. Magyar.



The passage by congress of the Gun.
fis act, under which tribal government
In the Indian Territory is soon to he
eXtinguished, marked, according 10
Representative Lacey, new era in In
dian legislation 1t was the first great
step toward placing the Indian as an
individual on plane with the individ-
val white man. Additional legislation
providing for the allotment of tribal
funds is, in Mr.. Lacey's opinion, nee
eSsary corollary of the Curtis act.
Francis E. Leupp, the new commits
sioner OF Indian affairs writing in the
outlook, indorses Mr.. Lacey's sugges-
ton and outlines his own policy of Iu-
dian civilization, the basic idea OF
which is recognition of the Indians
individuality. The problem, he says.
is to eliminate the race" and strength
en- the individuals for their intercourse
with the absorbing whites. 1--WE must
strive" the commissioner continues,
ito make the Indian an active factor
in the community in which he is going
to live" Mr.. Leupp desires to trans
fer money which the government is
holding in trust for the Indians, very
large amounts in the case Of some
tribes, to local banks, which would use
it to further local interests, work in
which the Indians might share. The
deposits under this plan are to be turn
ed over to the individual owners as
they shall show themselves capable of
using them properly. This nearer view
of whatever wealth he may command
will, it is hoped, break the bonds which
tie the red man to the licensed trader
and give him an idea OF the value OF
competition.
That the allotment of funds would
render the weaker and less experienced
Indians the prey of white sharpers Mr.
Leupp admits, but he intends to throw
about the Indians money every safe
guard compatible with the true pur-
pose of his policy. He would dispose oil
it as many testators dispose Of their
estates-granting the ultimate, free use
Of it only on conditions implying finan
cial sagacity in its ownership.
The change from dependence upon
rations to dependence upon earning
powers inaugurated by Commissioner
Jones the new commissioner purposes
TO continue, at the same time pointing
out the dangers Of making work" for
the Indian. The red man, he asserts
can see through Il humbug as readily
as can a white man, and he will not
for any wage, carry bricks from one
side of a road to the other and then
back again.
Mr.. Leupp has organized a special
employment agency in the southwest
which, if successful should go far to-
ward solving the labor question. The
agency is in charge of an energetic
young man of Indian blood, whose du-
ties are not only to secure work for
his fellows, but to supervise contracts
to see that the men are promptly paid
and that they have the necessary med
ical attention. This plan is enough
like that which Booker I. Washington
has successfully employed among the
negroes to justify the expectation that
the Indians will follow alertiy Il guide
of their own race.
Along educational lines Mr.. Leupp
promises to carry out the programme
bequeathed to him by his predecessor
emphasizing Industrial training as Gen
eral Armstrong emphasized 1t at
Hampton institute. ITO my notion,
he says, 1.-THE ordinary Indian boy is
best equipped for his life struggle on
frontier ranch when he cGa read the
simple English of the local newspaper
can write short letter, though i'll
spelled, and knows enough of figures
TO discover whether the storekeeper is
cheating him"
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