Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-03
LIFTS UP VOICE
FOR INDIANS
SEQU0YA LEAGUE CALLS ON
CONGRESS TO ACT
Representative Citizens Suggest That
the Government Buy Lands
for the Suffering
Red Men


among the Southern California Mission
Indians were discussed last evening
under the auspices of the Sequoya
league at the parish hall of st. Paups
pro-cathedral.
Bishop j. II. Johnson was the chair
man of the meeting and at once out
lined the conditions of the Indians in
the different reservations of Southern
California.
LAS a member of the Sequoya
league" said Bishop Johnson, Il feel
that we should do something at once
for the relief of the suffering Indians
not only at Warmers ranch, but at
other reservations in Southern Cali
fornia! And in order to do this L be-
lieve the best method is to place the
facts before the Legislature and con-
gress and 1 am confident that if the
representative people here will unite
in their laudable efforts in this direc-
ton much can be accomplished in at
least making a beginning for the relief
of the Indians so much needed.
The Indians are crowded onto small
allotments of land and much of that is
worthless for producing the sustenance
of life. They should have sufficiently
good soil and acreage Whereon they
can build themselves respectable
homes.
There is nothing so civilizing as the
building of permanent abiding place,
and the Indians come in for their share
of recognition in this regard.
Good, Thrifty Indians
1--WE often hear of bad Indians, which
of course are among them, but they
have good ability generally and we
should give them an opportunity to
properly exercise it in making comfort
able homes for themselves and families
But the more l see of the Indians the
more L am disgusted with the white
people who treat them so shamefully
on every tack and turn, and l appeal
TO your reason to devise some method
by which they may receive the relief
TO which they are entitled"
Charles F. Lummis was called upon,
VINO made an address, explaining the
conditions of the Indians in the vari-
Gus reservations. While he spoke of
their sufferings. he evinced high hopes
OF soon reaching a point where relief
could be realized for them. His idea
is to apply directly to President Roose-
welt for relief from the government.
Mr.. Lummis submitted the following
resolution which was adopted:
whereas, it has been for many years
notorious that the Mission Indians of
southern California are destitute and
suffering, and that these conditions
arise not from any fault of these In
dians, who are peaceful and indus
trious, but because they have been
crowded off the fertile lands they once
occupied, and have, without compen-
sation, been driven to worthless desert
tracts: and
Whereas, the people of southern Cal
ifornia have many times in the last few
years been obliged i'm common human
ity to support these starving wards of
the government by private contribu-
ton of money, food, clothing, seed and
so on, and for the last two years have
contributed some $4,000 for this pur-
pose; and
Whereas, the annual suffering of
these inoffensive people by cold and
hunger should be permanently relieved
and can be so relieved by the simple
eXpedient of giving them lands by
which, by severe industry and strict
economy, they can make a living;
Be it resolved, that we the UNDER
signed citizens of Southern California
respectfully but earnestly, urge upon
the president of the United States, up
on the department of the interior and
upon the Indian committees of the
senate and house, that adequate lands
be purchased for these people in a suit
able location: and that these Indians
be given permanent title to such land
OF lands, without power to ALLEVIATE
them for fifty years.
Resolved, Furthermore, that in our
opinion the selection of such lands
should be made by some person or per-
sons familiar with local conditions;
and preferably a commission of citizens
of California, serving without pay.
Conference Committees
A committee was appointed to draw
b. . tx,1 1,
Angeles chamber of commerce and that
of San Diego for approval before send
ing them to the president and other Of
ficials at Washington.
The members of the committee are
Charles F. Lummis, Judges Dillon and
Allen, j. w. Mitchell and A. B. Cass.
This committee will meet Monday