New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-26
indian SCHOOL FUNDS.
VI. LeupP Replies to a Missionary
and Bishop Hare.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir; Commissioner Leupp's letter OF May Is. 1895.
TO HIS chief OF education division stated that IN
case application made again for contract for
the education OF Indian pupils in sectarian schools
petition should be formulated setting forth
eral data, among them the following:
% Their request that whatever ratable share, may
in said fund shall be used for said contract and
derstand that such share shares so used shah
be deducted from whatever payments or moneys
49, o e. .i IoSt , ~ 80 5s-ssftar
sThSe etG or oJhet 0ehe s WaCn ma ne IDias
OF such nation and Ch) their clear understanding
/ thus receive less by each amount than those
Indians who have not signed said petition
It is perfectly plain. from the above quotation,
that the intention to allow such Indians as
wished 10 use their family shares OF the funds
involved in the OF the contract, 10 pay these
shares signed for in petition and throw no part
OF the burden OF support OF the sectarian school
any Of their fellow tribesmen who did not sign
the petition Because OF the Commissioners state
ment renewed in his annual report. many now
| deceiving themselves. while the Commissioner has
cleared the situation for here IN Rosebud by his
telegram Of February 20 Major Kelly. the United
| States Indian Agent. The telegram reads,
Payment OF contract will he made out OF all trust
ana treaty FUNDS named IN peJlson % ne
OF ne shares or the PetiuoneTs ana PeuJIo s
/ the total amount OF said funds whenever a dis
tribution IS made. thus reducing to such extent
/ the shares Of all Rosebud Indians
This makes the scheme one OF Iegalized robbery
n carried out in spite Of the protest OF ve-siXths
OF the people. Is there political OF co-Jesuit-
cal combination compelling the sufrsrance OF this
Let all honest friends OF justice demand that no
| ploation OF the Lacey bin may some time make
| Rosebud. :. d. Feb, %. 1906
Bishop Hare writes from the steam yacht Mayi
Charleston. 5. C.. February -. 1903
T1.a- n NJ Tam zv,0r7 tan rrzl
called on me last summer in Sioux Fails and as
fair, etc. hereafter If wrong is done It will
| fought without mercy. Afectionately yours.
When these communications were shown 20 com
missioner Leupp. he said; Bishop Hares state
| ment that called him IN Sioux Falls is true.
and that assured him that everything should be
done abOveboaTd in connection with these mission
/ school contracts: although 7 supposed the Bishop
knew me we'll enough 70 know that I should not do
| anything except I'm that way, and therefore that
/ such assurance as 7 gave him was in one sense
| a gratuity- Ny call was incidental TO a stay OF one
day in Sioux Falls. which 7 obliged 70 make IN
the course OF a Journey through the neighbortng
| country. and as we had known each other for some
years and he had been conspicuous in the sectaran
school controversy IN the latter part OF 1904 that
subject naturally came the front IN CONVEX
satlon. I described to him exactly what was do
Ing in insisting upon petitions the Of public
and general councils Of the tribes, in carrying out
the Presidents general order that the trust funds
should continue be used in partial support OF the
mission schools I explained 10 him the Presidents
| purpose 70 see that no Indian should give away
| anything except his pro rata-that is, the share
to which he entitled in a fair distribution Of
the tribal income. IN pursuance OF our talk sent
the Bishop later a copy OF my instructions 10 the
l chief Of educational division.
cat that time. after safeguarding in every way
possible the certainty that each Indian who signed
petition in favor Of mission school should know
/ exactly what he doing. I formulated two plans
| or processes for determining the pro rata amount
| 10 which each Indian was entitled One of these
was embodied IN my instructions TO the chief OF the
/ educational division It proposed the segregation
from the total tribal annuties Of enough money 20
Z support the government school or schools on a
| reservation. and divided the balance between the
| whole number OF Indians the reservation This
was the plan which I preferred. and which the
President preferred on my first presentation OF the
I matter 10 him. Tt is also the plan which has ap-
peared in print in my annual report. The aIterna-
tive plan take the entire annual income OF a
tribe and divide it among the members thereof.
leaving each Indian free 20 devote his share 70 a
mission school or a government school-whichever
he preferred Both of these processes were equally
lawful as far that went. and I so informed the
President while expressing my preference for the
first process. A month OF two after the publication
Of my report. the President notified me that, on
further consideration. he had decided that the sec
ond of the alternative processes was better than
the first. He based his revised judgment on the
fact which had been brought more wildly 70 his
attention. that in some cases the operation OF the
first process would result in giving only an insig-
rihcaut amount 10 those Indians who wished 10
educate their children IN school Of their own re-
/ Hgous faith whereas the second process would
allow them more money. on his written instruc-
lions therefore. changed the orders TO the educa-
Z uonaI division. and the second process IS the one
that the once has agTanFsd 70 5 iq4qw low. b any
other than aboveboard action on the part or ny
ONCE IS proved 20 he entirely ungrounded by the
testimony OF his subordinate, Mr. Clark in the let
ter just shown me- Mr.. Clark quotes a telegram OF
mine 10 agent Kelley, OF me ROSEBUD
I'm which I explain the operation OF the revised
position on my part TO cohcea from t-le In4tlsl OF
from any else the slightest feature OF this
bai6 Speaking ieIegrSm So FAR from there having
been any concealment the instructions to all the
everything shall be done with the utmost publicity
would not have any oJher aJIospnere surr9undlng
Ls,Te c5Sabie Of anv cIandestine act ne would NOT
consent to my staying here for a moment. Frank
relations and in our oficiai relations the same
He would be incapable Of conducting an aduinistra
[Pp 1n any c6yrgcfed ''''7 anu % -A o'
The question OF the good Judgment involved in .
matter OF this sort Is thing criticisms OF the
motives underlying an act are quite another. II
bishop Hare or MT S,agA ooS hoL IKE me pqcE
they used he is entirely free 10 Criticise
Criticfse the critic In turn Both men would proba-
bly, be able TO Criticise more justly if they would
is struck. and we can discover exactly what the
effects upon the tribal funds That f. impossible
Wnete[ h7 i ItrS Pis5o 3 Hare s5 ~ 'T S
in bsnd and the total result can be summed Ur and
! question to any length desired Meanwhile, as all
may he more edifylng to Try 70 live together IN
peace and amity, and withhold incorporate charges
about something that has not been candidly set