Arizona republican., 1906-12-25

A request unique in the history of the
 executive office was made of Governor Kibbey yesterday by three Indians of ! Yavapai county. They made a special trip to secure the governors help in getting a school established near Camp Verde for the benefit of Indian chill dren. It is generally supposed that l adult Indians, if they are not actually | opposed to schools. are at least indif- ferent on the question of education for | their children. but the incident of yes- , terday proved that there is at least one | notable exception to the rule.
 The Indians who had an audience 1 with the governor were Chief Novak, 1 second Chief Captain John Cava, and ! Peter Ocotilla of the Mohave-Apache tribe, which has it's habitat on the up- per Verde river. Peter Ocotilla acted as interpreter. while Chief Novak through him made an eloquent appeal
 for school facilities for the younger children of his tribe. Chief Novak call
 ed attention to the fact that he had been active for years in sending larger
 children to the Indian school at Phoe-
 nix, and he mentioned many other facts
 to prove that he was in full sympathy
 with the Ways of civilization. But, he
 said. it is not only a hardship to send
 the very small children away from
 home, but was in fact impossible to a
 large extent, so that until they are con-
 siderably past the ordinary school age
 they must go without facilities for edu-
 cation. He stated that there are at
 least thirty young children in the i'm
 mediate vicinity of Camp Verde, and
 he strongly urged that a school build
 ing be constructed for them and a good school established therein. He said he had found from long observation that education was a good thing for the Indian-although he was without edu- cation himself-and it was good for the Indian to adapt himself to the white mans ways and to work for his living. He was warmly seconded by Captain John and by the interpreter.
 The governor promised to lay the matter before the authorities at Wash l ingtOn, and to do all in his power to l have the school established, and he | complimented all three of his visitors | upon their public spirit.
 Chief Novak imparted the pleasing | information that the Mohave-Apaches | under his jurisdiction are prosperous | and contented. They find work on the | ranches, on the railroads and on the | public roads. and at the smelter at Je- rome. The chief exhibited with consid- erable pride a faded commission which | was issued on the goth of August. 1S744. by Brigadier General George Crook to Captain Charley. a Mohave-Apache, Charley chief of the tribe. The commission was on parchment, and set forth in strong terms the many merits of Captain Charley. This com mission is dearly przed by Chief Novak as one of the evidences of his own right to the title. Captain Charley, up- on his death. was succeeded as chief by Marshal Pete. by virtue of an cleo ton held by the tribe. and upon Mar shal Pete's death NOvak was duly elected chief-sO that the commission from General Crook is an important
 link in his chain of title.
 The governor gave Chief Novak a letter commenting him to the proper and consideration of all per sons that he may meet.