The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1907-07-12
PROGRESSOF THENOB|ERED
SIOUX INDIANS DO WELL UNDER
NEW SYSTEM.
ARE LEARNING HOW TO WORK

a. Two Big Reservations In South Da'
kota.
Sioux Falls, S. d., July 11.-Those
who have not visited the great Sioux
Indian reservations of South Dakota
during the past few years can have
only slight conception of the great
advancement these once wallilte In
dams have made toward civilization.
The ghost dance trouble of the win
ter of 1901, which eliminated in the
bloody battle of Wounded Knee creek
marked the turning of the tide in the
compose the great Sioux nation, and
from that time their advancement has
been quite rapid and especially during
the past few years, or since a change
was made by the United States gov.
eminent in the method of treating the
Indians, cutting off the rations of the
ablebodied Indians and making the
become self supporting.
One of the men who has had an eX-
cellent opportunity to closely observe
the great progress of the Sioux Indians
during recent years is John Beldng,
pioneer Black Hitler, one Of the prin-
cipal deputies of Capt. Seth Bullock,
United States marshal for South Da.
kota, and who for ten years or more
has had assigned to him the Pine
Ridge and Rosebud reservations, uDon
which reside more than half of the
entire membership of the great Sioux
nation. Deputy Marshal Belongs Off
cial duties take him frequently to all
portions of these two immense reserva-
tions, and he has had the best of op-
portunities to watch the progress the
Indians are making toward civilization
and self support.
Good Points in Sioux Character.
There are many good points about
the Sioux Indian character that the
man who does not know them cannot
appreciate" said Deputy Marshal Beld-
ing during an interesting conversation
in reference to what he had observed
while making his official trips to all
parts of the Pine Ridge and Rosebud
reservations. "Of course" he added,
"they are stolid - they do not show
their feelings, but that does not mean
that they are unfeeling.
81 have never seen more demonstra-
ton of affection between parents and
children than in the homes of the In
dams on the two reservations. They
are kind and careful with their little
trily
strange to say, the children are obedi
ent and they seldom have any trouble
with them. An Indian surrounds him.
self with a crust of reserve until he
knows you and trusts you, and after
that he is quite open.
Nov, in our cases against criminal
Indians in the United States court
there are some interesting develop
ments. The Indian witnesses for the
government will give their testimony
against their best friends, and some
times against their relatives, and give
it truthfully. Perjury is almost UNI
known in our cases. They have a
very stern sense Of duty and are quite
willing to admit that the defendant
ought to be sent to the penitentiary.
But here is the odd part of it. AT
ter the trial is over and the prisoner
sentenced many of the strongest wit,
nesses against him, the very men
whose evidence has convicted him
will get their witness fees, go over to
the Jail and sometimes give him the
whole amount The convicted Indian
never harbors any resentment against
the other Indians who have sworn
away his liberty. They take 1t as a
matter of course. would sooner trust
an Indian on the witness stand than
lots of white men.
Marriage Held Sacred.
THE prevalent idea that the Indian
regards his marriage ties lightly is all
wrong. He is not greater sinner in
this respect than the white man. Why
even in the savage days it is well
known fact that although women OF
bad character accompanied the wan.
dering bands Of Indians they were not
allowed to camp with the regular band
and would be stoned to death if they
were found in the camp.
THE Sioux Indians are making won.
derful progress. Best of all, they are
learning to work. Some time ago the
government decided to abandon the
free ration system and announced that
instead the men would be given work
building bitches and excavating dams
for irrigation purposes. | had such q
poor opinion of the new plan that |
prophesied that it would never be a
success. But it is. The Sioux have a
natural love for horses, and it is only
a short time until they learn to handle
a scraper or plow
"They have constructed, under the
direction of white men, some very
good dams on the two reservations,
where the water is retained for stock
purposes. Down the line of the North.
western railroad they are being large
ly employed as section men, and rail.
road men tell me that they are well
nd Tod &c..