The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-01-16
SAYS THAT INDIANS WILL WORK
Major Brennan OF Pine Ridge Declares Facts Disprove the
Popular ~Fallacy-Abrogates Ration System for
Men Able to Work.

Four years Of close relationship with
the Sioux Indians as agent on the Pine
Ridge reservation in the northern
part Of South Dakota, has disproved a
popular fallacy, according to Maj. John
r. Brennan. Mai. Brennan Is n of
the old guard Of Indian fighters of the
West and during the past quarter of a
century has had ample opportunity to
observe the dominant characteristics
of the redskin in wal and at peace.
His views are interesting in the light
of numerous incipient Indian troubles
during the past year in various parts
Of the West.
The belief is prevalent that Indians
will not work and that particularly the
Sioux is inclined to be unruly and
warlike on the slightest pretext. This
is false, says the major. The Indian
will work If offered it at fair remuner-
alton, and experience has shown, at
least In South Dakota, that he usually
accomplishes 1t in satisfactory fashion.
When Maj. Brennan took charge of
the Pine Ridge reservation four years
ago.. he abrogated the ration system
for every Indian on the reservation be-
tween the ages of Is and As. At first
there were indications of trouble. but
when they saw that he was In earnest,
the redskins accepted without murmur
the new order. All repairing of roads,
dams, irrigation bitches and the like
was given the inexperienced aborigi.
mes and some light building work, at
SLIPS per day or $3.50 per day when
the Indian had a team. There they
made their start.
To-day between four and five hum
dred Indians are employed during
good weather on such work on the res
ervation. They are divided into gangs
the most competent being soon pro-
NOTED to gang foremen, and in nearly
every instance they made good. Then
they branched out into railroad con
struction work, at which they proved
most adaptable, and still later Maj.
Brennan secured for them outside I'm
ployment on some of the neighboring
ranches and stock farms where their
work seemed to develop all their lat.
ent ~capability and a spirit of independ.
ence and system that was never be
fore noted in the redskin.
The beneficial effects of the employ.
ment of the Indian is visible wherever
they are at work. When the Chicago
Western railroad asked for
laborers to build the Casper, Wyo., di.
vision, a large party of young Sioux
Indians were sent. At their head rode
American Horse, gray and grizzled
with the smoke OF many skirmishes
with the first settlers in the Black
Hills in the early seventies, but to-day
one of the most skilful workmen and
managers on the reservation. Two
sons of old Chief Sitting Bull, killed
by the government as an unregenerate
hostile, are to-day employed on the
Northwestern as section foremen,
while sons and nephews OF the late
Chief Red Cloud are also doing rail
road work, and the Crouch line is now
employing a large force of the re-
bel,ious Utes in construction work.
In every instance where the Sioux
Indians are employed on outside work
such as railroad construction or re.
pairing, regular reports of their prog.
ress and general conduct Is made to
Maj. Brennan, who holds each Of Uncle
Sans young charges personally &C.
%countable. The merit system and the
| honor system have been adOpted In
handling the young bucks and has