The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-02-28
INDIAN AS A WORKER

Tho Sioux Indian Developed Much
Energy on Railroad oonstruc-
ton Work Last Year.
Rapid City Journal: The Indian
question is one that is attracting
considerable attention at the present
time in n way or another. If it isn't
the Sioux 1T is the Utes, and ii it
isn't the Utes ii is some tribe over
in Nevada OIL somewhere else. 1t
has been the general impression, and
not without good reason, that the
Sioux are &arlike Indians and not
given to peaceful pursuits as much
as some other Indian tribes of the
United States. An opportunity to
prove the fal]acy of this has been
given by John r.. Brennan, agent at
Pine Ridge reservation. AS Is we'll
known h ration system has been in
vogue. according to treaty, for many
years. There was no incentive for
the Indians to work. for their needs
were provided for by the government.
People thought that the Indians
would not work, and that nothing
could be made out OF a redskin no
matter what his tribe.
The experience OF Agent Brennan
dulAAg the past few years shows that
this loea of the Indian. and especial
~ of the Sioux Indian. is wrong. He
Will work If he Is offered work at
lair wages, and he will do his work
we'll when shown how to do it prop
erly.
Up to four years ago the Sioux In
dian had never done any manual
LABOR. At that time a new system
was adopted at Pine Ridge. All the
younger Indians from 18 years Of 6
70 ~ were dropped from the ration
roll. put were offered work on the
reservation building roads, dams, ir-
rlgattng bitches, etc, at 31.25 per
day for q man and $3.50 per day for
man and team. At first they did not
take very kindly to this new order
9 @things. and most of them refused
70 60 to work but when they found
they could not draw rations they
went to work. for they realized that
5that&Nas . way to. secure food: The
writer was ct Pine Ridge not long
after the new order of things had
been put into practice. 1t was then
an experiment, and many did not
think II could ever be made a sue
cess. but ven at that time the In
dams we're doing good road work on
the reservation roads, and MI. Bren-.
nan had good reason to feel that
with perseverance, something better
than beggar could be made out Of
sAsSioux Indian. Four years has
preventive correctness Of the majors
belief.
Since then between four and five
hundred Indians have worked on the
s~Ssseryation during the summer
months. At first they were divided
M into small gangs. Foremen who
were workers and who understood
the class Of work to be done were
placed In charge. and they were
taught how to work. Since then they
Ave developed into good workers
and are willing and anxious to la
Dor. During the past two or ehree
years Major Brennan has endeavoyed
80 secure employment for -heu. OUT
side OF the reservation with ranchers,.
ssstockmen. and on different lines OF
railroads building into this section
ri the country. In this he has sue.
ceeded quite we'll. az all will testify
who have watched the construction
sgangs4on the railroads. A large
number were sent out to Casper,
sSWyO..S Z work on the extension OF
The Chicago. North-Western railroad.
ssAs 2 time . large party OF young
lndianeawere cent to Casper to work
SOnathe railroad under charge Of the
#oldMchief. American Horse. Ameri-
scanHOrse % one Of the few old-time
chiefs who are alive at this time. At
ainaogurated. American Horse OPP
the time this working system was
Eposed ~ with all his might. advising
sfhe@young men not to 90 to work,
ath hat their fathers and people before
sthem never had to work. that it was
~asdisgrace for IN Indian to do manu-
Sal labor. and that the government
owed them living. Three years
sAaAde quite q change Ii the old man.
@aand he rode out at the head of the
party Of young workers on the way
~ Casper apparently with as much
asadignity and pleasure as when he
used to ride 81 the head Of q bunch
5sSof Sioux warriors to make war on
the FIRST settlers Of the Black Hills
thirty years ago.
More than q hundred OF the young
sser Indians we're sent up here last
on the Crouch lines. and
"a the Pierre, Rapid City & North