The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1908-01-17
INDIANS ARE INCREASING
POPULAR IDEA OF GRADUAL Elk
TlNcTloN is WRONG.
A DIFFERENT TYPE OF MAN
Policy Of the Government to Stamp
Out the Tribal Form Of Control.
Churches and Booze, White Mems
Contributions to the Indian.

Churches and Booze, White Mems
Contributions to the Indian.
Indians are increasing in number
every year. There Is no reason to be.
lieve that the American Indian will
become an extinct race.
Uncle Sans policy is to break
down the tribal arrangement making
the red man the ward directly and un-
restrictedly OF the government.
Churches and booze-that Is higher
civilizations contribution to the In
dian"
SO spoke c. A. Bates, the govern
ment officer in charge OF the field work
In the allotment Of land to the Indians
OF the Pine Ridge reservation in South
Dakota. to the Sioux City Tribune.
He Is the field engineer in charge OF
the survey instituted by the govern
ment In Its allotment of land to the
$500 redskins Of the reservation.
The Pine Ridge reserve Is 10 by
20 miles in area. The Utes, for the
herding OF whom the regulars of the
Fort Des Moines cavalry were recent.
ly called out, live on the borders of
the Pine Ridge Indians territory; and
Bates is here from one Of the most
interesting environs OF Indiandom of
America, where the redman Is rapidly
losing his type under the hand of the
government which seems intent on
banishing his traditions forever.
Il see no reason to believe that the
indian will ever become extinct" said
Bates today. "He Is, of course, being
resolved into a different type of man,
but in actual numbers he Is yearly
becoming stronger. The pureblood
Indian is not being crowded out.
Ever since the treaty of 1889, when
Chiefs American Horse, Blue Horse
and Red Cloud, all of whom are still
alive, signed articles OF agreement
with the United States Indian commits
sioners, 1t has been the persistent pol
icy of the government to stamp out
the last sign of tribal form of govern
ment and control. At this time the
Indians OF the Pine Ridge look partly
to their chiefs, and partly to the Unit
ed States government. This period of
their transition is an interesting one"
do they still paint their faces?"
was asked
you could as easily stop some Of
the women of Sioux City from paint
ing their faces" said Bates with a
laugh.
Each decade" he said, "is seeing a
great advance in the character of the
red fellows. Their type is advancing,
and they are being improved in many
ways, will will always be Indians. The
general tendency is for a pure blood
Indian to marry blood Indian. In
the same way it Is the tendency of
halfbloods to marry halfbloods, and of
quarterbloods to marry quarterbloods.
THE missionaries are doing a lot Of
propaganda work among the Sioux of
the Pine Ridge. The Indians are join
ing the Methodist, the Presbyterian
and Congregational churches rapidly.
Churches and booze-those are the
two principal things that higher civili-
cation is bringing them. The church
is doing great good, but liquor is a
handicap"
Each man is given an allotment Of
GAO acres. His wife gets 800 acres.
Each child over the age of IS years re-
ceives an allotment of 800 acres, and
each child under IS years 160 acres.
The government wishes to make the
individual independent. The tribal
form Of government is in this way
dealt body blow.
"The Indians of the Pine Ridge"
said Bates, "are an industrious lot.
1t is the exception to the rule for one
10 rent his land. Most of them do
their own farming. The cattle bust
ness is favorite one with many"
With Bates is Frank Kocer, his
brother-in-law. The two head the
party of eight surveyors who are slic-
ing up the big reservation. c. H.
Bates, father of the field engineer has
charge of all of the lands of the res
ervation. John r, Brennan is at the
head of the reserve, with headquarters
at Rapid City.