Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-09-25
The Indian Asylum.

Dr. larry Is. OF WaSllulE
ton, ID. G.. has been appointed success
sor to Judge Clifford as S%uperinten-
dent OF the iuuiau Asylum al this
place.
This appointment is in line with
the new policy Of the Indian Depart
ment, that all government positions
coming under the civil service rule
shall be filled with physicians from
the government statl, and the govern
ment decided that the Indian
| Asylum should have a physician Of
experience on insanity in charge,
hence the change in management.
Judge Clifford with the able assist.
ance of Charles Secly as financial
agent and DR.. Turner as physician,
took charge Of an experiment Of deal
ing with insane Indians and have
carried to a grand success the only
institution of the kind in the United
States. The Indian Asylum at Can
ton is a credit to the humane impulse
that prompted Senator pettigrew to
StcIi d lltllJt loi WV lll' 10
redskins worthy Of a christian ma
tons care. Among the many good
things done for the natives by the
government nothing calls for higher
praise than the establishment of a
home for a class of people who are
outla we'd by their more fortunate
brothers. Indians look upon an in
sane person as unworthy Of care and
only tit for death. and the Canton
institution has proven to be the only
refuge these unfortunateS have ever
had or will I've have.
These unfortunate redskins, ma
tives Of a great country, are certainly
entitled to the care and protection OF
a christian government, and the Can
ton Asylum under the kind and hui
name management of Judge Clifford
and his able assistants have proven
to the congressional scOtfers that the
Asylum was not only needed but that
it ranks among the most humane in
situations in the country, and
Judge Clifford has carried this
Institution to a splendid success in
the face of active opposition from
men high in authority, who said
"there were no insane Indians" and
yet there are probably a hundred or
more insane outcaStS among the Vari-
Gus tribes whom red-tape fadistS at
Washington know nothing about and
care less. 1t devOlved upon Judge
Clifford, Mr.. Charles. Seely. and DR..
Turnert to goafter these insane persons
and bring them to Canton and give
them a home and treatment. Out OF
los insane indians received at the
Asylum since it was opened, - have
been discharged cured, 23 died and
there are now G3 patients under treat
ment, and yet those fellows down at
Washington said there were no IN
sane Indians.
Judge Clifford ear retire with honor
and credit from an institution he
founded, arranged, and conducted for
seyen years, gathering in the unfor-
Inmates from many states and caring
for them with great kindness in their
new life which entities him to the
highest praise Of a christian people.
Few realize what it mean to con-
duct such a home and none can real
ize the trials necessary to manage in
sane redskins, only those who have
had experience.
Over a month ago Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles Seely rendered their resigna-
tionS as financial agent and matrOn,
the same to take effect on October
first. In the resignation Of Mrs. Seely
it may be proper to say that the
Asylum, under her able and careful
management, is recognized by govern
neatest government Institution in
the country, and Mrs. Seely can re-
tire from her official duties proud OF
this distinction, earned by faithful
and judicious management.
DR.. Hummer Is expected here
about the first of the month and he
will find an institution our people are
proud Of and we believe he will en-
dOrse the LEADER in the statement
that it has been managed as we'll as
any other government institution in
the country. DR.. Hummer has had
years Of experience in the government
asylum at Washington and is an ex-
pert on insanity, and that's why the
cha ppa was made