Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-01-16

-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
popular fallacy, according to Maj. John
r. Brennan. Mai Brennan is one of
the old guard of Indian fighters of the
West and during the past quarter of
century has had ample opportunity to
observe the dominant characteristics
of the redskin in war 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 it 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
$1.25 per day or $3.50 per day when
the Indian had a team. There they
made their start
To-day between four and five hun
dred Indians are employed during
good weather on such york 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 en-
poymenJ on some of the neighboring
ranches and stock farms where their
work seemed to develop all their lat
ent capabiity 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
| j Northwestern railroad asked for
laborers to build the Casper, Wyo., di-
vision, large party of young Sioux
Indians were sent. AT their head rode
American Horse, gray and grizzled
with the smoke Of many sllirmishes
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
North Western 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-
belIious 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
Sanis young charges personally ac-
countable. The merit system and the
honor system have been adopted in
handling the young bucks and has