Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1909-03-20
vOLSTEAD'S WORK
On Indian School Matter Ex-
planned in Letter.

The Tribune believes it can best
serve the people of Stevens county by
seeking out and publishing the truth
regarding any matter of public in
terest, and therefore on March 4th,
wrote to Congressman A. J. Vol
stead as follows
"The report is current here in Nor
ris that you opposed the proposition
to give the Indian school here to the
State of Minnesota for use as an agri-
cultural school. AS this is matter of
considerable interest to your consti :
tuents in this locality, I would be
pleased to hear from you as to your
attitude and work on this proposition,
with permission to publish what you
may write"
To this Mr.. Volstead replied as
fbllOWs:-
March s, 1909.
Mr.. J. G. Morrison,
Morris, Mimi.
My dear Morrison: Your kind favor
of the 18th inst, received. am very
much surprised to learn that there is
a report afloaS in your town to the
effect that have opposed the grant.
ing of the Morris Indian School TO the
State for an agricultural college.
There is absolutely no truth in this
report. More than year ago con-
suited with the Commissioner of In
dian Affairs and others in order to
learn what could be done with the
school. At that time the appropria-
tion for the support of the school was
omitted from the estimates for the
indian Appropriation Bill, but before
this bill was reported from the House
Committee I secured an amendment
restoring the appropriation so as to
maintain the school until it could be
secured for the State. In that con-
nection I offered a further amendment
granting the school to the State. The
Committee changed this amendment
50 as to authorize the Commissioners of
Indian Affairs to negotiate for the
disposal of the school. This amend
ment was adopted and the Commits
sioner made report pursuant to it
that helped very much in securing the
legislation at this time. AS it was
necessary to wait for the legislature
of the State to accept the school
nothing further could be done until the
opening of the session of Congress
just closed. When that session open
ed Senator Clapp, Chairman of the
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs,
introduced bill in the Senate and
introduced one in the House granting
she school to the State. Copy en-
closely I induced the House Com
mittee on Indian Affairs to take ac-
tion upon this bill by inserting the
substance of it in the Indian Appro-
priation Bill, and secured its passage
in the House. I then called Senator
Olapp's attention to it and suggested
an amendment. Senator Clapp took
charge of the matter in the Senate
and passed it there in modified form,
subsequently agreed to by the two
Houses. This is the law granting the |
school to the State.
regret very much that my atti-
tude in this matter should have been |
misunderstood by anyone. 1t is per-
haps my own fault. If I had indus
sriously advertised from time to time
each step taken as is the custom with
many members, no such report as the
one you called attention to could have
gained currency. 1 trust that the
school may be promptly accepted by
the State and prove, as sincerely be-
feve, of great advantage, not only to
Morris but to the State at large.
Thanking you cordially for calling
my attention to this matter, I am,
Yours very truly,
A. J. VOLsTEAD.