The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-05-23
INDIANS OF MAINE
FORCED TO MARRY
PenobScot and PaSSama-
quoddy Tribes Have
Novel Customs.

BANGOR, Ne, May 23.-Compulsory
marriage and no minority representa-
ton OF any kind are among the feat
ures discovered among the Penobscot
and Passamaquoddy Indians. Of Maine.
by Or. Frank G. Speck. of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania Archaeological
Museum. who recently returned from
an EXTENDED visit among them.
DR.. Speck. who has specialized in eth
biological subjects for many years has
lived among fifteen different Indian
tribes, in various parts Of the New
World, during the past decade. in order
to make a discriminating study OF their
politics, religion, manners, and customs
The PenObscOt tribe is PRACTICAL an
empire within an empire. he says. for
in many respects 1t is complete in itself
politically. Despite the provisions Of the
United States Constitution that Con-
gress shall deal with Indian tribes, the
Penobscots recognize only the State Of
Maine, and their relations with il are
most cordial
There are two political parties, the
old, or conserve tive, and the new, or
radical" said DR.. Speck. They split.
many years ago, on the subject of
Catholicism, but the basis Of their DIFF
ferences today is wholly economic.
The new party is against admitting
any more Indians, such as those from
Canada, 10 tribal rights, for the State OF
Maine treats its wards laViShly. and anV
increase in numbers would reduce the
pro rata share OF their annuities. The
old party, on the other hand. favOrs
opening the tribal books, on the theory
that an infusion Of new blood viii keep
alive a race that is now fast disappear
ing
Easily Influenced With Liquor.
Cash brides in the elections are I'M
heard of. but few Indian voters are not
susceptible 10 the potent argument Of
quart or two OF whisky. There are
bosses. strong-minded. aggressive di-
vision leaders among the Indians, just
as among the whites. Indians seem 10
be particularly accurate in sizing up
their public men and wedding out the
weak and hypOcriticaI.
Elections are for a period OF two
years. When the old party is in power
the news are absolutely frozen out,
having not so much as minority
magistrate 70 console them The
party in power elects a governor. or
chief, al $500 per pear, the lieuten-
ants. OF. division captains, and the
tribal policemen.
"The position Of representative in
the Maine Legislature, which carries
with IL the munlhceut salary Of 5000
D
administration after another, by
Charles j. Mitchell, highly educated
and diplomatic full-blOOded PenOb-
scot MitchellS capacity TO sit tight,
no matter what faction may control Al
home, would do credit TO secretary or
Agriculture James Wilson, of whom,
by the way, he is great admirer.
The representative in the Legislature
can speak only upon matters affecting
Indian policy. The elections are charac-
terized by frenzied speechmaking and
tent-tO-tent canvassing.
"On election day, the big feature,
while the votes are being counted, IS
the tribal dance The first dance lasts
an hour and a half, and is executed by
a famed singer and dancer from a vii
LACE forty miles. up the river, 70 the
monOtonOus drOning Of the crowd. After
a short interval, the AIu Mae another
weird dance, is given for an hour with
out cessation. American waltzes and
twO-steps follow. for these are rapidly
becoming the lad among Indian young
ladies'.
THE election itself is a Formally. for
the parties are bound 10 exchange places
every two years, whether IN the ma
jority OF not. The radicals are In pow
or now. until January I, 1911
Divorce Unknown.
since the tribes are under the protec-
torate of the Catholic church. there is
no divorce Every Indian is required 70
y
him, he may make an informal agree
ment Of separation from his wife This
IS quite common and is always orderly
and respectable.
There is no pOlygamy among the In
dams, and their social life IS clean and
wholesome, despite the deterioratinE in
fluence Of the poor class OF whites with
which they come IN contact ThleVery
and pecUnlary uureliabnity are exceed
ingly rare among them, but drunken
ness is their beSetting sin.
''Wampum, the old shell money cur
rent in New Amsterdam days, is still
plentiful In Maine, though il is used
more for decorative and ceremonial pur-
poses. It is still, however, a recognized
standard of value.
Except in winter time, the Indians
Ire industry personihed- In the spring
they make bark or canvas canoes and
hunt muSkTGtS. In the summer they
take their annual salt water trip, sell
ing baskets and trinkeIS all along the
New England coast for the tourist
trade. In the fall they hunt deer and
moose, trap smaller game, make snow
work in the mills Some also work
through the winter but most good Ind
ians like TO spend that time enjoying
themselves
The potatoes. beans, and other vege-
tables raised by the Indians are all
consumed by them, but the State never
theless pays liberal bounty in order TO
encourage agriculture. The fact that
an aboriginal tribe, with 50 many semi
barbarian customs surviving, and yet
with so much Of value borrowed from
American civilization, existing within
the limits of the United States, IS a
source Of wonderment'