Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-22
FRIENDS
LAUD NEW POLICY
Lake Mohonk Conference Com
mendS Abandonment of Old
System of Reservations
CONDITIONS IN PORTO RICO
Statehood Should Not Be Prom
ised InSuIaf Possessions,
Says Platform
ASSOCIATED Press)

LAKE MOHONK, N. Y, Oct. 21.-The
platform of the Lake Mohonk confer
ence of Friends of the Indian ana
Other Dependent Peoples, an annual
feature of the gathering, was presented
at today's session. In part it says:
"As the result of nearly thirty years
of public debate the people OF TINS
country have wisely adopted as the
policy of the nation the abandonment
of the reservation system, the dissolu-
ton of the tribal organizations ana
the incorporation of the Indians as IN
diyidual members of the American
communities. The Indian problem has
now become almost wholly one of ad-
ministration in carrying this policy into
effect.
|. Your committee recognizes with
grateful appreciation the steady I'M
provement in the last quarter of CEN
turv in the personnel of the Indian ser
vice, the self-denying and sometimes
heroic work of many of its representa-
tives in the field, the efficiency and
vigor with which those principles OF
administration are being carried into
effect by the Indian bureaus, and 1t ex-
presses the hope that within the ire
time of the present generation the
work of the bureau may nave peeh
successfully accomplished, the bureau
itself may be discontinued and the In
dian problem may have become an az
fair of the past
PORTO RICOs GOVERNMENT
Porto Rican affairs also claimed the
attention of the conference. The pro-
visions of the Olmstead bill remodeling
the fundamental law for government
of Porto Rico were discussed by Rep
resentative Herbert Parsons of New
York. a member of the committee on
insular affairs of the house of repre-
sentatives. Mr.. Parsons said:
at would rather see a popular gov
ernment, even if somewhat less Ell
ficient than the most efficient govern
ment without training in self-control
and self-dependence. Among the colon
ial movers. if we are to be called such,
we have led the way in training for
government the peoples who are
dependent on us"
Regarding the future of the insular
possessions under United States ad-
ministration the platform says in part:
1.-THE object of the American govern
ment in the insular possessions snould
be primarily the development OF the
islands. Statehood should not be
promised. Expectation of statehood
should not be encouraged and prepara-
ton for statehood as even an ultimate
result should not be regarded as
present problem.
49,. URGE NATIVE SAFEGUARDS
1.-THE introduction of foreign capital
should be of such regulation as to rem
der impossible the control of the pro-
ducts of the islands by private interests
to the detriment of the native popula-
tion.
I'm the Philippine islands all lands
held either by the United States or by
the Philippine government should be
kept in trust that they may not only
be available for the present profitable
use by the Filipinos but also preserved
for use by future generations. Lands
should not pass to private ownership
except by Filipino homesteaders. Agri-
cultural land devoted in large areas tc
corporate uses should be leased only
for such terms as will leave it free foi
homestead settlement later, and timber
and mining lands should be kept under
such government regulation and contro
as will prevent destructive waste.
"In Porto Rico provision should be
made by the next congress enabling
Porto Ricans to become citizens of the
United States"