Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-17

r Uncle SAM has to crack within The
next year one of the toughest soci-
illogical nuts that ever he tackled.
He Is face to face with the problem and
has helping him some of the wfsest heads
here in Washington.
In the event Of New Mexico and Ari-
IONA being admitted to the Union and
endowed with all the rights Of statehood
what is to be the future OF the Industrious
Pueblo Indians whose homes and lands
are scattered throughout both these ter
ritories and whose past history is so
closely woven into that section Of the
country?
The PuebloS, named because they
build houses for shelter instead of living
American tribes, are as much unlike the
Indians this government care for on the
great reservations as the black man in
the center of Africa is unlike the Ameri-
can negro.
found necessary to fit their case and
treatment Of the cultured tribes afte
the fashion Indians are wont to be treat
ed is absolutely out Of the question. The
Indian bureau is very much alive to this
fact. 1t realizes that a special policy
must be adopted to fit the Pueblos' case
and has sent Mr.. w. R. Porter. the chief
of Indian administration. into the south
west to make a comprehensive study of
the situation.
If special legislation takes place and
the inhabitants of the twenty or more
Pueblo villages are transformed into (ti-
zens 1t will be the first time anything Of
the kind has t-ansp,red since the five
civilized tribes Of Oklahoma were given
the right to vote.
The Pueblos are highly civilized. They
are In many cases wealthy property own
ers and absolute poverty Is unknown
among their various communities. They
are tillers of the soil and many own rich
tracts of land in the villages of the south
west. 10 apply the general regulations
of the Indian to such a people would be
miscarriage of justice.
The Pueblos have been the least trou-
Bile to Uncle Sam of any of his red-skin-
ned wards.
When Spain sent her cruel soldiers into
the ffuaint adobe villeges in the middle
of the seventeenth century and drove
the hard working Indians into the mines
to work in slavery's chains the Pueblos
revolted and drove their oppressors out
of the country. When the United States
ever, they were quick to learn the
strength of their new suzerains and to
understand that they were to be treated
justly.
Since then they have adopted the ways
Of civilization. and. while other tribes
have been content to live idly on the
plots allotted to them. they have made
rapid strides forward. They have not
mingled with the white race, however.
but have held aloof in their curious viii
lagos, carrying out as far as possible
their ancient laws and time-honored
feasts and customs.
It il this strange mixture of progress
and reserve that makes the Pueblos so
difficult to deal with. They are well edu-
Gated. They believe In education and
send their children to the government
schools Back to their homes the
youngsters go. however, after graduation
with no desire for further acquaintance
with their white brethren.
The Puebios want to be leaders among
their own people, They would far rather
live out their lives in their villages, big
fish in little puddles than vice versa
among the white race.
Each pueblo has its own government
with which Uncle Sam has heretofore
never interfered. The villages elect gov
ernors, whose word is law. The elections
are as holly contested as any political
fight In our great cities. There is one
difference, however. When a party gets
beaten it often packs its trunk and starts
a village Of its own in some other To-
cality.