The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-04-17
INDEPENDENCE NOW BECOMES
AIM OF THE MODERN RED MAN,
SAYS OKLAHOMA INDIAN.
HOLD RESPONSIBLE POSTS
Industrial Schools Put Farming and
Mechanical Work in Place Of War
and the Hunt-Government EN-
ployment Bureau.


from Oklahoma and a graduate OF
Carlisle, class of 1891, is at the head
of government employment bureau
for Indians which is doing much TO
solve the problem of the red man.
Mr.. Dagenett's headquarters are at
Denver, and he has several field as
sistants in various parts of the coun-
| try. The object of his bureau is TO
bring the red man and employment
ogether-especially those lines of
work which will educate the Indian
and make him more Independent.
| Thousands of Indians have obtained
employment through this unique bu-
reau. which has been in operation
about six years.
There is no trouble about getting
work for the Indians" Mr.. Dagenett
said the other day. The only diff
Guilty is is getting enough In
dians to fill the positions. The
unemployed Indian is the exception
now, rather than the rule, and our
main efforts are concentrated in open
ing the best avenues of work. That
which will educate the Indian as well
as provide him with a living from
day to day, is what is desired. Farm
work and mechanical trades are espe-
cially desirable. Many people who
have tried Indian labor will not have
any other kind. This is especially
true in the sugar beet industry Of the
west | have the warmest letters of
recommendation from sugar beet rails
ers, testifying to the excellent record
Indians have made in this field. Sew
eral great railroad systems are Civ
ing employment to our industrial
school graduates, and you will find
many Indians in the railroad service,
not alone in the roundhouses and
shops, but as car inspectors and engi'
neers.
I'm the Rocky Ford District of the
Arkansas Valley. Colorado" Mr.. Dage
nett continued. I'VE have about three
hundred indians. mostly school pu'
pills from Arizona. New Mexico and
Colorado, who earn from $4,000 to
$4,000 every season in the sugar beet
and melon fields. We are glad tC
have young Indians get employment
in the Rocky Ford District, as this is
one of the most highly developed agri
cultural centers in the world, where
irrigation and intensive farming are q
science The Indians who work or
these ranches learn much that will be
benefit to them when they return
to their own farms. Many of these
boys and girls remain in the homes
of the Rocky Ford farmers during the
winter and work for their board while
attending school. We have had as
many as six hundred workers in this
field at one time, and the ranches
for any other kind.
There seems to be a general i'm
preston that the Indian is a cheap
laborer," Mr. Dagenett said, ''but
can not understand how such an idea
prevails. The Indian will never under
bid a competitor to secure work. He
will remain idle first. No doubt this
has given rise to that other false i'm
preston that the Indian is an idler.
The minimum wage for the Indian is
| about $3.50 day. He will not work
for less than that, and consequently
! he is seen less in maintenance work
on railroads, and such lines of EN-
| ployment.
we do not encourage Indians to
/ take up railroad work of the sort in
which there is little opportunity for
advancement. Occasionally, If We can
/ throw the entire force of construc-
tion workers on a job, and control
the commssary, construction work is
taken. But the day has passed
when indian labor can be exploited
by contractors who get most of the
wages of the men back in commissary
charges. Besides, We do not care to
have the Indian thrown with the class
of men generally found in construc-
ton gangs. The general plan is to
uplift the Indian through his employ
ment
III you are in Albuquerque some
night when a Santa Fe overland train
rolls in. you will find that the chief
car inspector is an Indian. One of
the finest passenger trains in the
northwest is pulled by Crow Indian
engineer. The Santa Fe line has
Indians in its electrical department.
as we'll as in its roundhouses and