The Ordway new era., 1912-04-26

The Indians both threw down their
guns at the traders direction. and aft
er he confiscated the weapons he rode
| on to the nearest fort, and the COW
boys were relieved. Since that day
old Ya-be.nee has been strong" fol
the government. and most Of the time
has been a Jealous and efficient mem.
ber Of the Navajo police force. Others
on the force have records" which
they have atoned for by faithful serv-
ice in behalf Of the law.
The chief OF the Navajo Indian po-
lice is Doctor John. one OF the best
orators and most influential men gen
orally In the tribe. The Indian has a
weakness for oratory. and Doctor John
Is a speaker whose fuency would
rouse the envy Of some OF our famous
silver tongued" statesmen. But his
gift Of eloquence is not all OF Doctor
Johns qualifications. He knows every
hole and corner Of the reservation.
and when he is told to get" an Indian
he brings in the culprit. no matter to
what unfrequented part Of the noun.
tains or plains he has to travel.
Above all. he is strong for the gov
and uses his powerful influence in get.
ting the Indians to spend less time
dancing and more time cultivating
their crops. Doctor John speaks few
words OF English. and most OF his or
ders are received through the agency
interpreter. but he is more valuable to
the agent than many Of the men who
boast education at the white mans
schools.
Several times the Indian police have
had combats with horse thieves who
| have undertaken to run stolen herds
into the Businesses Of the reservation.
| tured by the Navajos that the horse
| stealing gentry now give the reserva-
ton wide berth.
Stamping Out eootIessIne.
In stamping out bootlegging the
police have rendered efficient aid.
There is little or no liquor brought on
the Navajo reservation. The white
men engaged in this traffic have had
sad experience at the hands OF the
government agent and his police. and
stick to the dry" towns adjoining the
reservation. where there is less vigil.
ance in evidence.
IF the Indian police err at all. It is
in excess Of faithfulness in carrying
out ORDERS" said MIR. Shelton recently
II had that proved in a laughable man.
ner not long ago. A tramp applied al
the agency for work. but | told him
there was nothing and he went on his
way. That night I thought OF some
thing he might do II he were really
in earnest about earning an honest
dollar. and told one Of the Indian po
lice to catch up with him and tell him
that I wanted to see him.
THE tramp didn't know what
wanted and refused to come. When
he persisted in going on his way the
Indian policeman roped him. tied him
hand and foot and came jogging back
to the office with the tramp on his
horse. The tramp was furious and nc
explanations that could make would
soothe his wounded feelings He
spurned the work offered and finally
had to order him off the reservation
by the shortest route-which didn',
happen to be the one he was taking
when the Indian policeman caught
him.
There are no frills about the Navajo
Indian police They ride hard mouth
ed little ponies and ride them with
little mercy Some Of the police are
sheep owners and wealthy. Most OF
them are farmers and own little
punches OF cattle. Big Man. Bis
Horse. Shorty. Red Goat. Black Horse
and Oliver Jones are the names ol
some of Doctor Johns assistants ir
preserving the peace of Navajo land.