The Holbrook news., 1912-07-26

I felt just as weak as little child"
 The Indians both threw down their
 guns at the traders direction, and aft
 CT 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 for
 the government, and most of the time
 has been a jealous and efficient mem
 Der 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. erally in the tribe. The Indian has 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 ernment and the white mans ways, 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 fastnesses of the reservation. So many horse thieves have been cap- tured by the Navajos that the horsG stealing gentry now give the reserve ton wide berth.
 Stamping Out BootIeggIng.
 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.
 '1f the Indian police err at all, 1t is in excess of faithfulness in carrying out orders," said MT. Shelton recently. 'T had that proved in laughable man. ner not long ago. A tramp applied at the agency for work, but I told him there was nothing and he went on his way. That night I thought of some 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 I 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 hiG horse. The tramp was furious and nd that I could make would | soothe his wounded feelings. He | spurned the work offered and finally I had to order him of the reservation by the shortest route-which didn't 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, Big Horse, Shorty. Red Goat, Black Horse and Oliver Jones are the names of some of Doctor Johns assistants in preserving the peace of Navajo land.