The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-07-05
APAGHGS ARE STILL PRISONERS
ONLY SIX OF TRIBE EVER ToEGIMT UNCLE SAM. But ALL ARE

tary authority frightened rather than
relaxed. With the result that the COM
munal rather than the individual well
fare was developed, this resulting in
a turn in loss of initiative. lack Of
interest m growing discomfort, es-
pecially on the aprt of the rapidly
increasing educated element.
Those who understand the Indian
know only too we'll hat discourage
ment and discomfort unnerve him for
OF his besetttng sins. When he gets
a bad heart" according to his own
vernacular. the whole world goes bad
for him. This has happened at Ft.
Sill. These prisoners OF war seeing
no way out" as they express it. and
chatting under captivity. have lost zest
even in their own affairs, and have
gambling and immortality. The faet
that in 1901 the surrounding Kiowa-
Comanche reservation was allotted
and opened up to white settlers has
greatly complicated their situation and
multiplied their temptations. A we'll
Of investigation. appointed from their
own number. reported as using Ii
quor to excess" 80 men and % wom-
en-; and as gamblers, 35 men and 48
women-surely a high percentage in
a band OF 240 men women n chill
dren. When asked chow many cou-
pies are legally married?" the COM
offset against such personal and tribal
Generalization as this it is futile. if
not base, to balance up a communal
herd of 1000 cattle and tribal assets
amounting to $4,000 These things.
however. ZOO in themselves, are
hardly compensation for the degrada-
ton Of the manhood and womanhood
Of the owners
But. o say. 1t is incredible that
these people are still held AS prisoners
of war! 1t seems Incredible, but 1t Is
certainly so. For twenty-six years
they have been held in captivity. The
! committee Of investigation referred to
above, after stating that there are
112 children whose parents have never
its report with these pathetic words:
There are only six Apaches living
who fought against the government.
We and children are held here as
prisoners of war. which we feel is un-
just. Some of u band who are held
in captivity. instead of fighting against
the government, were enlisted IN the
United States army and helped It. 1t
tends to make our people restless and
discouraged, feeling the great injus-
tice done them
Furthermore. their captivity Is not
merely nominal or constructive. as is
sometimes claimed, but very real, even
surrounded by prison walls. They
must report day by day to the officer
in charge for assignment to work. and
although perchance their own little
field needs tilling, may be ordered out
to ride the fence" or prepare for the
branding camp. They may not leave
the reservation for more than a few
h013vc y,i<I@,,t no~NoicSinr mr. optAr
into business arrangements of their
own. No member of another tribe
will marry into their captivity, so that
now they must marry lin and in," to
the detriment Of their offspring. NJ
home with even a trifling plot OF
ground which they MAY love and
beautify can be assured to them. To
love. home-is this not captivity de
facto?
A few months ago the writer met
with the leaders of the tribe, who sat
around him in the moonlight in the
characteristic Indian circle. Turning
to two of the most thoughtful and
best educated of them he said: What
that YOU want most?" One said SIM
ply. "a home" and the other, "a place
to call my own" The n has
married because he had no home to
which he could bring the woman of
his choice. The other, welded legally
to a finely educated girl, n blessed
with beautiful children, longs for a
place he can call his own where he
may harbor them.
Shall such heart cries pass unan-
swered BECAUSE a mans skin is red
Shall innocent babies be born prison.
ers, and harmless, laughing children
grow up in captivity because their
rr1 nI "a = 49, c~,,rlx roS4c ~ ~@r
sibly for-think Of it, possibly for
the United States goEernment? On