Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-08-31
The Indian Question

His attention having been arrested by an editorial
in an eastern paper regarding The fact that many
Indians have large tracts of land and arc much TO
be envied by the white man, an old timer In this
city, who rs much Interested In the affairs OF the lndi.
aus. and whose sympnthlcs are with them, presents
tho following on the subject, with tho request that It
be given publicity.
It is Il fact that tho manner Of treatment Of the
Indians by The government is far from perfect, or
even fair. and the question Ia causing considerable
comment throughout the country. For instance, there
are many Indians right here In the Bismarck territory
who have an abundance Of lands, yet these lands
produce nothing and tho Indians arc not allowed to
dispose Of them. These same Indians. while rich IN
lands. are living n miserable existence because Of the
fact that they have not the :ncans Of support II Is
argued that they should be allowed to sell tho lands
and enjoy the proceeds. for they are fast passing
away. Following Is tho article referred to:
An eastern exchange says editorialiy, Poor Lo Is
an object Of the keenest envy to his white brothers.
Then tho editor proceeds TO mention the large tribal
funds TO III credit OF the American Indians-(on pa.
per. OF cou,rse, in the dusty vaults at Washington).
The editor makes n mistake. Trust funds tied up
and land deeds do not constitute wealth. The editor
should study tp on modern economics.
The income from these Indian funds Is used largely
to support the anti1uated administration" Land
deeds might "a well be in the moon as in the names
Of Indians or white men unless they really carry with
them free opportunity for young men and income for
q reasonable support for old men.
Young Indians are %hanpered with intricate rules
and regulations" for this and that and the other. which
would soon destr0p @inividual initiative among white
men, while old men, IN many cases, are In a contin.
,ous state Of sc;ntstarvati0n, which means criminal
negligence" or possibly something as serious as "nal.
feasance In Office" We have been among the North
Dakota Sioux Indians, and we know the conditions.
An army Of clerks with Jobs. and a smaller group
Of men in tho hed must. OF course, be cared for first
Of oil ont OF the available Indian funds. Possibly this
opportunity TO live from Indian resources Is due to
tho fact that Poor to Is an object OF the keenest
envy toAhis white brethren" M the eastern editor In.
forms ug.
VIII the government make a complete investigation
OF Indian affairs and fully report the results? II u
time to abolish the indian bureau.
Last winter the North Dakota legislature, by Joint
resolution, recommended what really means that the
Indian affairs In this state ought to be turned over
to the management Of the state, the same as Maine
and New York, 0 Fledmlnister their own Indian at.
fairs--successfally ana without sophistry. II matters
move on In the old ruts much longer the available
Indian funds are liable to become exhausted, and then
the old and helpless Indians thrown onto the state 70
~ carsd Tor. II the available funds are properly
managed there 10 enough toscars Tor Ell Of them @
loag q they pliye. Our stats ~ \ vitalss dnansiall
MK NWE