The Washington herald., 1913-04-07
indian CHIEFS
VISIT CARLISLE
Blackfoot Rulers Amazed by
Attachments Of Boys and
Girls at Indian School.
GOVERNMENT IS SCOLDED
Chief John White Calf Says White
People Do Not Fulfill Their
Promises.

Carlisle. Pa. April S.-Seven chiefs and
two women, of the Blackfeet Tribe. at
tended the experience meeting" the
most interesting feature Of the Indian
school commencement exercises. And
none could speak word of English.
With +. H. Abbott. acting commits
sioner Of Indian affairs. sitting on the
stage, three Of the chiefs scored the
government for not keeping it's promises
to the Indian.
In an earnest speech through an in
! tsrpreter. Chief John White Calf, said:
IT consider 1t an honor to present my
self before such a noble and dignified
audience. There are a good many diff
ferent tribes of Indians represented here
tonight, and good many different
tribes of white people as well. We have
many dealings with white people. but
they no fulfill their promises. We've no
faith in them any more. The only prom
Use that has ever been realized Is the
promise OF education. and it's result Is
manifest here. That is the only promise
the government ever fulfilled, and 1t Is
a mistake. You educate the Indian. you
send him back, he try to use his educa-
ton. Land agent he call him CRATER.
II he spend his money for his own good.
then he a spendthrift. Now, what is
he to do?
Now Democrats.
1--WE hope under the new administra-
ton Of government things will turn out
better for our race. The last admins
tration has caused us to be In misery.
But we now consider ourselves Demo-
crat under the new administration. Am
very much delighted to see Mr.. Abbott
here. so he can hear what i have to
say"
Medicine Owl, another Blackfoot. de-
clared that the only time he finds civ
ilization TO be benefit is when he sits
down to the white mans table. He
said that equal suffrage and the Indian
problems are somewhat alike, as neither
the red man nor the red woman has a
voice in the administration of their own
affairs
Congressman Carter, who is Choc-
taw said that he would fight for diff
ferent policy in handling the Indian
problem. He urges policy that VIII
distinguish between the full-blooded, in
competent Indian and the educated, pro-
gressive Indian.
Eyes Are Opened.
These Indians came East to see what
the white man is doing for the abo-
rigine. What they saw startled them
out of their natural poise: they could
not grasp the importance VI tHt u ohs
formation that has been wrought.
In place of seeing primitive Indian boys
and girls. AS on the reservation, they
found neat and well-dressed happy and
intelligent boys and girls, whose hands
and brains have been trained in the ways
Of civilization. They saw Indian boys
of less than twenty years old construct
houses, give practical advice on how to
farm and do well dozen other things
strange to the plains Indian. They saw
Indian maids make fashionable dresses.
prepare meals on a scientific basis. and
give their white sisters pointers on how
to make a home pleasant. They also
saw Indians play masterfully on all kinds
of musical instruments; they heard them
speak in the white mans tongue.
Before leaving Chief Long-Time-Sleep.
a typical Indian from the Blackfeet Res
ervation, in Montana, declared through
an interpreter that since coming to Car
Isle he is firm believer in education
for the Indian.