Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-01-08

Indians was "waged with continuous vi
gor and successful RESULTS the report
added, and the fight against gambling
is beginning to bear fruit" Mr.. Nalen-
1.-The pointed TO the fact that " con-
rictiohs were secured for the sale OF liq-
uor to Indians in Washington, Under
the dome OF our Capitol" showing, he
said, that the indian though hundreds
Of miles distant from his home, has not
lost his lust for firewater, and that the
iaws as now in force are applicable any
where
Tie home condition OF the Indians is
one OF the most unsatisfactory features
Of the indian problem, said the commits
sioner, for which reason special attention
is being given to the instruction of In
dian girls. The character and efficiency
of the training given to them must be
improved. he said, because it is realized
that for the girls more than for the
boys the instruction should be Of an in
tcnsive form. Girls can be kept in
school only for a few years after they
developed into ~womanhood, it was
stated.
The greatest investment the indian
service has, continues the report, is in
the so-cailed returned students WHO have
been away at the larger schools and
have returned to live at or near their
home reservation. There are about 49,
Go Of these Indians, who represent an
economic investment. it is estimated, of
about $50. 600, 900. These students fire.
GuentIy are considered merely trouble
makers by the super. %ntendents Of the
reservations, declares the commissioner.
The superintcndents forget entirely, he
adds, that this class Of Indians protests
against the order of things as they find
il when they return to their reservations
because they have seen better things,
but have not quite found their own way
to them. And ] am sorry to say he
continues, that frequently the a test
obstacle to their finding their way lies
in the government machinery and per-
n itself. Every Indian school in
the country should consider it a vital
part of it's daily work to keep track of
the students who have attended it.
These returned students are the hope OF
the indian problem. We would hardly
think of spending a similar amount in
raining a race horse and then turn him
loose under unfayorable range condi-
lions to shift for himself"
The property interests of the Indians
constitute one of the greatest estates
ever held in trust by any organization,
governmental or private. the report
states. | GLIDING the lands, forests, wa
ter powers, minerals and funds held in
trihal or individual ownership the prin-
ciral held by the government for the In
iians amounts to $50 600, 900: ard the
interest and annual rentals produce u to-
tai Of 10, zoo, 900. SEQ III .-
Indian art and the industries which
produce 1t should be carefully preserved,
IN the opinion of the commissioner, the
making of Navajo blankets, of the high
grades of beadwork and basketry and of
,ctterY should be fostered and preserved.
Among the PimaS and Apaches in Ari-
iona and some of the tribes in Califor-
MIA, as well as elsewhere, there are eX-
cert basket weavers who should be en-
couraged. he says. while the 500, 900
worth Of blankets made annually by TIE
ivajos constitutes their most important
means of support. He points to a wom-
an basket weaver who made a basket
which the merchant now owning it VAL
yes at 81 800, while she has sold other
masterpieces for from S15Os to $3.50.
No work is nobler or more necessary
or more trying in the Indian service
than that of the field matrons and women
Industrial teachers. according to the COM
missioner. The help given by these wom-
IN varies from instruction in sanitation
20 the supervision of expenditures and
the settlement of domestic difficulties:
and they save the lives of many chill
dren.
Educational opportunities must be TAX
en- to thousands OF, Indian children not
yet in school; Industrial impulse n op-