Semi-weekly herald., 1913-12-04
GRAFT IN INDIAN AFFAIRS
MUST STOP. SAYS COM. SELLS
(By Burton X. Standish. Written
for the United Press.)

WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. s.
The reign of graft in Indian affairs
must end. That is the edict Of Cato
Sells, United States commissioner of
Indian affairs, business man, law
yer, banker, public office holder and
above all, II red-blooded, two-fisted
fighting man.
Ruling over the affairs of fast
dying people, who own 100000, 900
worth of the richest grazing. oil, min
eral land of the west, Sells has de-
termined that the Indians shall no
longer be the prey of vast group in
whom the spirit Of graft was ram
pant-"carrion," he calls them.
The heartless grasping of "attor-
neys" and guardians" administering
the estates of Indian children called
most strikingly to Sells attention
the need of reform, and quick one.
While white children's estates are
ordinarily settled at cost of only
three per cent, the average price on
Indian children's estates has been 20
per cent. These children are the
richest average children in the coun-
try; their properties often are $780,
900; and frequently this entire
amount has been grated by the un-
scrupulous.
Il am going to put few Of these
men in the penitentiary as an object
lesson Sells declared today, land
III see that some more go if there is
continuance of this ruthless raiding
of Indians"
He feels that Oklahoma has had
graft stamped into its very nature.
Now he is working toward a COM
plete reorganization of the Indian af-
fairs system, so that the 100000 In
dams may have fair treatment, SO
that their landslide only grazing
lands-shall yield more cattle, and
more returns.
| New leases of Indian lands to cattle
kings, oil operators and miners will
be at new figures. No more will the
rich fields of the Osages go at So
an acre; hereafter they will command
$50 or more. This is only part of
the ambitious program of this man
who directs holdings vaster than the
steel corporations. His is a con-
structive idea.
The defective cattle and sheep OF
the western ranges, owned by In.
dians, are being wiped out and re-
placed by sturdier strains under
Sells direction. He is opening up
these lands to profitable investment
instead of to grafters.
He is seeking to upbuild the
strength and education Of the remain
ing Indians. Thirty-four industrial
schools for Indian children are now
under his care, and there are likely
to be more before his regime is end
ed. Irrigation lands, too, are open
ing rapidly. Many Of the Indians
are having their opportunity to cul-
tivate these places. but heretofore
they have been sent in without prop
er equipment. Sells proposes that
this system shall end, and that the
Indians shall have the same oppor-
tunity that the white men have.
The job of Indian commissioner
with him, is business proposition.
He answered an altruistic call when
he took the proposition, for he had
retired from active business, and had
planned to settle down in Texas, the
state he has lived in ever since he left
Iowa after brilliant career as q
United States attorney.
Secretary Lane let it be known
that he wanted man of ability, not
job-seeker, a man of red-blood and
purposes, not weakling. He heard
of Sells and his fight against pension
grafters in the middle west, and he
found that Sells was indeed a regu-
lar fighting man, with ability, al
truism, enthusiasm And that's how
today, Secretary Lane has a man OH
the job of Indian affairs fourteen
hours day, and that's why new
era is dawning in Oklahoma and the
other Indian states.
AS soon as congress is allowed u
stop working on tariff and currency
and can devote little time to gov
erning Washington (which is one of
its jobs) the national capital is to
be rid of the block Of ancient and
ramshackle buildings which abut the
Capitol grounds at the northwest
corner. The famous Peace monu-
ment, in the opinion Of numerous
congressman, should no longer be
compelled to have as near neigh
Dor, one of the dirtiest and ugliest
spots in Washington.
Although congress has taken over
practically every parcel Of surround
ing property with the exception OF
this frowsy, out-at-heels block Of