Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-16

~N the archives of the State Depart
ment there is a declaration of ale
glance to the government of the
81 United States signed on Washing
tons birthday, at Fort Wadsworth.
n Y by President Taft. on the part OIL
the government and thirty-three indian
chiefs. representing the North AmericSsl.
Indian. Seventy Indian nations, total
ing a population of 10000 people. with
combined wealth of more than half mil
lion dollars. are represented by the IN
dian signers A note of helpless submis-
sion and sorrowful resignation that the
Indian as an Indian, is doomed TO 1ali
before the, wave of the white man CIV
ilzation runs through the parchment
The declaration, or treaty, was entirely
composed by English-speaking chiers.
The wording lays open their finer sensi-
biIities toward the white man and re-
veals an honest respect for the great
white father's' government in Washing
ton.
The treaty was the result of meet
ing between the Indians and President
Taft at Fort Wadsworth incideL tai to
breaking ground. for the national Indian
memorial a huge bronze monument to
tower far above the Statue of Liberty,
In New York harbor The treaty was
government and is for that reason one oil
the most carefully guarded of recent
State Department documents.
Among the sisncrs were some Of the
eldest Indian chiefs in the. United States.
Many OF them wased fierce war against
The advancing white man in the early
eighties and several of them, despite their
civilized dress. closely guard and great
j. prize scaips of former Indian foes
Chief Plenty coups. head chief of the
Crow nation, was the first signer. III
the old days he was one of the toughest
fighters with whom the army had to con-
tend. He was one of the first to sssear
allegiance to the United States at the
close of hostiHties in 1858, and since that
time has stuck faithfully to his promise.
Chiefs White Man Runs Him and Med
icine Crow, Crows from Aspaaka; Two
Moons, Shoulderblade and Wooden ke1.
from Northern Cheyenne: Red Hawk. Big
Man and Red Cloud, Ogallala Sioux, all
noted orators in their respective tribes
were slgners Chief Nethla. a kiowa
Apache did not sign the treaty. although
nc swoTc allegiance to the American flag
He was formerly member of the tribe
of Apaches now held prisoners of war al
Fort Sill. Okla.
Each Indian promised President Taft
that ne would return to his tribe ant
tell every member of the new treaty
They promised to try and instin the idea
of cCltivating their rich farm lands into
the minds of their Acknowledgement Their.
were many matters of tribal business Il
be settled. so shortly before the inaugu
ration of President Wilson the Indian:
came TO Washington from New York
They held daily conferences with IndiaI
Commissioner F. III. Abbott and TALKED
oil lands. huge land leases and timbe
On March ) they were intensely please,
with the woman's suffrage pageant. which
they viewed from their hotel windows
They hurled shouts of approval after II
gayiy decorated floats.
Dressed in their bright colorcd nativ
dress with beaded mecca ssins and man
hude-feather headdresses they marche
IN the inaugural parade. When the
passed the Presidents box in the cour
Of honor they treated him to some of tn
old Indian cries. which in the days of tn
open plains meant that peace had jus
been declared. The next day the India
chiefs were introduced to Franklin Il
Lane. Secretary of the Interior. He talke
business. with them for few minutes an
promised them the protection of the gov
eminent.
"Ay friends" sajl Nr. Lane, i al