Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-12-13
LANE FOR DEFINITE POLICY
Secretary Would Transform Indians
from Wards to Citizens.
ORPHAN ASYLUM IDEA ARCHAIC
Problem OF Today, Says Head of In
terror Department, II 20 Make
the AbOrigIne a Part Of
the milton.

the Nation.
WASHINGTON, oct. ia definite.
constructive policy for the Indian. by
which he may be transformed from a
ward of the government 10 a successful
and integral part of the American
citizenry; discussion OF the development
OF the west, and a review OF the achieve
ments of the last year. are contained in
the annual report OF Secretary Franklin
X Lane. Of the Interior department. sent
today to President Wilson.
Three things" says Secretary Lane,
'of unusual purport have marked the
life OF this department during the last
year-the passing OF the Cherokee ma
ton, the opening of Alaska, and the adj
vancement of a series OF measures aimed
20 promote the further development OF
the west These things are apparently I'M
related, yet they have made an appeal to
me as alike illustrative OF the newsness
of our country. the novelty. OF It's prob
lens and the responsiveness Of our gov
eminent.
!. Secretary Lane discusses the Indian
problem at length and asks whether 1T
is for the benefit of the indian himself
that the present almshouse policy should
continue.
THE American conscience. our sense
Of justice, our traditions. in fact. will not
permit the adoption OF a drastic course
that would cast the Indian upon n world
for which he is ill-prepared." no says.
Yet am Of the. opinion that 1t would be
better. far better. to severe all ties be-
tween the Indian and the government.
give every man his own, and let him go
his way to success or destruction. rather
than keep alive In the Indian the belief
that he Is to remain a ward Of the gov
eminent.
Free Indian is Goal.
The way out is gradually and wisely
to put the Indian out. Our goal is the
free Indian. The orphan-asylum idea
must be killed In the mind OF Indian and
white man. The Indian should know that
, he Is upon the road to enjoy or suffer
, full capacity. He is TO have his oppor-
: ltunity as a forward-looking man
1T Is my conclusion, after as intimate
a study as practicable. OF his nature
and needs, that we Rhould henceforth
make positive and Systematic effort to
cast the full burden OF Independence and
Responsibility upon an increasing number
OF the Indians of all tribes find that
there is a Htatute when significantly en-
powers the secretary OF interior to do
this in individual cases. That authority
, Is adequate. l intend to use such author
, lity.
I'm 1880 the problem was how to get
the Indian out OF the way. Today the
problem is how to make him really q
, part OF tbs nation. The man who can do
for himself is the man TO be released.
, And he is the man who thinks not in
terms OF the Indians yesterday, but in
, terms OF the Indians tomorrow. In one
1 thing we are short. the art OF inducing
! ambition This largely depends upon the
genius OF the teacher to fire the irnagina'-
/ ton of the pupil That Is the first step
In all civilization.
. Problems of Alaska.
Q 'In my report of last year | suggested
Q series OF measures for the development
. of western resources which l thought
: consonant with the advancing spirit OF
!. our time and would meet the demand OF
the west There were five of these meas
ures one providing for a government
a railroad system In Alaska. an Alaska
a coal-leasing bill. new reclamation act
bill providing for new method OF
opening and developing coal. phosphate
oil and potash fields. and a waterpoweI
bill. All OF these measures have passed
the house OF representatives. and the first
three also passed the senate, and by your
approval have become law. feel that
It is conservative to say that by the pas
sage OF these bills the federal government
, has given to the more remote states
l greater assurances OF it's interest in theiI
welfare than has been given for many
4 years"
r In an extended discussion OF the needs
= and development of the west Secretary
? Lane adverts, with notable frankness. &c
n embarrassments which he has eneoun-
= tered in dealing with the problems pre-
: sented in his department.
1T cannot be unknown 10 you. the
!. secretary says that there Is throughou
. the country, more especially In the west
4 ern states-which because Of their am
d bition are naturally impatient Of obstruc
n tlon-a very real fear OF What Is called
p the bureaucracy OF Washington. This d
: said 10 be a system OF organized machine
8 the spirit Of which is to oppose action -ol
s to effect negative action. II Is visualizec
q as either cynical or malevolent, altosethel
out OF sympathy with those who needs
J, must come TO the government for some
8 form OF help, and 80 wound round ane
i round with the red tape OF offieiaidoH
a as to resemble a barbed wire entangle'
: ment which. II not absolutely impreg-
y nable, is only to be passed through aftei
; much suffering and toll. II Is a mattel
= OF no immediate concern how much basil
!. there Is for this belief. The presence Of
, the belief makes Il 9 real problem. anC
the destruction OF the belief necessity
IL the government itself ia to remain al
object of pride and its beneficient effort
understood and appreciated"
~ work az the Bureaus.
e. Secretary Lane points ont the accom-
r plishmcnts Of the several bureaus OF TN
Interior department during the last year