Omaha daily bee., 1914-03-22

put in the bill, which was rs innocent as a newborn
babe, and like it, had neither teeth nor claws. 1t
simply incorporated the Association, mentioned the
names of the ncorporaols, and stated that its pur
pose was to improve the condition of the Indian.
When | read the bill | felt | had been unjust to
Shillworhy, and while he might be shark in Wall
Street and without mercy in a business deal similar
TO nearly all other men, he had virtues as well as
faults
Shillworthy's next step was to have a public meet
ing to arouse interest in the scheme just how he
worked it and what strings he pulled ! never knew
but shortly after the New rear the Washington
papers came out with first page announcements Of
a meeting the following week at of the theatres
to be presided over by the Bishop of Washington
with addresses from the President the Secretary of
War, who had long shown his interest in the Indian;
Senator hartman, clergymen and other prominent
people.
IN WASHINGTON when the President goes no
stays behind. The theatre that night was
crowded. and as it was free show the public out
in force, but / don't think Shworthy cared so much
for numbers he did for quality. The quality ought
to have satisfied the most eXacting The Presidents
wife was in box, in other boxes were the wives of
diplomats and cabinet ministers; nearly all society
and half of Congress were in the orchestra seats.
The audience gave the President a great reception
and applauded him loudly when he said nothing
would give him greater pleasure than to sign the
bill Incorporating the Association; the other speakers
were equally well received. Everyone went away
very well satisfied although ! don't suppose there
were dozen people in the audience who had q clear
idea exactly what the Association intended to do
but that really made difference. The main pul-
pose had been accomplished. The Association had
been endorsed by everybody of Importance from the
President down and received a certificate of the
highest respectabity
The next in improving the mental and
spiritual condition of the Indian was the formation
at Smlworthys suggestion, of executive com
mitee consisting of prominent Washington society
people whose devotion to good causes did not pre-
vent them from giving extremely good dinners sev-
eral times during the season. One of the members
of the committee, retired lawyer Bumpus by name
thought the bill Incorporating the Association ought
to set out more in detail what the Association in
tended to do. The suggestion had really been put in
his head by ShiIlworthy, but Bumpus was too much
filled with his own importance to see that he was
merely voice. Shillworhy agreed with Bumpus,
and explained that the Governments Indian policy
had been a mistaken one, although with the best
intentions. The real way to civilize the Indian was
to turn him from agriculture into industry, and if
Congress gave it permission the Association would
establish certain industries in the Indian Territory
for which the Indian peculiarly adapted and
would soon make him want to store clothes and
silk hats. The committee decided to ask hartman to
withdraw his bill and put in another granting the
Association larger powers.
When hartman introduced his new bill / was suf-
ticiently interested to secure copy and see what
changes he had made; continued on Page M