Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-20

ment of his self-reliance. The land sole
to the highest bidder on equitable terms
would eliminate the Spectator and en-
able the government to deal directly with
the home builder.
Zone important feature of this plaT
which should not be underestimate is the
fact that when khis land passes into ths
hands Of the responsible prospective home
builder it will furnish the Indian the
example of having an Industrious, prac.
teal nefghbor right at his door who has
no purpose to despoil him, but simply to
pursue the working out of his own future
in conjunction with and beside the Indian
himself.
THE plan proposed by my bill would
when it is worked out, dispense with a
large number of Indian service employees
Therefore they are furninst' it. They
have friends in the states from which
they were chosen understanding very Ut
tie about the situation and taking their
cue purely from the ex parte statements
of these interested employees.
II do not wish to be considered In too Sc
we're criticism of these employees. Many OF
them are perhaps unconscious of their
own shortcomings and honestly think
they are doing their full duty. Their ac-
ton might be very justly charged to that
immutable first law Of nature, 'self-pres-
ervaton.
X X
I'm the meantime the restricted Choc-
money held out of their reach by the
untoward efforts of these powers, are
retrograding and in many instances have
reached state of absolute perjury and
helplessness. Why not? What profiteth
a man if he own the earth and starve to
death?
1.-THE policy outlined by my bill of three
years ago is in line with the Industrial
hafr iptn Tn
dian Commissioner Sells with many other
reservation Indians and which has the
approval of many of the persons who for
some mysterious reason seem bent upon
opposing this plan for the Oklahoma In
dams.
LAS a matter of fact the department Is
authorized without further legislation to
do most of the important things set out
in this plan The removal Of restrictions
act approved May 81 1908. authorized this
very thing to be done and $4,000 was ap-
propriated for the first years work. but
not wheel was turned. One hundred
thousand dollars annually was appro-
priated for the work for several years
thereafter and in 1912 the commissioner
of Indian affairs informed us that only
25O,OOO of 1900, 900 acres of restricted
lane had been sold and he did not report
any expenditures at all for the improve
ment of the Indians remaining land.
1.-The present commissioner of Indian
affairs, Mr.. Sells, takes very practical
view of the red mans problem and. in
my opinion, the Secretary of the Interior
is wise in giving him wide latitude in
dealing with these matters. believe the
commissioner is alive to the conditions set
forth above and that he will see the i'm
portance of taking early steps to turn the
tide of civilization of Choctaws and Chick
asaws from retrogression back toward
that advancement and progress in which
they had made such notable strides be-
fore the allotment of their lands began.
*
"a classic in American history and ira
dition is the story Of Nathan Carter and
his sister. It has been told and retold in
both historical and fiction form. And it
b