The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-12-10
sec. LANE HAS
INTERESTING
ANNUAL REPORT
DISCUSSES INDIAN PROBLEM AT
NGTH-WOULD TRANSFORM
THE WARD OF THE GOVERN
MENT TO CITIZENSHIP.

CcHHluttlNt DOllCy lot lne lnuldH,
by which he may be transformed
| from a ward of the government to
a successful and integral part of the
American citizenry; a discussion of
the development of the West, and
a review of the achievements of the
last year, are contained in the an
nual 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 past year-the passing of
the Cherokee nation. the opening of
Alaska and the advancement of Sc
ries of measures aimed to promote
the further development of the West.
| These things are apparently unre-
! lated, yet they have made an appeal
to me as alike illustrative of the
| newness of our country, the novelty
of its problems, and the responsive
ness of our government"
Secretary Lane discusses the In
dian problem at length and asks
whether "it is for the benefit of the
Indian himself that the present aims
house policy" should continue
The American conscience, our
/ sense OF justice, our traditions, in
fact, will not permit the adoption
OF Il drastic course that would cast
the Indian upon world for which
he is i'll l-prepared," he says yet !
am of the opinion that it would be
better, far better. to sever all ties
between the Indian and the govern
ment, give every man his own and
let him 20 his way to success or de
struction, rather than keep alive in
the Indian the belief that he is to
remain ward of the government
''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 ca
pacity. He is to have his opportu
Eity as forward looking man
to oftar in
innate study as practicable, of his
nature and needs, that we should
henceforth make a positive and sys-
tematic effort to cast the full bur-
den of independence and RESPONSE
bility upon an increasing number of
the Indians of all tribes. | find that
there is statute which significantly
empowers the secretary of the in
terror to do this in individual cases.
That authority is adequate. intend
to use such authority.
an 1880 the problem was how to
get the Indian out of the way. To-
day the problem is how to make him
really a part of the 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 In
dams yesterday, but in terms of the
Indians tomorrow. In one thing we
are short-the art of inducing am n
bition. This largely depends upon the
genius Of the teacher to fire the
Imagination of the pupil. That is the
first step in all civilization.
in my report of last year sug
gested a series of measures for the
development of western resources
which | thought consonant with the
advancing spirit of our time and
would meet the demand of the West.
There were five of these measures,
one providing for a government rail
road system in Alaska; an Alaskan
coal leasing bill: new reclamation
act. a bill providing for new
uH"lHOu vi OpelllS anu utNtlOplhE
coal. phosphates, oil and potash
fields and a water-power 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 passage of these bills |
the federal government has given to
the more remote states greater as
sura1oes of its interest in their wei
f"Ie than has been given for many
yearS"
I'm an extended discussion OF the
needs and development of the West,
Secretary Lane adverts, with notable
frankness. to embarrassments which
he has encountered in dealing with
The problems presented in his de-
partment