Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-01-01
SELLS DETERMINED
To KEEP LIQUOR
FROM INDIANS
United States Commissioner
ConferS With Field Agents
at Denver Relative to Sup
preston of Traffic.

10y MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL trABap Wlnrl
Denver, Dee 3t-The more per-
feet organization Of government ser
vice for the suppression Of the liquor
traffic among theelndians, Is the OBJ
iect Of the conference Of government
agents here today. The conference was
attended by Cato Sells, commissioner
OF the United States Indian bureau
In formal statement Mr. Sells
outlined the organization work and OBJ
ioets Of this government service asI
follows
"'rhe service for The suppression Of
the liquor traffic among the Indians
is composed OF one chief special Of
licer, one assistant chief special Of
ncer and fifteen assistant special Of
iicers whose work is supplemented by
ISL deputies consisting Of service em-
ployes, United suites deputy marshals
aud other individuals assigned to par
tieular eases or localities
There are now more than 100000
Indians distributed throughout TWEEN
ty-four states Of the union. Where
ever Indians are located upon reser-
vations which have not been opened
20 settlement the jurisdiction of the
federal government is complete. Upon
others. which have been opened 10
settlement the government continues
limited authority by reason of provi-
siors Of treaties or agreements, or
through special acts of congress This
service commenced Ia 1907 with an
appropriation 90 $50 00: since that
time the beneficial effects of this
work has deeome SO apparent that
100000 was appropriated for the
last fiscal year
"Thc liquor evil is recognized as
one OF the greatest confronting the
Indian today. not only because Of IT'S
demorali2ng influence. but for the
further and very important reason
that it makes him an easy prey TO the
Inscriptions There are many in
stances whore. when under the in
fluence OF liquor the Indian has been
induced To convey his property with
ont consideration My coming TO
Denver for this conference is that we
may more perfectly organize and sys-
tematlze this work. for 1t Is my firm
purpose, with the use OF good iudg-
ment To aggfesslvely undertake to
carry out in good faith treaty rela-
tionship in this respect. and SO ef-
fectlvely use the funds appropriated
by congress us to insure the best re-
suits obtainablc. It is my desire to
cooperate with the state and local
authorities. ] am sure that the evil
results OF the liquor traffic among
the Indians is "A matter Of grave con-
Germ 10 the white citizens Of the
country. both for the reason that they
are property Interested In the upnft
OF the red mon. and for the further
reason thai the impoverishment Of the
indian means that he will ultimately
become charge upon the taxpayers
Of the several states
Mr. Sells stated that he will leave
tomorrow for MusSogee okla, where
he has arranged a conference with iu-
bal attorneys. probate attorneys. field
clerks and county Judges to consider
probate matters affecting the minors
Of the i've civilized tribes OF cundi-
tions Affecting the Indians in Okla
huma, he said
"a have recently discovered that il
costs about per cent 10 settle a
white cnild's estate. und thar il cost,
moro than 20 per cen, 70 scttle the
estate OF an Indian boy or girl Il Is
my determined Intention 60 reform
this indcfonsihlc condition. 10 thi.
end I have Recently appointed NUM-
her of probate attorneys who VIII give
their whole time to this work. / an
now submitting number 81 cases q
the grand iurles in oklahoma looSinl
towards the indictment and criminal
prosecution az those who have en-
heszled their funds"
Mr.. SELLS expressed intcres, la IN,
proposed Indian paeeaut IN Denver
in 1915.