The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1914-01-30
OF Giving to the Indian
His Money.
WITHOUT GOVERNMENT SUPERVISION
Inquiries Now Being Made Leads TO
That Belief.
Especial to The Star.)

Washington, D. C.-We learn that
the Interior Department has under
contemplation the giving to the In
dian, who are capable of handling
their funds, the full amount of same,
free from restrictions of the govern
ment and inquiries now being made
by that department throughout the
country, that the report is well found
ed and those Indians who are capable
will at last have their wishes realized.
For many years the contention has
been made by the Indian that some
to care for his money. but it seems to
have been left for our present officials
to judge. as it was too knotty for tho
old ring. OF course, this does not ap-
ply to all but to only those who are
capable of the handling Of their funds.
and we are Of the opinion that an ex-
animation will be made by the de-
partment. While on our reservation
the majority Of our people are well
educated in every way and most OF
them capable, it does not mean that
all Indians are in the same zone.
There are many Indians throughout
the country that must be under the
guardianship Of the department for
=.
vanced tribe, it does not mean that
we have not among us people who
certainly have. This problem is GER
tainly a knotty one and one that viii!
give the department bad half hour
if it would be fair to all persons
We claim it would not. Our idea
would be that where an individual
makes claim for his funds free from
government restriction. he should be
given the opportunity Of appearing
before the commissioner and there
show that he is capable OF taking care
of his or her funds. and In this way
no person could say that undue IN
f1uence was used in securing OF hfs
neighbors' funds free from restric-
tions. For the head Of the Indian de-
partment would be the judge and II
the Individual was found wanting he
would have nobody but himself to
%, fA
the same. OF course as we all know
there are many that would fall down
in a test of this kind and those are the
ones that would still be under the
eye of the department. We learn fur
ther that the department would like
to ascertain if the government has did
all it could for the Indian here. To
this we would say it has not. For
while thousand of dollars has been
spent in years past for roads on this
reservation, we today have nothing
in the shape of road, with the ex-
ception of the Ashland road. which
we understand cost in the neighbor-
hood of 100000, on this reservation
here, we say the government i'll the
past has been lax, for as the country
on the reservation is fast opening up
the matters of suitable roads is the
only draw back and this we claim, q
big one, as. many that are desirous
of going on their allottments are in
this way compelled to withhold doing
so, for the reason of no roads. and as
a consequence either have to abandon
the idea or purchase land on. the Ash
land road Here we think the gov
could do good work by maxi
ing a suitable appropriation for roads
on this reservation, which would be
a big boon to farming here.
Where the Indian has good roads,
like the road to Ashland. he will farm
and with success. as the many neat
farm houses, barns, ETC., built along
this road will speak for themselves.
The present official of the Indian de-
partment undoubtedly see the advisi-
bility of roads and will do all in their
power to aid in the securing o. an