The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-01-24

ing n missionary and questioning
the truth of his statements. To these
dispatches Rev. Mr.. Beede has been
replying ever since.
t. Reforms Necessary. =.
1.-THE Indians OF. the United States
are not being handled in such g. way
that. they can make progress."' said
Rev. Mr. Beede to The News to-
day. St "'
Governmental Encouragement has
already developed detectives on the
White Earth reservation of Mime
sofa which must soon cost that state
untold millions of money and the
same conditions exist in all Of the
several Indian states of the union.
If this mismanagement goes on
much longer all of these states will
suffer likewise. But it can be avoid
ed by immediate fundamental re-
demption. However, REFORM mean
Ing maneuvering, is worse than on
sense.
Would Set Them Free.
"All Indians under so years Of
age except those pronouncedly in
competent should be set Immediate
ly free like white men. l believe
h a a free ma can find his proper
place In society whether it is that of
a sef-directed laborer or a hired la
borer and that none u a free man
can find his proper place in society.
ITO those Indians above so years
Of the government should do
what seems most merciful and best
for them while they live. All of
those above so years ave sufficient
lands and property to support them
during life if this property is hon
estly administered.
Il freely admit" said Rev. Mr..
Beede. that a large proportion Of
those set free would lose their prop
erty the same as do nine-tenths of
the white boys who inherit property
without earning 1t, but I also claim,
in general, that If a man does not
want to keep his property it Is bet
ter for him and for the community
that the property be In other hands.
"A free man can be happy and USE
full as a laborer," said the mission
airy in arguing for the freedom of the
redmen, "but the man who Is not free
can be neither happy nor useful. In
all he history Of mankind, over
lordism with it's accompanying evils
has destroyed men and bred defec-
tive human beings. Primary COM
munity self-government is the only
true system of government for any
race Of man. The younger Indians
are now being educated in the schools
and if they are fed, they will find
their place in the community"
Demands an ISvssfisation.
Since the charge made by Rev.
Mr.. Beede concerning the condition
Of affairs existing on the Standing
Rock reservation have been denied
by statements from the officials in
charge the missionary has sent an
open letter to the commissioner of
Indian affairs which has been given
wide publicity.
In this letter Mr.. Beede requests
and demands an investigation, in
fact a house to house inventory Of
the means of subsistence in the
hands of the Indians. He asks that
a government representative, an alert
woman from the progressive women's
clubs. Of North Dakota and himself,
as a representative of the North Da-
kota Humane society, make the in
Vestigation and find the actual facts.
He closes his letter by saying that
Sin the progressive age all good peo-
pie from Christians to, so-called in
fidels, insist that there shall be such
a satisfactory distribution of food
that all persons, especially women
and children shall have sufficient
nourishment."