The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-10-16
indian ADDRESS
CHAUNCY YELLOW ROBE DIS.
CUSSES CONDITIONS SUR
ROUNDING HIS PEOPLE


MIR. President, Ladies and Gentle-
men-I have a story in my mind
which happened years ago. Some In
dian chiefs went to Washington to see
the great father and while they we're
in the city, an old army officer who
used to fight these warriors on the
plains in the west invited them to
dinner and told his experiences of the
old frontier days. One of the chiefs
who had no experience i'm table man
ners, initiated the old officer by eat
ing what he was eating. The general
took some horseradish and spread it
over his meat. The chief did likewise
and after testing it, hung his head
and shed tears. The general said, |
My friend, why are you crying?
The chief replied, My friend, think
of how you and / used to fight each
other on the plains and when | re-
member how my brother was killed
on the battle field il makes my tears
come" | feel like the Indian chief
In this case when see the old hunt
ing and battle grounds of our fore
fathers, in which now civilization has |
taken place; but do not come before |
you tonight with the intention of de-
claring a Sioux outbreak on the from
tier settlement or to stir up a strife,
but wish TO call your attention to the
evil and degrading influences of com
| mercializing the Indian before the
world. The solution of this question
is now in the hands of the govern
ment.
1t is now more than four centuries
ago since Columbus came to our
shores and claimed the country and
gave us the name of Indians, and at
the same time inaugurated the first
Indian show by importing some of
the Indians across the water for eX-
hibition before the Spanish throne,
and today it continues to exist in the
wild west Indian shows.
Some time ago Judge Sells, our
commissioner of the United States In
dian affairs, said: Let us save the
American Indian from the curse of
whisky" / believe these words hold
the key TO the Indian problem of to-
day, but how can we ave the Amer
lean Indian if the Indian bureau is
permitting special privileges in favor
of the wild west Indian shows, o
ing picture concerns and fair asso-
Citations for commercializing the In
dian? This is greatest ~hindrance, in
Justice and detriment to the present
progress Of the American Indians to-
ward civilization. The Indians should
be protected from the curse OF the
wild west show schemes, wherein the
Indians have been led to the white
mans poison cup and have become
drunkards.
In some of the celebrations, con-
yentions and county fairs in Rapid
| City and other reservation border
towns, in order to make the attrac-
ton a success, they cannot do with
out wild west Indian shows, conse-
%quently certain citizens have the In
dian show craze. In fact the South
dakota state fairs always have large
ly consisted of these shows. We can
see from this state of affairs that the
white man is persistently perpetual
ing the tribal habits and customs. We
see that the white man is manufac-
turing the Indian play-suitable for
young children-and is teaching
them hat the Indian is only a savage
being. We hear now or then OF a
boy or girl who is hurt or killed play
ing Indian. These are direct conse-
quences OF the wild west Indian
shows and moving pictures.
Before the closing history of the
nineteenth century an awful crime
was committed in this great Chris
|, tian nation. 1t was only a few days
after the civilized nations of the
world had celebrated the birth of
j Christ and remembered the message
of the heavenly host saying, Fear
|, not, for behold | bring you good It'd
T ings of great joy which shall be to
7 all people," and Glory to God in the
highest and on earth peace, good will
toward men" A band of Sioux In
: dams, including women and children,
unarmed, were massacred. The
wounded were left on the field to die
| without care at Wounded Knee by the
: United States troops just because
, they had founded a new religion
called, THE Indian Messiah" This
was a cowardly and criminal act
: without diplomacy. Twenty-three
: years afterward, the field of the
Wounded Knee tragedy has been re
produced for historical preservation
{ in moving picture films and called,
: The Last Great Battle of the Sioux
|, The whole production of the field
: was misrepresented and approved by
: the government. This is a disgrace
> and injustice to the Indian ace
More e~nterprising, constructive edu-
t cational work among the American
Indians is the only salvation, and the
conditions for making men and WON
| en- will then be more favorable than
D all the teachings of the wild west In
dian shows and moving pictures.
am hot speaking here from selfish
and sensitive motives, but from my
own point of view, for cleaner cfviliz-
alton, education ad citizenship for my
/, race. We are here today to consider
|. the means to find a solution for our
cause in this present generation, IL 1t