The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-01-25
ILE q II

;.pflncdpalss u tho pueblo, and they
are men who have held ONCE, and are
/ therefpte also the choice OF the caG-
liques Thus the control OF the pueblo
by these men Is absolute, although
never exercised directly.
This Is a brief outline Of the So
called " demo- cratic government Of the
Pueblo Indians, and Il explains q
great many things about their social
and economic customs.
(. For example. It is a weii-known
| tact that upon returning 10 the puei-
10 from an INDIAN school, the Pueblo
INDIAN immedSatel ;reInpSes into par
barism. He diecards his civilized
garb, forgets all he has learned, and
proceeds 10 live the rest Of lids lite
pretty much as though Columbus had
not discovered America. This fact
has generally been cited as proof that
the INDIAN Is incapable OF becoming
civilized; but that explanation seems
inadequate when 1t Is taken into cons
sheraton that at the schools the
! Pueblo Indians lead civilized lives for
three or four years, and soma of
them, who remain as artisans after
they have completed their education,
Tor much longer periods II Is only,
when ne returns to the pueblo that
the Indian relapses, and then he does
SO immed iately and completely.
The reason, for this Is. that the all
powerful cacdqnes are opposed to an
change and progress. They prescribe
the methods Of farming, and plohibit
the new ways learned at the schools
They set the dates upon which the
seed shah be planted and the crops
harvested. They have absolute con-
troll OF every activity Of the Indians
In the pueblo, and, above all, they
control the distribution Of the tribal
lands among individuals. Thus, if
religious awe Is not enough to compel
obedience, the individual NAV he
starved Into submission BY having
his lands taken away from him. The
caciques undoubtedly exercise favor
ittsm In the apportdo nrent Of the
land, and cases have been reported BIZ
Indian agents where they Srefnsed1
land to boys just back from school.
A striking example OF the hold
which these tribal fathers have over
their people was encountered by a
student at the University Of New
Mexico at Albuquerque. AT that CITY
Us also located a large government
Indian school. which produces ex-
ceMent football, basketball and base
TAN teams. The Indian teams con-
stantly meet the university STUDENTS
In athletic events. In tfts way the
student I'M question became acquainted
with yonng Santo Domingo Pueblo.
named Tom Wolf, who was an ex-
cellent athlete. The two met In nil-
nerots games, and quite a friendshsp
sp!ang up, for the Indian was a clean
Player, and q good-natured pllcky
ehRp, who always came out Of the
worst scrinr1lage witch grin ON his
face. a ! !.
For foua. years these two greeted
caea other on griidlipn and diamond
and then Tom Wolf went back to sam
10 Domingo, and the reign of the
cacdqlies. Santo Domingo Is only
torty miles from albuquerque. and the
university student was not surprised
one day to see Tom Wolf In town. INT
ne was surprised at tho Indians garb.
which was wholly barbaric from moe
caslns to a budding queue twisted
|, with red wool Nevertheless, III was
the same old Tom Wolf, and the st,l-
dent greeted him as OF yore. But
Tom Wolf would neither see nor hear !:
he merely stared into vague distance.
he had been commanded to renounce
civilized life, and he was doing SO
thoroughly.
Thus the reign of the caciquss does
not make for the progress OF the
Pueblos, and how they are to be edtl-
Gated and led Alright in spite OF this
handicap is one of the current prob
lens of the Office of Indian Affairs.
Even the installation OF a pump at 4
pueblo where there was no ADEQUATE
supply Of drinking water vas onnosei
by the caciques, who solemny assert-
edo that none OF their people wo1lii
make use of the innovation. But nj,
that instance the caciques reckonei
Without their squaws For when
darkness fell the rai,cous voice OF that
new pump was heard, and ii contin-
ted to be heard all night, while every
squaw in the pueblo satisfied fier
feminine curiosity as 10 how tile
thing worked and what 1t produced.
And: having found that 1t produced
much better water than the '.asequia =
they continued to use It, and are ,,s-
| Ing il to this day. the voice Of the
lcaciques to the contrary notwithstand-
ing. There are times when even a
cacique is helpless. :
The men who rule the pueblos be-
ing also the high priests, pueblo gov
eminent and religion are inseparah1e
But In addition to his native RELIGION
the Pueblo Is a stauncai Catholic. ANA
every pueblo has ITS church. Witch
1.-The Indians are ready to defend with
their lives. How fhe 1niian sincerely
kworshAps as boti, pagan and 4.
Christian is a mystery which he prob
ably could not explain himself; but he
certainly does it. y
Tomorrow: The Pueblo Indians. IN