Norwich bulletin., 1915-02-01
HOPE FOR INDIANS
Mrs. Kinney, State President, Tells
 Norwich Indian Association.
IN Y. M. C. A. WORK.

Mrs. Sara T. Kinney of Hartford, president of the Connecticut Indian association, was the guest of honor at Q special meeting of the local Indian society held at the home of Mrs. Bela |. Learned on Saturday afternoon.
 Mrs. Kinney read a paper prepared by her for the Center church ill Hart ford on The Attitude Of Our Govern nent Towards the North American h. dians. In Colonial days the treatment of the Indian was a wholly local af- fair and policy of might was usually adopted. The seeds of Indian troubles were planted very far back in the carly days of discovery colonization. After the Revolution, a friendly policy tow ards tho Indian was approved and in 1IST an ordinance was passed express ing the utmost good faith toward the Indians. But these promises were not lived up to. There were constant an tagonisms, due to racial misunder- standing and to quarrels over land. Treaties were made and then violated Over 1000 Of these contracts were made, and only a few of tliez1 kept in this next century of dishonor. One reason was the lack of continuity in our government, through the constant change of personnel. One commission of perhaps just and honorable men would make rules and then have to leave their enforcement to others. There was some vicious legislation un- der this regime, the worst Indians fared the best, because it cost too much to fight them. The peaceable ones fared the worst.
 Then came the new or modern era for the Indian. President Grant start ed this in his desire to see full justice done to the Indian. A board of Indian Commissioners was appointed after 1863. The several church boards were invited to help the government in work for the Indians. which they did for 10 or 12 years. Then political influence denominational strife, a fear of t1n evils of church and state, and-rnost potent reason of ala. return to the spoils system, caused this to be given up. The Indian ring had been very strong at the time the board was ap- pointed and had furnished places for many deserving politicians. Corrupt politics has always hampered the solu- tion Of the Indian problem.
 The concentration policy has proved bad thing for the Indian. This res- ervation system has now been some what changed by the Dawes bill and the Burk act 10 aIlotTents Of land in severalty--a wise idea when properly carried cut and tending to assinnila- tion and citizenship for the Indian The bureau of Indian affairs is ham pered by being under the control of the department of the interior, but is better organized today than formerly.
 Mrs. Kinney told of Indian trust and treaty funds, education, the liquor traffic and measures against disease, The Indians are becoming civilized Indian children in one school sent s53 to tho Belgian relief fund and Cana dian Indians are giving much assist ance.
 Mrs. Kinney then told Of her visit last summer to the Oneida Indians. near Green Bay, Wisconsin. Cnfortu- nately, a tornado has much damaged the hospital on this reservation. At the time of the Civil war 145 out of the HOO Indians joined the army, and Decoration day means as much to them as to us. Mrs. Kinney was there on July Fourth and said it was the most sane and safe Fourth she ever spent.
 She then told Of the new work which the state association has taken up and which promises to be the coming thing for effective work among the Indians that is, '. N. C. A: work, which may develop leaders among their own peo- pie who can lead them on to greater progress.