Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-05-05
IND. CITIZENSHIP
To Add to Wealth Of South Da.
k0ta.
OfficiaN aNlHed Tape to be Cut Out of
Ex. corgressn,a.i chas. Il.
RurSe's taB

Ship being such a.. important one,
your correspondent decided TO look
very tlloroly into uAe matter, and
ith that end in view he has taken
ATrip TO LaPlant. where he met
and interviewed Col. Mclaughlin
and Mr.. +. \. Thackeray, accom-
panying them east as far rs Mo-
bridge. The situation Is about as
follows:
The present Secretary ofthc Int.
Bon. Franklin X. Zane is OF opin
ion that the Indian should be treat
ed By the white finn, not as a
father treats his Gillld, but as Il
brother treats q BROTHER. He be
lieves in giving the red mun his
chance: that the solution of The
Indian problem is to throw him
upon his own rescurces--le let him
develop his own ability, and bring
out the latent energy that is in
him. lii short. the Secretary has
taken new tack and is now
saying. in effect. to each and every
individual red man:
"N!r. Indian: ] believe that in
ability. intelligence. resourceful-
ness and ener@y Won are the equal
of vour white brother. but YOU
have not developed as he has, be
cause YOU have not been Given the
opportunity; you have been treat
cd like child Now ysa will he
made citizen and all these things
Just mentioned Will show that YOU
are capable of taking care of your
self and family.
And the beauty of this is that it
is not merely theory on dreams.
From this angle, we believe that
the Hon. Secretary is right in his
contention. HIS will be the glory
and credit for doing u great ser
vice to the Indian.
In choosing Col. Mclaughlin
and MIR. Thaekeray to do this work
the Secretary made no mistake
The Colonel. knowing the Sious
and their desires. as he does. from
forty years experience with them
is certainly competent to Judge as
to who among them are capable o.
becoming citizens. Mr.. 'Thacl1era,
has been in the Indian service ;
number Of years and Ly grea
deal of experience and observation
is also very competent to decide
the question. Their present tril
was TO make observations on tn,
,Stsnding Rock and CheyenncRive
reservations, and with these obser
vations return to Washington an,
| lay the facts before the Secretary
The facts they were to ascertain
were us to whether or not tie In
dlan by actual accomplishment, b.
: actual work done, by actual pro
. duction, has proved himself, il
: their opinion, to be competent an
4 capable of shoulderlng the respon
9 sibility of citizenship. After lay
q ing the facts before the Secretary
= and he with them agreeing lha
. certain specified Indians should b
| made citizens, they will retur
again, and with the Sup't at tn
: Agency will form y committee {
three, who will then proceed yer
cautiously to make citizens {
. those Indians who have demonstr;
3 ted their capability.
Supt. Campbell accompanied til
IS gentlemen on this reservation. II
/ already knew the exact status {
many of his wards. from nume
Gus and frequent visits anon
. them. Due to his efforts the il
2 dians are realizing that they CA
70 farm, that they CAN raise alfalf
: that they must have Il root celia
y that they should raise good hors
instead of Indian ponies &
Therefore it is superfluons to ao
j. that he is very much interest'
so and very enthusiastic about Il
new deal.