Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-12-09
Have No Great Desire to Become
American Citizens.
Reason Is to Be Found in : act That
Wealthy Red Men Do Not Like
the Idea of Paying Taxes.

Uncle Sam is encOuntering some diff
Hculties in carrying out his plans for
comforting full citizenship upon those
Indians who. after an investigation, are
deemed to be competent to manage
their own affairs.
Secretary Lane of the interior de-
partment believes that an important
factor in the solution of the Indian
problem is the placing upon the in
diydual Indian of the responsibilities
Of American citizenship as soon as he
shall have demonstrated his cOmpe-
tency and he is working to This end.
Some of the Indians, however, includ-
ing some of the most progressive and
competent men of their race, do not
want to become American citizens
and there's reason.
IN the working out of the problem
with which he is confronted, Secretary
Lane has named two competency
boards, the members of which are eX-
aiming personally each Indian on ev-
cry reservation who MAY be regarded
Gs competent to meet the requirements
Of citizenship OF the several thou
sands examined by the boards, APP
proximately 500 have been recommend
ed to Secretary Lane for citizenship.
Protests from few of those rec
Ommended by the boards as competent
have been received by the secretary.
They do not want citizenship to be
thrust upon them. From Leo Samp-
son and Allen Patawa, two full-blood-
ed Umatilla Indians of Oregon, Sec
rotary Lane is in receipt of joint let
ter saying that they had declined to
make application for patents in fee for
their allotments and stating the rea-
sons why they do not want patents in
fee to be issued to them at this time
Patawa and his wife hold an allOt-
ment conServa lively worth $4,000. 1t
is well stocked with horses and cattle
and admirably equipped with farm ma
chinery, Patawa is Industrious and
Well educated and is making money.
sampson is an Interpreter at the UNA
e%SFANy OAl a DGAAe1l y VI pOOO d val
and leases his allotment for about $500
year. In addition, he has an undivid-
ed interest in other property. He is
mghly intelligent and was given an eX-
eeilent education by the government.
Both Patawa and Sampson urge
mat a change in their condition would
aIect their standing with their own
people, thus diminishing their influence
Tor good that they cannot adapt them
serves benehcially to the methods Of
"nite men; that if they are required
70 manage, without restriction, their
own affairs, they may lose their lands
@Hd money; and that, in any event,
Aey Will have to pay taxes.
me last reason presents the crux
Vi the situation. Many of the compe-
Tent Indians are comparatively
wealthy. Their lands are the most val
1aoie in the Indian country. They are
accorded all the privileges of white
Vllizens, yet contribute not a cent to
me maintenance of roads, bridges and
schools. or TO the cost of other facil-
iues and conveniences for which citi-
@ens pay taxes.
I II Is the purpose of Secretary Lane
20 De assured that only competent and
Il ustWorthy Indians be made citizens.
ana 70 that end he is having thorough
~ estgation made of each case but
-e IS determined that the mere expe-
-'eht Of tax-dodging shall not avail to
i'eFent an Indian, simply because he
- On indian, from assuming the duties
--i1 responsibilities of American citi-
zenship.