Morris tribune., 1916-07-28
VOLSTEAD REVIEWS
SCHOOL LEGISLATION
His ,Labors for Agricultural
School at Morris Set Forth
in Congressional Record

When a man has labored hard to
accomplish a certain thing and has
been successful and is then accused
of what is exactly the opposite OF
the truth, he naturally feels that
he should at least let his friends
know the truth, even tho he may not
expect fair treatment from his enem-
les. Congressman Volstead labored
faithfully and sincerely for the Nor
ris agricultural school, and in order
to set at rest the stories sent abroad by
his enemies has had a statement of
the facts incorporated in the Congress
sional Record -
In a letter to the editor, Congress
man Volstead says
Washington, D. C. July goth, 1916.
Dear Mr.. Morrison:
The Hancock Record some time ago
published a statement to the effect
that | was Indifferent if not opposed,
to the transfer of the Morris Agricul-
tural School to the State, and as you
were kind enough to at one time call
my attention to like statement made
by others, l send you short sketch
of the history of the transaction, now
a part of the congressional record. l
have carefully compared it with the
official records and with letters and
memoranda of the transaction.
Messrs. F. C. Stevens, c. A. Lind.
berg, M. E. Clapp and others can
verify it. AS I have on previous
occasions claimed an interest in this
legislation the statement contained
in the Hancock Record puts me in
the attitude IF having misrepresent-
ed my connection with the matter.
In view of this have felt that it is
neither fair to me nor to my friends
to allow the statement contained in
the Hancock Record to go unnoticed.
With kind regards, l am,
Very truly yours,
A. J. Volstead.
Indian School at Morris, MINI.
Extension of remarks of Hon. An
drew J. Volstead, of Minnesota, in
the House of representatives., Tues
day, July 18, 1916.
Mr.. VOLSTEAD, Mr.. Speaker, to
correct some erroneous impressions
current in some quarters as to the his
tory of the legislation that transferred
the Indian school at Morris, Mimi.
now the Morris State Agricultural
School, from the United States to the
State of Minnesota, this statement is
submitted. 1t can be verified from the
official records and by those who took
an active part in securing the legisla-
tion.
The Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
Mr.. F. E. Leupp, became convinced
that the work done by some of the
nonreservation Indian schools were
not accomplishing satisfactory results.
In several places, including Morris,
great difficulty was experienced in
securing the requisite number of pu-
pills. This difficulty was greatly ag-
gravated at Morris when the Wahpeton
Indian school was completed. After
these facts became known to me a
visit was made to the school, and af
ter having seen the superintendent
of the school and obtained from him
and from the Commissioner of In
dian Affairs and others what inform
alton could be secured the matter
was submitted to the Indian Commit
tee of the House with the request
that, as the school was not needed, it
be turned over to the State upon con-
dition that the State should maintain
it as an agricultural or industrial
school and allow Indians free tuition
and equal treatment with white pu-