The Colorado statesman., 1916-09-23

Is the Indian in fair way 10 be-
come again, SIS he was in the begin
ming, the Great American Herdsman?
1t looks SO. A new policy applied by
Uncle Sam to the management Of In
dian affairs has done much in this d.
rectiOn.
''It Is not only possible" says Cato
Sells, the commissioner of Indian af-
fairs. ''but entirely probable that the
Indians will become the foremost herds
men of America. The situation pre-
sents a business and industrial oppOr-
which will go long way towards solv-
ing the meat problem"
The department Of agriculture deems
the question of meat supply one of the
most serious confronting the country,
and has large plans for its solution.
These include the much-talked-of di-
yersification in southern farming, with
the introduction of live stock as a sta
pie source of profit. But the Indian
reservations offer large opportunity
to help the situation. Here are vast
expanses upon which large herds may
be maintained. The problem is to eff
feet almost a revolution in the admins
tratiOn of these areas which will in
sure their maximum use, considering
both the needs Of the nation and the
needs of the Indian.
Indian Fitted for Work.
The Indian is peculiarly fitted to
become national herdsman, it is held.
He is q natural out-of-doors man. He
is nearly always an expert rider and
roper. He can train herds both of cat
tie and horses to u control which
white men cannot duplicate. AS shep-
herds, the Navajoes care for their sheep
with a fidelity unequaled among white
sheep men; during the lambing sea-
son the whole family stays with the
flocks, and the lambing percentage is
unusually high, regardless of the
weather conditions.
The present commissioner of Indian
affairs, Mr.. Sells, is lawyer, banker,
agriculturist and scientific stockman.
He knows farming and stock raising
and the sound value of securities based
on farm land and stock and he knows
Indians. He bought and sold for them
and from them before taking his pres
ent responsibility. In common with
many others, he holds that only scien-
tific agriculture will conserve the fu-
ture of an America sure to double in
population at no very distant date. OF
course, he thinks the Indians should
have part in this deyelopment-his
logical, natural part.
Really it involves the introduction Of
the Montessori idea, if not quite the
Montessori system, among the Indians.
The reasoning runs: IF they prefer
the open, let them have it. If they
would rather work with a lariat than
pick and shovel, give them the lariat.
If they want broad, unfenced expanses,
rather than one little plot of ground,
do not circumscribe them. If the ap-
peal of prairie, mountain and stream
is more compelling than the attractions
of double-entry bookkeeping or the
past participle, why press them with
the latter? Remembering, however,
that their use of the lariat, Of their
wide acres, of their mountains and
streams must be made practical-must
return a quid pro quo both to them
selves and the United States at large
Let the Indian at once follow his
bent and contribute to the food sup
ply of the nation; this is both the the
ory and the working rule at the Indian
office today.
To finance the plan of developing the
Indian reservations as producing areas
was not difficult. Many of the Indian
tribes have large tribal savings which
are under the control of the Indian
commissioner. Others lacking cash
have lands and timber that are first
rate security for loans.
Starts UpbuiIding of Herds.
To start the upbuilding of Indian
herds Mr.. Sells issued the following
orders three years ago:
Prohibiting the sale of any heifers
whatever.
Requiring the elimination of all the
old or lOw-bred bulls, rams, and stall
lions, the bulls to be fattened and sold
Providing that all subsequent leases
to white cattlemen be made for short
time and revokable, with a view OF
placing Indian herds under government
supervision on the lands as soon as
possible.
With this start, the purchase of new
animals began at once. Some $30O0,-