The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-12

Wigwam.
 Washington, May 12.-Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, is on his way West to-day, to Yankton, S. E., where he will be one of the princi< RaI figures in a ceremony unique in
 En history of this country. As the AvpreSentative of the President of the United States he will witness the con- ferrfng of full citizenship on a group of Sioux Indians; will give them pat the first to greet them by their new names, and will direct them in the f. nal act as tred-men''-the shooting of their last arrow as Indians.
 This programme marks the first real step toward making effective MT. Lanes policy of giving all competent Indians full control of their individ- l1al affairs, and placing them upon { identicaI1y the same legal standing as all other American citizens.
 The Secretary and his party will ar rive in Yankton tonight. On Saturday 186 YanAtons Sioux will be duly in stalled as citizens. The exercise will be known officially as the ritual on ad mission of Indians to full Ameri- can citizenship.''
 The Secretary informs the Indians as they are assembled about him, that the President has sent him to speak a solemn and serious word to them, ia word that means more to you than any other you have ever heard. The Pres ident has been told there are some among you who should no longer be controlled by the Bureau of Indian Af- fairs, but should be given their pat ents sin fee, and thus become free American citizens. It is his decision that this shall be done and that those so honored by the people of the United States shall have the meaningto tof this new and great privilege pointed out by symbol and by word, so that no man or woman shall not know it's mean ing"
 Take saWhite', Names.
 Each chosen Indian is then called out by, his white name, and asked to tell his Indian name. When he does so, he is handed a bow and arrow, and directed to shoot the arrow. After he does this tie Secretary says to him, calling him by his Indian name:
 You have shot your last arrow, that means that you are no longer to live the life of an Indian. You are from this day forward to live the life of the white man. But you may keep that arrow, it will be to you 3. symbol of your noble race and of the pride you feel that you come from the first of all Americans
 Tb-n calling the Indian. again by his
 white name, Secretary Lane says to him: Take in your hand this plough,'s at the same time standing the abo5 rigine in proper position behind the indicated implement. As the Indian takes the handle of the plough. the Secretary says: This act means that you have chosen to live the life of the white man-and the white man lives by work From the earth we all must get our living and the earth will not yield unless man pours upon it the sweat of his brow. Only by work do we gain a right to the land or to the enjoyment of life.
 Following this ceremony, the Indian is presented with a leather purse, small flag, and a golden -colored badge the latter about the size of a. quarter of-a-do1lar, and bearing the inscrip- ton: IA citizen of the United States In the centre of this badge is the n1in+ iature figure of an eagle bearing in his ta1ons a draped. American flag The Secretary follows the presentation of these things by repeating the follow ing to each individual Indian, greet Ing each, as he does so, by his tswhite' name:
 This purse will always say to you. that the money you gain from your labor must be wisely kept. The wise man saves his money so that when the sun does not smile and the grass does not grow, he will not starve.
 Gives Them the Flag.
 give into your hands the flag of your country. This is the only flag you have ever had or ever will have. It is the flag of freedom, the flag of free men, the flag of a. hundred mil lion free men and women of whom you are now one. That flag has re- quest to make of you (calling the In- dian by his white name): That you take it into your hands and repeat these words: For as much as the President has said that [. am worthy to be a citizen of the United States, I now promise this flag that, will give my hands, my head, and my heart to the doing of all that will make me true American citizen
 And now beneath this flag I place upon your breast the emblem of your citizenship. Wear this badge of hon pr always, and may the eagle that is of1 it never see you do aught of which the fiagxwill not be proud.
 At this conclusion of the ceremonial the audience joins in shouting its greetings to the new citizen, hailing him aloud by his white name.
 There is a similar ceremony attend ing the recognition of the won1en as citizens, so far as compatible with the existing State laws in their respective localities. When one of the women who has been adjudged competent to manage and control her own affairs. is called from among her associates, her ..white' name being employed for the purpose she is first rendered a work bag and purse and instructed to hold them in her hand. This she does, and the secretary addressing her, says:
 This means that you have chosen the life of the white wofnan, and the white woman loves her home. The family and the home are the founda- ton of our civilization. Upon the char acter and industry of the mother and home maker largely depends the fu- ture of our nation The purse will aI- ways say to you that the money you gain from your labor must be wisely kept. The wise woman saves her money, so that when the sun does not smile, and the grass does not grow, she and her children will not starve. And the same message that accom- panies the gift of the flag and badge