The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1917-05-04
PROBLEM IN CARE
or INDIANS MONEY
Uncle Sam Hopes to Establish
Every Red Man in a Home
Of His Own.
Big IMPROVEMENT IS seen
Officials Say Government. Wards Have
Shown Marked Increase In AblI-
ity to Take Care Of
Their Funds.

It is the opinion of officials of Uncle
Sans Indian office that there is nc
single feature of Indian administration
presenting more difficult problem for
solution than the manner in which in
dividuSl Indian money should be
handled.
1t is a problem because In this the
experts are dealing with individual
lines rather than race, and, If they
succeed, wholesale methods must be
abandoned and the needs of each indi-
vidual considered. The Indian office
officials have set as their endeayor,
through proper use of individual In
dian money, the following:
81. To assist every Indian to the es-
Establishment Of a permanent and sub
stantial home built upon land to which
the individual whose money is being
expended may expect to obtain fee
simple title.
"2. To acquire independence of
thought and action and sturdy self
reliance looking to eventual self-sup-
port, substantial progress and perma-
nent prosperity.
"3. And at last to emerge triumphant
from tribal relations into those of in
dlvidual citizenship, with a full knowl-
edge Of all the rights, privileges and
responsibilities which accompany it."
Marked Progress Shown.
In this connection the experts say
that they have been able to see, even
In so short a period of time as three
years, that there has been marked
Increase In the number Of Indians who
have built and are building substantial
homes on their allotments or who have
purchased farms with their own money
and have equipped and improved them
with good buildings, more and better
stock, and are surrounding themselves
with the comforts and pleasures Of an
enlightened and more advanced civili-
zation than they have hitherto known.
1t Is said that there has been pro-
nounced increase In the number of
bank accounts and In the amounts on
deposit, also a steady increase In the
interest earnings on the accounts Of
Individual Indians.
Some are reaching out into business
enterprises of various kinds, looking to
Investments and finding profitable ones
In farm and city real estate, and others
are launching forth into specialties,
such as poultry, fruit, etc., and some,
of course, with failure ahead, but
many making of their efforts pro-
nouhced success. .-....
Tact ls Required.
Indian office officials say that the
Ideal can only be realized when every
Indian shall be fully competent to care
for himself without assistance. The
proper management of an Indians
bank account Is one requiring delicate
tact and skill In order to teach him
how to care for 1t and himself without
robbing him of his manhood and in
dependence It Is really an educative
process, and calls for time in Its devel-
opment. 1t is felt by the experts in
charge of this work that the plan be-
ing pursued will bring success, for the
complaints regarding the management
Of the Indians money can be made to
serve him double purpose-to give
him the material things he needs and,
through experience in its use, incul-
cate in him principles of business and
thrift which shall contribute perma.
nently to his personal and material de-
velopment.