El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-01-17
NO VIOLATION OF INDIAN RIGHTS
IS ASKED, BUT ONLY FAIR PLAY

THE HOUSE of representatives the Arizona legislature
took wise adopting memorial to president
- Wilson requesting abandonment of the 100000
acre reservation Pima county, lately assigned Papago
Indians It is intended the memorial hands
the president by the time protests against the reservation
up by the interior department Deputaons of Arr
zonans particularly residents of Tucson, viii appear the
departments hearing point the inadvsabty of
ing the reservation grant to stand
The Papagos southern Arizona of whom there are only
about 6oOO according to the latest figures already
reservation sufficient for their ordinary needs They
nomadc tribe During the summer they cultivate their
patches of farms the vicinity Indian Oasis
west of Tucson The rest of the year they from place
place. all Pima county, and considerable number
their Journeys far Sonora In fact so many
spend much of their time Sonora that it is difficult
to tell how many are ghtfuy residents of Arizona and
how many of Mexico.
The allotment 100000 acres to the Indians takes
large slice of Pima county haltng mining development
one OF the best mineral sections of the county,
farming land from settlement and every way hand
cap to the county gives to the Indians great
OF land which they cannot places their hands
mineral claims which they will not develop
First steps have been taken by the people of Pima county
by the legislature remedy this condition There
to believe that when the presented
at Washington in its proper light the efforts Of the Arizona
people viii be successful.
the southwest there sentiment whatever in favor
OF depng the Indians OF any OF the tribes of the
of livelihood Of lands which they can really use
there growing sentiment that the actual needs and
welfare OF the Indians do not demand extensive land
serves have in been aside for them The
normal development Of the states requires that the
lands above what the Indians economically develop
make Of, should be restored 10 public use
We have point the Mescalero Indian reserva-
ton Cioudroft in New Mexico where hundred
APaches given the executive control of
100000 OF magnificent upland country containing
CT the finest forests IN the west immense of choice
grazing and agricultural land valuable There
proposition before congress the Mesclero
national park along the lines of Yosemite Yellow
store and Glacier parks, for the and benefit of all
people.
But the plan proposed amply safeguards all the rights
Of the Indian wards OF the government pro-
vided that they shall have permanently allotted them all
the grazing and agricultural lands they possibly
future and that they shall have the
sotnents that all the timber they need shall be theirs free
that the Indians shall have the financial
al leases outsiders Of timber mining The
government would build roads the national park police
allow public under strict regulations for
camping and cottages and for hunting and fishing
The Indian bureau still to degree under the bane
full influence OF the New England and Pennsylvania element
responsible many Of the mistakes which
been made though also entitled praise for the
determined which II has carried out worthy
parts of its program behalf Of the Indians 1t mistake
for the Washington officials for congress TO that
views OF the people Of the southwest entitled to
fair hearing that their motives merely sordid The
southwest asks for far play justice policy of
good sense disposed suggest that the Indians be
deprived Of anything they with profit to themselves
their social and political welfare.