Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-12-15
PUT RED INDIANS
IN WAR WITH THE
AMERICAN COLORS
Their Status Almost Like
Enemy Aliens, Says For
mers Carlisle Head


three to one by the Indian popula-
tion in the United States. are enlist
ed and are now fighting for their
mother country in vastly greater
numbers than characterize the par
ticipation of our own Red Men in
this, their country's greatest war and
most perilous time.
1t is n striking fact that while we
have cajoled and experimental with
our Indians, made them the foot
ball of politics, sapped much of their
manhood and vitality by enforced
reservation isolation, and at the same
time spent hundreds of millions of
dollars in Congressional appropria-
tionS for their care and mainte-
nance, the Canadian government,
with q very small fraction of this
expenditure, but with the saving
grace of more common sense and
humanity in it's dealings with the
Indians. has obtained far better re-
suits. Canada's handling of her In
dians has been marked by an alb
sence of petty politics, chicanery in
sincerity or gross Incompetence. It's
determining factor has always been
good faith.
Canadian Indians Are Fighting
While to-day the Indians north of
our national boundary, without urg-
ing or the exercise of compulsion,
are fighting in large numbers side
by side with their paleface brothers,
there has been only a small and
tardy response from our nations
wards, and while we have had Indian
uprisings and wars and much dis
content among them, even with the
recent registration for the selective
draft, the Dominion government has
had virtually no strife, but, to the
contrary, very amicable relations
with its Indians.
No large section of people in our
land can live clannishly to them
selves and prosper. This is sue
cessful democracy. Social contact,
educational affiliation and business
relations are Indispensable in our
local and national life and make for
individual happiness and community
welfare. The time is rapidly ap-
preaching when the more isolated,
unalloted, detached reservation In
dians must associate with their
neighbors on terms of friendship.
They must either cultivate and
utilize their tremendous land-hold-
ings or give way to the more aggres-
sive white IAN to do it in their
stead. Whether this degenerates
into a system of leasing or Congress
opens up the land to public entry, the
final result is ultimately the same.
The economic pressure in the west
is such that large tracts OF culttVa-
table land lying idle or great unused
stretches of good cattle and sheep
range are an anomaly.
White Man Taking Land
The white man is pressing in on
all sides. The eastern and central
states have sent thousands of home
steaders to the great range states OF
the West (where the Indians hold
large areas in common) this last year
and the human stream is continuing.
A study of conditions, observation
on the ground and conversation with
many representative men of affairs,
farmers and stockmen in this and
neighboring states lead to the con-
clusion that the Indians must speed
ily utilize this land to the best pos
sible productive advantage or the
white man, by virtue of votes and
pressure on his representative in
Congress, will gradually accomplish
the opening of these lands to settle
ment. This has been the unhappy
but inevitable history of every brok-
en- up Indian reservation. Oklahoma
is typical of the onward, Irresistible
march of the white man and the
ontemptuous forcing aside of the
Indians when they blocked the
passage.
The Indians must inevitably come
out in the open, and the restrictions
on their freedom of life and move
ment and the encumbrances on their
property will gradually disappear,
consistent with their progress and
protection. / mention this economic
trend because it has definite rela-
ton to the war and the Indians fu-
ture development.
America Must Continue
The Indian may or may not large
ly enter into this war, but America
must continue it to q victorious con-
clusion. Once in it we must either
win or lose. In matter of this kind
there can be no halfway measure.
We must conquer or be conquered.
Not to win would imperil our ma
tional entity, freedom of movement,
prosperity and happiness as peo-
| pie.
The white man in America has re-
| sponded through voluntary enlist
ment and the selective draft; before
another year has passed two out of
every hundred will be with the col
ors. The negro has done likewise;
| 10000 have been taken in the Sc
| lective draft alone and thousands
were already in the Regular Army
and Navy.
But as a race of supposedly de-
pendent people, Enthusiastically
known as incompetents, that is, In
dians without the right to hold a
patent in fee for their land or title
! to their property and hence without
the right to vote, thousands of the
red men of this land are placed in
! the same relation to this war as
enemy aliens. 1t puts the Indians
| N a bad light.
If our national welfare and indi-
| yidual prosperity depend on the sue
cessful issue of this war and If all
| other constituent elements of our
| population are doing their share,
why is it that the Indians, America s
| irst inhabitants, are not in its on a
| basis of equality and proportonate
representation?
out Of an Indian population Of
| 100 900 it is estimated that the Ca
madam Indians have about 5'oOo
aren with the British colors, Nirtu-
ally all of them are at the front IN
France. The great lroquois and AL
gonuuin nations, long hereditary
| anemies. are there fighting without
ribal distinction. The old animus
has been changed into friendship.
There is not an official announce
nent of casualties of Canadian
| troops that does not contain It's quota
If Indians who fell on the field OF
honor with their paleface brothers.
Were Excluded
In Canada, too, the Indians were
! for a while excluded from the mill
airy forces by official decree; but