Red Lake news. [volume] (Red Lake, Minn.) 1912-1921, 1918-02-01
COMMISSIONER SELLS AND HIS REPORT

< COMMISSIONER SELLS AND HIS REPORT
The annual report Of Commissioner Sells cover
ing the fiscal year 1917, has recently been given
to the public. 1t is a straightforward, forceful
and convincing story about the noteworthy prog
ress of whose interest the Commissioner
has labored for than four years with tireless
energy coupled with boundess enthusiasm and OPP
timism. 1t cannot be said that portion of this
report is stronger than another but there many
summaries and climaxes that review and empha-
size the subjects treated in such mastery fashion
that gets clear conception of the philosophy
of the author from studying them alone
Discussing his we'll known 'Declaraton Of Pol
icy' the following comments made:
careful study of the practical effects of gov
ernmental policies for determining the wardship
of the Indians of this country is convincing that
the solution is individual and not collective. Each
individual must be considered in the light of his
own environment and capacity for larger response
bilites and privileges
While ethnologically q preponderance Of white
blood has not heretofore been criterion of
potency nor even now lis it always a safe stand
ard, it is almost axiom that Indian who has
larger proportion of white blood than Indian par
takes more the characteristics of the former than
of the latter. In thought and action, so far as
the business world is concerned, he approxmates
closely to the white blood ancestry
The cardinal principle Of this declaration re-
wolves around tbs cs.asal that an In.
dial who is as Compeuent as an an. ordinary White
man to transact the ordinary affairs of life should
be given untrammeed control of his property and
assured his personal rights in every particular so
that he may have the opportunity Of working out
his destiny. The practical application OF this
principle will relieve from the guardianship of
the Government very large number Of Indians
who qualified to mngle plane of business
equality with the white people It will also be-
gin the reduction Of expenditures, and afford
better opportunity for closer attention to those
who will need our protecting for some years
longer
A vitality important result also will be obtained
in placing a true ideal before those Indians
naming under guardianship. 1t will be a strong
motive for endeavoring to reach the goal of COM
potency, and prove a material incentive to sin
effort for that end.
Relative to the patriotism of the Indian and
the part he is taking in the strife in which most
of the civilized, great nations engaged, Mr..
Sells has this to say:
The growing attitude of the Indian toward the
world is credit to his race. A well-nigh
limitless devastation and conflict is bringing to
him its profound lesson that the highest authority
and best social welfare must spring from free
and self governing people This awakening is
pecially noticeable among the younger generation,
largely the product of Hdan schools, who
quick to catch the spirit of Reports
file indicate that large number of voluntary
enstments have been made in the Army, Navy
and National Guard, in branch of the
Military Establishment, by Indian students and ex
students alone Many of the schools report 20 to
&c. from 40 to SO enlistments. Among them
is represented practically every tribe Several en-
listed for the aviation service and some ad-
mitted to officers training camps. A former stu
dent at the Carlisle School, Ernest Kick
among the early accessions to the Princess Patricia
Regiment of Canada and gave his life in the
CuIuo