The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-02-17
INDIAN WOMAN IN CAPITAL
TO FIGHT GROWING USE OF
PEYOTE DRUG BY INDIANS
Mrs. Gertrude Bonnin, Carlisle
Graduate, Relative of Sitting
Bull, Describes Effects Of
Mind-PoiSon.

Mind-PoiSon.
great Sitting Bull. is in Washington +
secure legislation forbidding the US
OF the peyote amongst the Indians.
While bullet and bomb are destroying
the white man on the battlehelds o
the world, the American indian is callet
upon TO fight an enemy which Il rapid,
undermining HIS race and. strange t
say. it is a tiny. mystic plant common
ly known in the West as ''peyote."
This is a species of cactus. Otter
called mescal, and those who use II ar,
afflicted with the widest Authorizations
dreams, whose golden visions rival the
delirious frances Of opium. Yet It al
ways results In mental and physica
degeneracy.
Grows In Southwest.
This peyote, or mescaI button, IS 8
plant growing in southern Arizona and
Mexico. It is botanicaIly classified AZ
Anhslonium LewiniI. but the Spanish
/
ly Is the habit OF using peyote growing
among the Indians that the matter
has been taken up before Congress and
an active fight l. being made-by both
sides
Foremost In the work for legislation
to prevent its use--Is Mrs Bonnin, a
highly educated Sioux. who is to testify
before the Senate Committee on Indian
Affairs. Mrs. Bonnin graduated from
Carlisle, and spent most OF her life in
social work among her race.
Seated in heT coy fiat at 7O7 TWEEN
tieth street northwest, Mrs. Bonnin
talked earnestly OF the need the In
dams had for protection. About her
on the walls hung gayly-beaded moe
| casins and other souvenirs Of the
reservation A fine photo of her hus-
band, who is an officer in the army,
decorated the piano. Highly educated,
speaking English huently, she com
bined the simplicity and directness
of her race with the polish Of the col
lege graduate.
Tells Her Story.
'T have come to Washington" she
said,. "as secretary of the Society of
American Indians. am now engaged
in testifying before the Senate Com
mittee on Indian Affairs IN regard to
the baneful effects Of the use Of
peyots among the tribes. A hundred
and nifty thousand dollars are to be
appropriated to prevent the use of
alcohol among the tribes, and It Is
our wish that the peyote be included
in the legislation.
ga faW ~ =
lively little known, but of late its use
has grown alarmingly till we ind 1t
far UP in Wisconsin and the DakOtas.
Its effects are most deadly on body
and mind. Numberless physicians
will testify to this. Yet many who
are addicted to the habit are fight
ing to retain It as an article OF com
merce. Under its influence both men
and women become lazy, their body
and mind deterIorate, Its intoxicating
effects degenerate all users so that
many deaths have resulted. The eff
feet seems 20 be Ike an opiate, for
under its sway all moral restraint
Is forgotten.
Sioux Fall Victims.
The Sioux are becoming addicts in
large numbers. It's use is growing
rapidly among the Cheyennes. the
osaEss, the Arapahoes. the KowGs,
the Comanches, the Omahas, the
Kickapoos, Winnebagoes, and other
tribes. The Indians cling to IL in
many cases as a gift OF the deity
some thinking 1t will give them q
sight of the deity himself-and all re-
gard 1t as a great medicine and in
stimulant. In order TO
secure its uninterrupted use. 1t has
been claimed that IT is used as a sort
Of sacrament in the Indian religious
but we know that in |
these feats, which last all night, its
use leads to the widest intoxication I
and all kinds Of orgies in which men.
women, and even the children take (
part to the degradation Of their /,
minds.
Experiments on animals have
proved II to be a powerful narcotic |
poison. The famous DR.. Weir Mitch
I'll, who experimental with the drug,
says: IT predict a perllous reign of
he habit when the agent becomes OBJ
Ainabls. The temptation to call .
again the enchanting magic will be
90 much for some men to resist after
hey have set foot in this land OF
airy colors."
Agents Sell Drug.
Constituencies agents, who ship in
he peyots from Mexico, are now 60
ng among the well-to-do Indians of
he Ctes and peddling the stuff. dis
,uising their work under the cloak
4 promoting a religious orgRniza-
ion. Feasts are gotten up and the
,eyote used to intoXicats all who at
end Many Indians believe that the
.eyote in a direct message from God
that II will give one the power to
cad secret thoughts and acquire