The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-07-11
INDIANS ARE keen
TO Do WAR work
National Spirit Strong
Among the AbOriginese,
Says Cato Sells.
a.
ny Associated Press)

49, -
ny Associated PrssO
WASHINGTON. July 1.-THE deeds
OF Indians who have enlisted in large
numbers in the military services are
hardly more inspiring than those Of
the women and children left behind.
This is a partial account Of the an.
swer made BY he people on the reser-
vations when the Great White Faith
err in Washington called = the tribes
and races inhabiting this land OF free
dom 10 rise in It's defense.
Reports received by Cato Sells.
Conmis3ic-eg OF Indian Affairs. from
rabout one-third Of the indian reserva-
itions, indicate 4 total Red Cross mem
'tcrshlD OF close 70 10000. contribu-
sti9rs in money amounting 10 more
Than $4,000 and further donations Of
thousands of hospital garments AID
Fitted articles. That IS not a full
niiSeacure Of the Red Mans generosity.
However. fer the reservations do rot
hod-e many Indians. including the
more wealthy, whose charitable activ-
it,ss are listed with the general popu-
lstion.
Rc5ortiag TO methods OF the white
man 10 raise money, the Omaha tribe
recently held an auction for tho Red
Cross which Melted $4,000, including
$500 Tor a prize goat.
The boys OF school in the north.
west gathered 1000 pounds OF Sphag-
nun moss for surgical absorbent pads.
Some 400 Christmas boxes were re-
ported, which is incomplete. IS nearly
all OF the 10 boarding schools have
service flags with stars ranging in
number from a few to two hundred,
and the pupils OF these schools are
very mindful of their soldier repre-
sentatiyes. One OF the larger schools
reported a Students Friendship War
Fund. with $3.50 on hand and twelve
war savings societies. This school in
four weeks bought 1000 thrift stamps
and Is Baby Bonds.
On small rc-cTration far north,
where the winters are long and Sc
were and the Indian must struggle for
lltt AtA NHaNt To- Va lfAtf llOat NlAsti DAI
dollar per capital for every adult was
paid in cash for the Red Cross and
other war relief purposes. In the
Southwest where the parchcd desert
gives scant returns ard sheep raising
is the chief means OF support. many
OF the Indians have each promised q
fleece Of wecl for the Red Cross and
the superintendent plans the expert
ment OF spinning this wool and knit
ting it into socks. sweaters, etc, by
the indian women.
In 4 Montana district where the In
dons ere nearly all full-blcods they
voluntarily held meetings and each
one who has a growing wheat crop
promised 10 donate one sack OF wheat
for wa- relief work. On another reser-
va,ion where the Indians are very poor
and have little ready money. they do
mated ain abundance Of handsome bead
worl, and other curioS TO be sold for
the Red Cross.
One Of the smaller schools In Okla
homa reported Junior Red Cross
membership OF l7G members, being
the total enrolment Of the school.
The superintendent OF one Of the
boarding schools for girls OF thc Five
Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma declared
the girls are deeply interested in all
war work and respond readily to re-
quests for additional garments, The
very small girls knit up the scraps of
yarn into refugee caps. afghan
squares. etc. Also they utilize the
scraps from the hospital garments
making Quilt blocks. Larger scraps
are used for small underskirts for the
refugee. Gun wipers have been cut
by the hundred.
From northern Minnesota reser-
walton. where it is believed the first
Indian Red Cross auxiliary was start
cd in the spring OF 1917, the president
OF the auxiliary writes:
''Thc auxiliary numbers as and this
from community Of less than nun.
dred aduitA Some Of these women
have walked TO the weekly meeting
place across the ice from Old Agency
VIXEN the temperature was twenty de.
gcees below zero. They have sewei
on hospital shirts and socks and
learned TO knit the various garments
just as their white sisters of the cit,
les have done.
"One evening recently an Indian
and his wife. living seventeen miles
away. came to the home of the treas.
urer and inquired about the work be.
ing done. the women bringing her dol
lar for membership. saying: 1 want to
DO something for my country"
Commissioner Sells believes that
the national spirit which President
Wilson and other statesmen toresee
as a result OF the war will be splen.