New-York tribune., 1918-02-03
AS Uncle Sam proved himself capa-
bic of directing to the best advan-
tan.o the n Hn;rc &c H., ..ls.... g.

bic of directing to the best advan-
tage the affairs Of tho Indians for
whose welfare he is responsible? Opinion
is divided. Francis Il. Lcupp, United
States Indian Commissioner, In a recent
issue of World Outlook" declares that
those who criticise the government be-
cause century has passed and the prob
lem is still unsolved seem to regard it as
something to be disposed of overnight. in
stead of gradually, feature by feature. He
calls attention to what has been accom-
pllshed in single generation, from Cleve-
lands Administration to Wilson's, to show
what gains have been made. He writes:
CAS- lately ss thirty years ago most Of the
Indian tribes were herdcd like cattle on big
reservations, which they might not leave
without express permission of tho govern
ment. This was planned originally to pre-
vent lawlcss Indians from attacking white
settlements or interfering with tho now
railroads.
"But rs tho lands within a reservation
were held in common by the tribe, there was
no incentive for any one to cultivate even
few acres for his own benefit. This meant
general dleness, and, as idlencss results In
starvation. the government was bound, as a
mere matter Of mercy, to dole out food to
the Indians. thus making them paupers.
$50 the Dawes act was passed which pro-
vidcd for breaking up the reservations and
settling every Indian upon homestead that
should belong to him exclusively. 1t made
the owner of the homestead citizen by
virtue Of his having piece Of property to
protect with his vote, but 1t relieved his land
of taxation for a sufficient number Of years
to enable him to get fairly started in his
new life.
"Up to that time the government had dealt
with the Indians only by tribes, but thence
forward it dealt with them individually.
"At the basis Of American citizenship lies
education; a new Indian commissioner ad-
dressed himself whole -heartedly to the de-
velopment Of the schools, aiming to make
them centres of interest and activity in all
Indian communities.
after the A B C's it became apparent
that health education was most necessary
to the Indian. He had begun to develop the
diseases Of the white man, among them tu-
bercuosis and trachoma.
"The spread of tuberculosis among the
Indians is traceable in no small measure to
their changed manner of living In its eff
forts to civilize them our we'll meaning
government long ago insisted on their wear
ing an amount Of clothing to which they had
never DeeH accustomed, the tenOency or
which was to soften their bodies and render
them more susceptible to disease. They were
encouraged also to live in houses which can,
If desired, be made practically air tight by
sealing doors and windows, and to use iron
stoves instead of open fires for cooking and
heating.
"Thc white teachers, therefore, had to
undo much of their first work and teach the
Indians the value of fresh air in a dwelling
Besides Offering such instruction to the
adults in the homes, the government has set
up special schools for tubercular children,
each with a small farm or garden and
sanatorium attached, SO that the invalid
pupils can spend as much time as possible at
healthful occupations in the open air, and
when compelled to stay indoors, can be sur
rounded with the best precautionary or rene
dial appliances. Special instruction and dis
pensarics for the of trachoma were
established also.
"The reorganization of the Indian Terri