New-York tribune., 1920-08-19
Harding Says
Indians Will
Get Fair Deal
If Elected He Will Put IDEAL
ism Into Practice at Home
Rather Than 'Abroad.
Senator Tells Tribesmen
Want Independent Nation
Believes in Promoting the
Policy of Democracy in
America First, He Asserts
From q stan Correspondent

MARION, Ohio, AUG. Ex-senator
Harding applied his America first
policy constructively to-day in address
ing Il delegation of American Indians
who pleaded for justice and fair deal
ing at the hands of the government
and in speaking to a group of lumber
men at their annual picnic here.
After listening to the woes of the
Indians the Senator said if he were
given the responsibility of Office he
would put idealism and humanity into
practice at home on such problems as
presented by the Indians. rather than
seek to bestow American idealism
abroad, where itmight not be wanted Il
when it meant the lives of Americans
In his speech to the lumbermen he
struck similar note, calling for self
reliant America-one that would not
have to depend in any way upon the
resources or energies of other peonle
The Senator received delegates from
twenty-three tribes on his front porch.
Led by Many Antlers and Four Horns.
ancient braves of the Winnebagos of
Nebraska, the Indians made a colorful
appearance. The leaders we're dressed
IN 1ull native regalia of hunting cos
tunes, moccasins, feathers, their shirts
decorated with mirrors, shells and
wampum. Many Antlers carried peace
pipe. One of the delegation in address
ing the Senator referred to him as
Senator Cox" %
That's all right" said the Senator
hes a live fellow. You are all right
WHY be President anyway" The In
dians were shepherded by Thomas L.
Sloan, president of the Society of
American Indians.
Four-haorns, whose other name is
Senator ''''
"How do, Everybody said Hill
whose name in the tepees is Chief
Four Horns, speaking through David
sincere, interpreter. eve come from
home in Far West to greet YOU. Two
years ago you had big fight he re-
ferred to the World War. Our bows
who went did we'll Now, as American
citizens, we would like a voice in man
aging our own affairs. We would like
to have freedom"
DIR. Carlos Montezuma, an Apache
from Arizona, who was sold as a boy
for Sl3, spoke with fiery, rude clo-
quence, comparing the Indians to
slaves, and asking Harding, from his
great throne in the White House. to
reach out and set them free. The In
dams complained of the workings of
the Indian Bureau. In Montana, they
say, some are starving Senator Hard
ing was moved by the appeal, and in
concluding his greeting to them, said:
L think you and will agree about
one basic principle, and that is that
'he American Indian is just as much
entitled to square deal as any one
else in this republic, and if we should
be called to responsibility he will get
H.. | would like to think, while we arc
taking about democracy and humanity
and idealism, that this Republic had
far better bestow it on the native
American, whose lands the white man
took, rather than waste American lives
trying to make sure of that bestowal
thousands of miles across the sea.
II believe in the policy of promoting
and bestowing, elevating, encouraging
and establishing the ideals of democ-
racy in America first"
Cigars were passed and Many Ant
lers, Four-Horns and their brothers
chatted with Mrs. Harding and others
on the porch.
Many Antlers had a silver-mounted
peace pipe which was admired Hard
ing buttons were pinned in the bright
medley of shells, mirrors, hunting bags
and feathers that adorned the tribes
men. They said there were 1880 In
d;ans in the war
The Senator spoke a little later at
the lumbermen's picnic. He touched
the same note of applying more energy
in rehabilitating American when, in a
discussion of the urgent need of re-
forestation to keep up our lumber sup
ply, he said.
81 have sought to emphasize tbs
thought of reforestaton because |
think it is highly essential for the
United States to be ever thinking of
self-relianCe. We are SO blessed with