The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-06-24

dams and giving even closer atten-
ton to the incompetent Indians, that
they may the more readily achieve
competency. Broadly speaking, a pol
icy of greater liberalism will hence
forth prevail in Indian administration
to the end that every Indian as soon
as he has been determined to be as
competent to transact his own busi-
ness as the average white man, shall
receive full control of his property and
have all his lands and moneys turned
over to him, after which he will no
longer be ward of the government
"This is G new and far-reaching
declaration of policy It means the
dawn Of new era in indian admins
tration. 1t means that the competent
Indian will no longer be treated as
half ward and half citizen. 1t means
reduced appropriations by the govern
ment and more self-respect and indie
pendence for the Indian. 1t means
the ultimate absorption of the Indian
race into the body polite Of the ma
ton. 1t means, in short, the begin
ming of the end of the Indian prob
lem. In carrying out this policy, l
cherish the hope that all real friends
of the Indian race will lend their aid
and hearty cooperation"
AS fast as they become competent
the Indians are placed on individual
footing, receive fee patents to their
lands, and are turned loose" In
pursuance of this policy 1896 patents
have been issued in the last three
years, more than were issued in the
preceding ten years.
No matter whether the Indian gets
the franchise or not he Is rapidly be-
coming a factor in the nation. Here
are some facts indicating his progress: :
AS to the present-day educational,
social, and domestic conditions of the
Indians, it appears from Commissioners
Sells report that $1,000 out of $4,000
eligible children are in school; that
$4,000 out of $4,000 families live in
houses: that there are only 23G polyga-
nous marriages; that 10000 Indians
are churchgoing; that 100000 speak
English; that $1,000 are literate In
English; that $4,000 wear citizens
clothing; that 10000 are citizens, and
that 10000 are voters.
The United States has reserved to
them some 6O,0O0,O00 acres Of land,
which if brought together would make
a region more than twice as large as
the State Of New York. 1t is very
conservative to say that this land Is
worth $363,OO0,00O.
They raise about $11, 100000 worth
of crops, sell about $4,OG0,000 worth
of live stock annually without depict
ing their focks and herds, gather in
about S5,OOOOOO a year from brother
whiteman as landlords, sell about $4,-
600 900 worth Of land year, receive
about $1,7OO,000 year as interest on
trust funds, 100000 on treaty account,
md. in the last fiscal year, about S2O,-
OOOOO more from Indian money, min
eral royalties, and hard work, the
latter item alone amounting to about
S4OOOO00.
More than $4,000 adult Indians are
now self supporting and less than 5000
ahle-bodied adults receive rations with
or without labor equivalent.
In fact, the Indians as class are
now so prosperous that they were
able TO invest about So, 100000 in Lib
erty Loan bonds, or approximately $40
per capita, which is far better than the
ner capita showing Of many of the
States. besides investing about $1,000
600 in War-Saving stamps.