The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1920-06-11
Fastening to Acquire Citizenship
as Soon as Competent,
Says Cato Sells.
GREAT PROGRESS IN I YEARS
Not Only Numerically and in Wealth
but Also in Education and IN.
dustry-Individual Deposits
Show Big Increase.

Wa>hinwlun.- Au>Werin@ Il criticism
on the legal status OF the American
Indian as contained in resolutions re-
Gently adopted by the Women'> civic
center of san Diego Cal. Cato Sells,
commissioner OF Indian affairs, III a
lengthy letter set> forth the general
progress of the American Indians Nn-
der his administration. Mr. Sells is
decidedly opposed 20 the withdrawal
of federal supervision over I'LL Indians
at this time The result OF such II step.
he points ont, would be that a large
number Of old or Incompetent Indians
would soon he ileeeed of their prop
erty and thrown upon the states rs
rauperS and mendcantS. and public
protest against neglected conditions
would surely follow. "Cont,Sion rs
tn Tie legal status Of the indian SAYS
Mr.. Sells. pests largely With those
who have not studied the sub iert. The
general allotment act Of 1887. provid-
ing for tho allotment OF lands in SeN-
crafty. with the amending provisions
uf the Burke act OF 1906. made the is
Sllanee of Il frr->implr ,ntent the pri-
mary legal requirement for citizenship
Of lf!ian>. hui also provided for the
citizenship ef any Indian by his vol
unrarN separation from tribal rrli-
tons and the adoption OF The habits
OF civilfzeG life. The later Hct OF
.Ian. -. 1870. also provides for The
allotment Of lands IN Indians frnn
ii" public domain with the issuance
al 4 fee patent rs provided for in the
CASE of reservation allnluentS
Become Citizens.
II ,Hd"r my administration The In
dian huerau has made special cffuri
II extend citizenship Ia he Indians
and prepare them for lis duties ANA
responsibilities In The dcciararion ot'
policy is>uet April IL 1917, an
] ol'ie"d thai every Indian ;t> soon rs
found lo be competent 10 trans;ct his
OWN business affairs would Gp given
full control If his property aul have
III his iand and moneys turned over
To him. after which he would no long
er Ee ii ward of the government. IL
ful1ArIanre ct this muv.mpnl iii
NarinES reservations a> follows: You
;trc requested IA submit IL This office
Il list Of MI Indians Of on"-hnlC ar
les Indian blood. Ail" are ahIe-ho,lieI
aii mrntal.y competent. twnntH-0us
Years Of age or over. together with Il
description OF the land allotted To said
Indians. and the number of the all"f-
Ia"ni. II is intended ~ i>~ue patents
in zee Sin,,i" 10 such Indians
"lnder Ills hroadenrd policy In
dian> both mixed AMI fun blord>. are
being released from government SUI
p.rvi>i"n rs rapidly A> their condition.
warrants. Whenever an Indian is
found 10 he ~ competent as The Il,
era"e white man 10 transact the usual
so,.aiion> al life, he i given ii pattern
fee mi! control nf his lands and mon
.y>. and made IL citizen of the Tntea
STATES. About o.lun :lnlmen1s at
land have been made 70 Indians. and
during the las, three years 1U.o1ti fee
simple PATENTS have been is>ued. OF
] ~. more than in the ten years pre-
eednG.
Mr.. Sells has gone further in this
direction and has taken the position
that The citizenship of Indians should
not be based upon their ownership OF
hands. tribal or in >eNrraity. in tr,l>g
or in fee. hut upon the fact lhat they
are real Americans. Favorable report
has been made on Il hill Introduced in
congress having for its purpose the
comforting of citizenship on all Indians
hut retaining control ot the estates al
tncomIetcnt>
Says Restriction Is Wise.
Il am fully convinced ot the wis