Pueblo chieftain., 1922-02-15
Rx Trederio j. Haskin

Indian is changing his blanket for n
silk shirt. Tho younger Indians par
ticularly are turning with aVidity to
this garment and the accompanying
haberdashery. Lots and lots OF these
original Americans, once termed poor.
scorn wearing n shirt that costs less
than SIS. Tho shirt must be sufficient
ly colorful to please the Indian eye.
and the makers cannot go too lar in
this direction.
Committee on Indian Affairs visited
various Indian reservations in tho
west. and found men and women OF the
tribes developing q strong taste for
personal adornment, affected by the
white race. but going beyond the pre-
ference for subdued tones generally OBJ
served among Caucasians.
Officials of the Indian Bureau here
look with favor upon substituting the
habIliments of the whito man tor the
blanket and nondescript Indian cos
tune OF old. They do not discourage
these wards OF the nation from dressing
themselves in up-to-date garments,
even II in doing SO they spend much
of their money on personal adornment
instead of on more substantial things
which would tend to show greater pro-
gress. The bureau officials look upon
the change as showing II tendency,
particularly upon the part of the
younger generation. to abandon once
and for all the old Indian regalia,
which has been the tribal costume for
centuries. The blanket Indian has been
difficult problem for the Indian
Bureau for somo time.
INDIAN OIL MILLIoNAIREs
II. E. Devendorf. for more than &c
years clerk of the Indian Affairs Com
mittee OF the House of Repre- sen.a-
tives. Is authority for the statement
that 1t is chiefly among the rich Csagc
tribes in Oklahoma that the coiorfui
silk shirt is seen In most profusion.
The Usage Indians arc we'll able to
indulge this or any other cStravaSant
taste they may cultivate. There are
from 1900 to 1900 OF them with in
comes varying from $1,000 to $4,000 n
month, derived from royalty payments
on oil lands to which they hold title.
Like Indians thruout the country. the
Osages are not exempt from the gen.
eral Indian conviction that money IN
meant to spend They spend it for any
thing that will bring them pleasure.
Indian Bureau officials say that the
nero act OF spending money is source
OF Joy to many Indians.
Automobiles are in great demand
among the newly rich Indians, and
they like speed. The Indian is good
driver. too. In tho Lowell prairie country
OF Oklahoma there are many loug
stretches OF good roads, where the
Indian driver can step on 'cr" and
indulge his craving for speed TO his
hearts content. There arc notably few
accidents in which Indian motorists
hgure. However. where whisky enters
into the EQUATION, the Indian. like mis-
white brother. seems TO court trouble
on the high road. and has no trouble IN
finding plenty OF 1t.
HUNDRED MILE TAXI RIDE
An instance OF Indian disregard of
money Is shown in the story OF n trip
to Colorado Springs taken last summer
by a party of rich osagcs. They
chartered six Pullman cars. spcn. most
OF the summer in good hotels. and re-
turned in private Pullmans. But about
100 miles from homo ono OF tho In
dians. who enjoys an income from oil
lands amounting TO several thousands
of dollars a month. got tired Of riding
on tho train. He alighted. aired q
taNicab. and drove the rest OF tho
way in It. His taxi bill amounted TO
$500. which he paid without mdrmur
Legislation Is before Congress do
signed to kivo fuh citizenship to tho
Indian. DR.. Joseph Kossuth Dixon Of
Philadelphia has been active before the
Indian committees OF Congress. point
ing out that altho citizenship appears
TO be given to the Indian with tic al
lotmcuts OF public lands. thcr, Is n
string TO 1t. y patent to tho prd in
fec simple is not granted until s5 years
have elapsed. so that the Indian own
or IS kept from citizenship for that
length OF time.
a Sioux Indian presented himself at
n registration booth for the s,lcctivc
draft during the late war.
Arc you an aiicn7' ho was asked
NO. was born In the United
States he replied.
Then you are n citizen"
No. I am not a Citizen
What are you?"
"I am an Indian. Altho ] was born
In the United States. I have not the
rights of an alien. nor have I tho rights
OF n citizen. My father is full blood =
cd Sioux chief. ] am male between
the ages OF Il and 81. and must present
myself for military service
The draft board was puzzled FOR a
time. Finally he went into the records
as Big Face born in the United
States. but no; ci;izcn.'
FINE INDIAN WAR RECORD
A report OF the Commissioner Of In.
dian Affairs estimates that over 5000
Indians entered some branch OF the
military service during the World War.
and that fully 5000 of these entered by
voluntary enlistment. 1t Is also stated
that OF thc l'.@lS INDIANS registered By
draft boards. only 22s sought deferred
classification or exemption.
Brig. Gen. Enoch II. Crowdcr. Pro-
vost Marshal General. In his report to
tho president on tho solcctivc draft,
declared that 'as tho raising of tho
army proceeded and the Organizations
entered upon their transit overseas #
WAS seen that the traditional aptitude
of the Indian race for tho military
career was being verified and that 'hr
men OF this breed wero nobly showing &
thnir zoal for tho rrrat CaUap'' /,