Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-07-09
INDIAN AFFAIRS TOLD
OF BY HASKIN
Daily Letter by Frederic j.. Haskin

WASHINGTON, June S.-DeteT-
mined to settle once for all the
question of what shall be the policy
of the United States Government to-
ward the Indians of the nation, Sec
rotary of the Interior Hubert Work
has appointed a committee OF n
hundred prominent citizens to ad-
wise with him on q constructive pro-
gram.
For many years" Secretary Work
says in his letter notifying the hun
dred citizens of their appointment to
this committee, "the Government has
been charged intermittently with
having no policy, or with exploiting
the Indian, or with acquiescing in his
extinction, or with permitting the
dissipation of his wealth.
It is true that various societies,
nublicists, writer's and others have
lamented the subjugatlon OF the
North American Indian and have re-
GREETED that an industrial age has
! driven the aborigines from their an
| Gent hunting grounds. The fact Is
accomplished and cannot be undone
The country will not be given back
to the Indians. There Is a keen SEN
timental appeal, however, in the fact
that the forests, hills ana plains
where once the Indian roamed r
NJ anv hut his natural enemies, nave
been usurped by the white man.
What Secretary Work wants to do is
TO oulet the national conscience on
this point by making sure that the
Indian is getting n square deal.
There seems to be especial need
for such an investigation and re-
view of the position of the Indian at
this time.
1.-The Indians, many having acdulr-
ed wealth, with their citizenship
rights, allotted lands, agricultural de-
velopment, schools, religions and dis
eases, present an appeal more acute
than ever before" says Secretary
Work, who, in his capacity as C
retary of the Interior, is the super
visory officer of the Indian Office.
although the Indian Bureau has
received encouraging approval from
advised sources of its altruistic attl-
tude. the present Secretary of the In
terror" Mr.. Work continues, desires
10 plan the best possible policy In
it's relation to these people and ex
ecute it in a manner that will WORK
the greatest good"
The Red Mans Progress
To enable the committee of one
hundred TO give the best study pos
slble to the problem. Secretary Work
has provided each member with ar
accumulation Of data or the present
nosition of the Indian in American
national life. This information Is o.
absorbing interest, as showing wha'
progress the Red Man has made from
the times when he wandered
throughout the land armed Will
bow, arrow and tomahawk.
The Indian population is S4O,sl7
an increase OF 1880 In ten years
There are 200 Indian reservation
and 1913 Indian tribes which speai
5s different languages. This is TN
body of people within the unite'
States which constitute the Iud.a'
problem.
, Five million dollars are expende'
annually by the Governments 70
educating these Indians in school
and colleges SO that they nay Hn1o.
i. and appreciate the benefits of mod
err civilization and know how to US
the improved economic condition
which the white mans occupatio
of The country has brought them.
This education has varying Ell
fects. Washington is a mecca If
: the Indian. He knows that this Is
the seat of his Great Chief and lie
comes here to see the White Teeo
whenever he can. There is no baer
: city in which to observe the cuE,us
forms which the advance Of tn In
S dian has taken.
Two distinguished United tates
p senators who take pride in thlr In
dian ancestry, conform in all rspects
to the modern conception of iviliza'
ton. On the other hand, oe often
a sees in the streets Of WahAngton,
typical North American Indlns, both
i men and women, who tbugh they
i have enjoyed the ADVANTAGES OF Gov
eminent schools, betravno signs OF
modern American stanards in dress
and Not IN eqlently the
streets OF the nations. capital are
Enlightened by groups I f~uI-blooded
indians, CARRIED in bghtly colored
blankets, with long, black, braided
a hair and adorned VII strings OF
wampum beads.
Some of those VIII comprom.se De-
: tween the two cilizations present
the most notable appearance. The
! Lmsn wiz weaEs PEI father usual