Evening star., 1924-08-31

DMINISTRATiON of one of the
~ richest estates in the United
~ StatcS-our billion dollar In
dian business-is centralized
in the Washington offices of
the Bureau of Indian Affairs. under
the action direction of Commissioner
Charles II. Burke.
Substantial in inches and avoirdu-
pois. Commissioner Burke is a man
of big IDEAS He knows the Ameri-
can Indians, their peculiaritics and
idiosyncracies better than other liv-
ing American. He is intimately con-
verSant with every detail of their
tribal dispositions. He has lived as
their neighbor in wigwa am. wikiup.
tent and frontier shack. In the mill
of human experience. during a period
nj more than three decades of init
mate association with the primitive
natives of the new world. Charles
Burke has been intelligently studying
the needs of Americas first residents.
AT present. there exists no other
dependent people on the face of the
worlds map as we'll cared for or as
admirably equipped with the facili-
ties for educational advancement as
the descendants ot the savage tribes
which once were proprietors of the
United States.
During the last 50 years Uncle
0oo,ooo for the support and education
of his Swarthy wards. During the
last half century n" guardian in all
creation has worked more effectively
or efficiently for the Improvement of
his human charges.
TATTERLY, if. perchance. YOU have
travelled here and there and
everywhere over the American map,
n of
sob sister stories on some such theme
as "'Lo the poor Indian the man
without a country. the eX-chieftain
now reduced to mediocrity and pow
erty
All of which is pure buncombe
There is agitation in certain sec
tonS to release all the American
Indians from Uncle Sans Watchful
guardianship. This propagand is
instigated by those who aspire to
graft on our great and rich Indian
estate.
AgitatorS who hope to pluck some
of the prize plums if ever the Indians
are given full charge of their money
matters are well organized. Some
half blood indians are abetting the
illegitimate enterprise-willinG to
sacrifice the wellheiuG of their
tribesmen and neighbors in order to
steal their patrimony.
A national report on an investiga-
tion of these attempts to depoSe
Uncle Sans representatives as bank
ers for the red men emphasizes that
even some of the churches have
been imposed upon in this organized
propaganda by travelling fake India n
chiefs. Recently an alleged Indian
organization in Chicago passed a res
olution to the effect that the Indian
Was without country and without
flag. in face of the fact that, just
before Congress adjourned last
Spring special act was passed,
giving the privileges of citizenship
10 all American Indians. AS matters
now stand. one-third of our Indian
population. aggregating more than
100000 redskins has been wholly re-
leased from all governmental super
vision, as a result of emonStrating
the ability. to manage their own af-
fairs. Twelve thousand Of them
fought for the Stars and Stripes dur
ing the World War. The Indians are
the first Americans. Their flag is
our nag.
If You will but take the trouble
to investigate, YOU will find that the
American Indian has even represen-
tation in Congress. Two of our lead
ing Senators, Robert l.. Owen of Ok
1ahoma, member of the Cheroke e
tribe, and Charles Curtis of Kansas.
an enrolled member of the kaW tribe.