The Washington times., 1924-02-09


Francisco Call of which Mr. Older is editor, is published in
The Washington Times to in authority that
great nation should KEEP IT'S WORD with those that
weak:
FIRST GENTLEMEN OF AMERICA
By Fremont Older.
You read about the Pueblo Indians Of Arizona and
New Mexico wondering why white friends Of these Indians
often raising their voices in the newspapers complaining
loudly.
The answer is short These Indians are getting rough
treatment hands of the white The Indians have
heard great deal about white justice and democracy but
they been learning that these words sometimes
that any white do anything he wants to any
ber Of dark-sdnned race.
The Pueblo Indians have lived in their present territory
For thousands Of years At time 1t didn't desirable
land, but the possibility Of irrigation and the probability Of
rich mineral deposits have made the land they more
valuable.
particularly like fight Warlke Indians chased them away
aom fertile valleys forced them to settle in this
what raeager land.
There they developed a fine civilization Of their own
Robert HerCk called them the first gentlemen Of America
affairs They have ambitions that compel them beat
down other men and trample on their spirits
ing an unfortunate experience at the hands Of greedy and
Callous white
Unfortunate experence means that they are about to
starve death unless OTHER Americans who do
their lands will the and them from the
Americans who have steadily stolen from the Pueblo Indians
acquired New Mexico in 1e40 This country left them In
possession Of their lands Federal court decided in 1877
that the Pueblos owned those lands That didn't mean how
ever that Individual Indians could sell their property The
Pueblos corporations and Indian can't sell an
land any than SochOlder in the telephone company
sell you q telephone.
And again. in 1913 Federal declared that though
the Puebos owned their Land they and always been
WARDS Of the Government and couldn't sell give away an
inch Of their land
That ought settle something the Indians had plenty
Of land In 1848 and have had the legal sell
give any Of away, then they still have all of today
But that isn't the way things have worked out.
The white men have been creeping screepng, creeping
They have grabbed sat down sody their stolen property
and remained right there waiting for chance steal more
The tevng started long ago. the the Apaches an
Comanches came raiding The white settlers living outside the
Pueblo lands the PuebloS begged protection
Once m living In Indian houses Indian lands they stayed
Other white begged the temporary of land and
neglected return it. And others got deeds by fraud from
ignorant Indians. The Indians got the worst Of it.
The white men farm their stolen land and ask CONGRESS to
give them titles to that property Kind Senator Bursum tried
to blge them last year by introducing bill legaze their
titles The bill was defeated but it back this session with
another called the Lenroot BILL but it is just
bad attempt to legaze by action
titles that only can be legaHzed by court decision
The Indians in the meantime behaving in very fine
fashion
They aren't moaning and tearing their hair Instead they
have said this:
1--WE don't ask the return of all our property but we
DO wish would return enough land to enable
our living without being compelled to beg from the Gov
ernment Please reimburse stolen property
at its farm vaue do not ask for the value Of improve
ments put upon since it's seizure give us this and we
will be content"
You may have noticed how often in these last twenty
years Americans have pmed ourselves the generous
way the United States returned its share Of the Boxer
demnty to China History may say that the white who
gave millions to the yellow reimbursed themselves by
stealing millions from the red Then will children be
civilization in Arizona and New Mexico and you ought to have
seen how quickly our fathers smashed It'll"