The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-06-12
BONNER TELLS OF
INDIAN PROBLEMS
AND PHILOSOPHY
Declares Legislation is
Hampered by People
Not Informed

Iue0Ji1S Oh MOuudy evening, Lue
annual report of the treasurer show
ed that the Expenses for the year aver
aged $3.50 a month more than the
income, but at the beginning of the
year there was $685. in the treasury,
so they still had balance of 1854
at the end of the fiscal year. The
membership has increased during
the year and now the income Is more
than the current expense but there
is frequent need of money for pro-
| jects which the board turns down
however desirable they may be. The
total expenses for the year were
$2322.70.
Plans were discussed for having
representatives at Arco to attend
the dedication next Sunday of the
Craters of the Moon as a public
monument, and Byrd Tregol was
named as the official representative
of the club, with the request that
others go if they could.
1t was announced that for the COM
bined excursion of the Elks club of
Mackay and the chamber of COM
MERGE of Blackfoot for the 18th
going to Mackay in the morning and
returning at nine p. M, round
trip rate of $4.6 had been granted
on condition that hundred tickets
are sold. A committee was appoint
ed to solicit the sale of tickets on
Tuesday and give their report to
the Short Line. The club planned
to take the American Legion band
along If they could make it get
acquainted trip visiting a while at
Arco and other places up the valley,
seeking to establish better relations
with Lost river towns and cooperate
in road building and handling of
Moon valley tourists, fishermen
travellers and the rest.
Indian Agent William NJ Bonner,
of FIT. Hall had been invited to ad-
dress the meeting on reservation
matters, and he talked for half an
hour. He explained some of the
difficulties of getting legislation at
Washington which we have sought
for, giving some Of the details of
his months work in that line last
winter. He said it was about as
hard months WORK as he had ever
done, and most of the obstacles that
had to be met were those put In
the way by people who were merely
seeking advantages for themselves
under the pretense of protecting the
cere but did not know very much
about local conditions and based
their judgment on conditions exist
ing in some other part of the country
and assumed that it was the same
here. Those who were sincere
would meet them in conferences I'M
til agreement was reached and OPP
position withdrawn. Those who
were not sincere had to be dealt with
as best they could.
Mr.. Bonner said the white people
are perhaps century ahead of the
Indians in development, and are
keeping ahead, but at the same time
placing some handicaps in the way
of the progress of the Indian. He
thinks a closer understanding be-
tween the two races will be to their
mutual advantage. The develop
ment of the resources of the reser-
vation and the Indian property ought
to go hand in hand with that of the
white peoples, and it is brought
to light quite plainly in the irriga-
ton projects now under way. The
Greater FIT. Hall project is made pos
sible by the American Falls reser-
voir, and the reservoir is made pos
sible only by getting the use of the
Indian bottom lands for a reservoir
bottom History Is full of instances
where the Indian lands have been
taken for public use and paid for
1T price that was entirely too low.
There is now a general determine
lion that this shall not happen any
more, and with organizations OF
white people banded together for
hat purpose and some of the older
Indians feeling sure that the old
practice of giving them too little
t was very difficult to reach an
agreement. He thinks the price
lgreed upon was fair to all parties
md now the legislation is accom-
,lished that enables those in charge
o proceed with construction.
Owing to the bad temper existing
lmong the legislators brought about
~ the congressional Investigations
II the past winter it was impossible
o secure the legislation and appro-
)riations necessary to keep on with
he improvements on the reservation
annals as desired, but they will re-
lew the efforts as soon as there is
prospect Of success. An item OF
hundred thousand dollars that was
Lsked for in the last of the session
II congress just closed, for enlarge
nent of the canal for carrying water
m the Machaud flats west of POca-
clio was cut out of the appropria-
ion bill. Such sums as this are
pent chiefly in Blackfoot and Poca-
clio. and it affects the business of
10Th towns to secure or lose such
appropriations.
The progress of the Indian de-
ends largely upon the acc0modat-
ng themselves to the environment,
nd the Indian who has land and
vater and implements and does not
aise a crop is not making the most
Il his, opportunities. The Indian
amily who plant crop and get