Evening star., 1925-12-27
BY JOHN T.. FLYNN.

II A MERICA has emancipated
~ her colored sons. She has
"A fought two wars to free
a the vassals of Spain in the
Antilles and the submerged
peoples OF Europe. Now II is time fOr
her to free her Indians"
Edward Rogers, u descendant of the
famous Chippewa tribe, Il graduate
Of Carlisle and University OF MinnesO-
Ia, and now a distinguished lawyer
Of that State. made this statement TO
Inc.
Has the average American paused
to think what the Indian reservation
means? 1t means that, while the
| United States opens her opportuni-
ties to every nation on the globe and
welcomes millions from other lands,
including the Indians Of South Amer
ica, her own red men she treats as
savage children. Why? In order to
keep a horde of office holders In jobs
in the Indian Bureau"
Father Was White.
Mr.. Rogers father was white man.
He was one of the pioneers who found
ed the State Of Minnesota. His
mother was a member Of one Of the
distinguished families Of the great
Chippewa tribe OF Indians When
in college he was nationally known
as a foot ball star. Many are the
trophies he has won in athletic games
and contests. At present he is county
attorney Of Cass County. one of the
| largest counties in Minnesota. He
! has held office continuously for II
years, elected by the white people,
the Indian population Of the county
being negligible. A few years ago he
was barely defeated for secretary of
state OF Minnesota. Mr.. Rogers is
proud Of his Indian blood. He has
made a close study of the Indian ques-
tion for many years and is known as
a leader among his people.
/ went to him for the facts on the
Indian. For many years eminent
scholars and public men have alike
denounced the treatment Of the Indian
by his government.
A Political Question.
Would YOU tell me more about the
Indian problem, l continued.
a. 1t begins and ends in the Indian
Bureau at Washington and the reser-
walton system. which is its method OF
perpetuating its existence for political
job hunters and office seekers Our
opposition to that bureau is intense
deep-rooted and well founded. Created
Tor the laudable purpose of promoting
the welfare of the Indian that he
might be absorbed into the body po-
litic of the Nation. it has almost from
the day of its creation obStructed the
progress sof the Indian. despoiled him
of his property, crushed and stified in
itiative and ambition and been an in
! strument Of oppression. The condi-
tions confronting the Indian under In
dian Bureau control have become in
tOierable In my own tribe the Indian
Bureau in its dealings with the Chip
peWa people has q record permeated
with dishonor. We have been deceived
in the negotiation of treaties. the as
sent OF my people in one instance be-
ing obtained by apparent bribery. We
have been deceived in the execution Of
treaties
Scraps Of Paper
Every treaty made by the Govern
ment of the United States with my
! own tribe has, without a single eXcep-
ton, been regarded only as a scrap of
! paper by Government officers. Our
! property has been taken from US and
! we have not even been allowed to go
( INTO court to obtain justice. Govern
, ment agents have connived with pow
erfui lumber interests to obtain our
valuable timber lands guaranteed to
! us by solemn treaties and we have
! been powerlesS to secure any redress
The situation has become so bad that
the State of Minnesota has appointed
commission to negotiate with the
! Government for the transfer of the
/ Indians and their property to State
control. so as to effect q speedy eman-
! clpation of my people.
An Alien Institution.
Ninety per cent of the children of
my tribe have been educated by the
! taxpayers of Minnesota and vet the
indian Bureau is supposed to be US
( ing Indian funds to educate us. 1t
/ is costing the people of the United
! States $4,000. 600 annually TO main
tain this Indian Bureau at Washing
ton. There are less than l63 900 souls.
native born Americans under its
| jurisdiction. To look after the prop
I erty and affairs of this small number
of people the bureau maintains a force
greater than that maintained bv
the great State Department. which de-
! partment deals with every kind of
world activity. There are $500 en-
ployes of the Indian Bureau. while
the State Department has less than
! 1000. Under the Department of Labor
! there are only 2,744 employees. Yet
this department has one bureau. the
| bureau OF immigration, which deals
| with $4,000 aliens every year The
| Bureau of Naturalization has made
! citizens out of $4,000, 900 aliens during
/ the time the Indian Bureau has been
assiduously keeping the American n
| Indian in corrals like cattle. Hon. Clvde
Kelley, Congressman from. Pennsyl-
Vanla. never said truer words than