Evening star., 1925-12-27
INDIAN DEMANDS LIBERTY
FOR HIS FELLOW RED MEN
Declares Bureau Here Must Be ReOr
ganized and CHARGES Constant
Bad Faith.

when he exclaimed forcefully III az,
speech in the House on January !, -
1924: The Indian Bureau is an alle'tr"'
thing in American government. II ..
IS Il bureaucracy that has grown III
sidiously like a cancer, through hSS
own sinister lust for power. II hae
multiplied employees and expenses ["
q staggering total. It has repressed'
protests with an iron hand, violating, ..
the constitutional rights of men whose
only crime was an honest desire I"
help a people in bondage. 1t ha~
robbed the Indians of industrial rights -,
by claiming them to reservations ~
where they cannot choose their own
occupation or engage in productive
industry. 1t has robbed them Of.
educational rights which belong I" 81,
every being God ever made, that o.
becoming through development ALL
that it is possible for him to become y
The bureau is Staying the life Of
people and burying the hope of race
The Indian Bureau today is the oldI
man of the sea. 80 years old and Still
riding on the Indians back. 1t VIII
teach the Indian obedience to itself s."
and hand out plenty Of advice. It will,,.
do everything for the Indian but &c
off his back"
Cause of Condition.
Q. How did this condition arise: ...
A.-President Washington said -"
q !
nent VIII never consent to your beinG
defrauded, but will protect you in your
rights" The Indian Bureau was cr-
ated in 1882 Like all other bureaus
of the Government. its officers wanted '
to enlarge its Importance, and 1t soon rrl
became a political institution. As The
white population increased the demand .
OF the white man for the lands held"
by the Indian arose. Pressure on the q"
bureau speedily converted II into =
means OF despoiling the Indian OF hi
property. The administration of the
treaties with the Indians was in the ~
hands of the bureau. and in no in=-
stance We're they ever honorably ot. .,,
served. This is a sweeping arraisn
ment but II is a fact. nevertheless.
And the greatest injustice is that the -
Indian has never been able to life q q,
hnger OF effective protest against thi- -
robbery. He. a ward of the Govern
ment. cant compel the bureau TO &C -
count TO him. He cant remove HI r
guardian for inefflciency or the dissi.,--
patton Of his estate. The courts are
practically closed to him.
Solution of Evil.
.. What is the solution of this evil"
\. The application of the principles
OF common honesty and fair dealing q
The Indian, though cunning in war, ,fr
was always open and above board in.
his business transactions. The Indian'S
estate must be governed by the same.
principles that govern the white man : t''
property. The Indian Bureau must he ri,
reorganized from its tail to its head
E-fhclent and competent officials must
/ be appointed Legislation must he ~
passed allowing the Indian to go into
court and recover what has been
taken from him. The Indian is nor
! afraid OF the white mans court Final
ly. every Indian child who has arrived
at legal age and who has received a,r
common school education should be
mancipated from control by the bu
reau. Why should an Indian child
VINO has sat side by side with the
White child in the public schools and, ~
graduated with honor be held aftel =.
! reachlng majority as a ward of the
Nation and denied control Of his Or
her property? All competent Indians
should be Immediately freed. Do this =,
ana In a few years we will have no
indian problem, no Indian Bureau
ana the people of the United StateS0
VIII De saved millions annually in q
@. Has this condition arisen re
! Gently? 1f
! A. No. President Cleveland con e.
demned the policy, and during his
/ eisht years in the White House re.
moved more Indian agents and ac.
/ conpnshed more reforms than anv'
/ OF his predecessors or successors -
men cleveland went out of office his.a
REFORMS We're speedily undone. Brig
zen: X. n. Pratt. who spent much of
ms lie among the Indians and in the
iholan service. never ceased to con -:
utHn the system. Senators Robert
A. La Toilette, W. II. King and Pa
/ narrlson, Norman Hapgood, Hon
olyde Kelley and many other, distin.">
sulshed Americans have condemned
/ the system
Inc Indian is capable of holding his
! own with the rest of our people Sen
ator tharles Curtis. now majority
ieaoer OF the Senate. was born a mem-,.
Der OF the kaw Tribe of Indians. Rep
IeSentative William II. Hastings, one
! OF 'he Democratic leaders in the"
rouse. Is a member of the Cherokees
Irlpe Ex-senator Moses L Clam ur
/ minnesota is of Sioux Indian blood
ex-senator Robert Owen is a nen1ber,
OF the Cherokee Tribe. Men of Indian =
ploou nave in the past held many hichr
poSIlons IN our Government
Here Mr.. Rogers rose and walked ur
ana ana down. He turned to me and said
- i ne red mans great chiefs are dead~rr
| Inc tomahawk was sheathed long ago =,
! Ihey We're conquered by the white
/ man. but on the basis of honorable
| negotiations. Those terms have beep.a
Vloiated. These people are practically,
IN bondage. Let them go in peace" -,
Copyright. l925)