The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1927-09-16

NConllnued from page One)
continued, would advance their inter
ests because of his we'll known
smoothness of tongue. He then used
term in Indian which when trans
lated meant "He is good at spreading
the salve."
Many Tribes Represented
Indian tribes represented at today's
session of the conference were the
Blackfeet, Piegans, Rocky Boys, Nez
Perez, Fort Belknap, Bloods, Chippe-
was, Assinniboines, Fort Tottens and
Standing Rocks. Cheyennes, Crows
and Usage Indians are en- route to
Wolf Point
A plea was made for greater pro-
vision for care of aged and incompet-
ent Indians, an opportunity to educate
children in the public school instead
of government schools, and admins
tration of Indian affairs by states
rather than by the Indian department
Failure to comply with treaties was
one of the complaints made by the
Indians.
Simon Firstshoe, of the Fort Belk-
nap reservation, made a plea for In
dians who were not enrolled as be-
longing to any of the tribes on the
reservation, and were, therefore, not
cared for.
Richard King, also of the Fort Belk-
maps, in well chosen language, said
that what the Indians wanted to do
was to get on their feet financially,
to farm and take care of themselves,
but this was often impossible because
the Indians did not have means to buy
farming equipment and often their
efforts were made harder because
they had to care for aged relatives,
who were given insufficient rations by
the government.
He wanted the government to pro
vide fund for reimbursement loans
that could be paid back when the In
dams got financially on their feet.
Eloquent Plea
An eloquent plea was made through
an interpreter by Chief Day Child, an
old Indian of the Rocky Boy tribe.
lie said that in the old days there
was plenty of hunting to furnish food
for the Indians, but now his nation is
starving. l kneel at Senator Wheel
er feet, | pray to him that he will
use his Influence to do something for
my people. If the president were
here, | would l1neel at his feet even as
| do to the senator.
When the white people took our
land from US, they promised that thew
would educate on rchildren, that thew
would take care of us in our old AGE
but now we haven't anything, not ev-
en- stick of wood to burn that Is
our own. 1t sometimes seems as If !
Ihe government were trying to do
away with the Indian by starving him
to DEATH" -'
Wheeler's Speech
Senator Wheeler spoke of the wo,lr |
ne mad done for the Indians and adj
mltted that the government had. IN
many instances, violated provisions of
treaties with the Indians. He said
when the Indians wanted the RIGHT To
go INTO courts of the United States
and sue for what was due them. the
indian bureau opposed this. not he
cause the Indians were wrong, but be-
cause II the Indians won their sl1its
y would cost the government a lot
Oh money and that would not be in
accordance with the economy program
Of the administration. He urged the
INDIANS to organize to formulate their
plans and demands and present them
70 Their representatives in congress;
70 nave courage to vote for what was
rlgh and for their own interests He
SAID the majority of the senator's and |
representatives wanted to do what
Vas right by the Indians but that sell
ism interests often so confused the
ssues that it was difficult to know
What was right.