Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-26
INDIAN PROBLEM
STUDY IS FINISHED
Institute of Government Re-
search Completes Probe
of Tribes Conditions.

An extensive study OF the entire In.
dian problem of the country, which
wall be most helpful to the Govern
ment in lettering the condition OF its
Indian wards, has just been completed
by the Institute of Government Re-
search.
At the request Of Secretary Of the
Interior Work. the institute organized
a staff Of specialists, who spent more
than six months in visiting and re,
porting on problems as they found
them among every Indian tribe in the
United States. This exhaustive study,
soon to be published, will be utilized
Ivy Secretary Work 70 aid the Govern
,nent in dealing with the many per-
picking problems that arise in the
management Of Indian affairs.
Spent Six Months in Field.
DR.. w. J. Spillnan, consulting spe-
cialist OF the Department OF Agricul-
ture, was one Of those sent out by the
institute and made special study OF
the agricultural problems Of the In
dams. In carrying out his lnvestiSa-
lions, DR.. Spillnan spent six months
IN the field, making observations Of
and discussing their problems with
the best informed men in the field
service Of the Bureau of Indian
Affairs.
Discussing phases of his study in
recent lecture TO the students OF the
GEORGETOWN University School or
Foreign Service, where he is mem
Der of the faculty. DR.. Spillman pro-
nounced it as his opinion that the
most helpful movement now COINS
on among the Indians is what Is
known SIS the five-year industrial pro
gram" which originated on the Black
feet Reservation in Montana and is
spreading rapidly to other tribes. Dr.
Spsllman illustrated his lecture with
motion pictures showing contrasts
ranging from the oil-enriched Usage
Indians OF Oklahoma whom he char
acterized as the wealthiest group in
the world. TO the less fortunate tribes
Of tie far West and Southwest.
Through this so-called ''five-year
program" DR.. Spillman declared the
poorer class OF Indians, depending
upon their plots OF ground for liveli.
hood. rapidly are becoming economi.
cally dependent.
Adds to Crop List.
The first year OF the program has
It's beginning with garden and stock
70 meet family needs throughout the
whole year. From year to year. the
Indian adds various crops to his gar
cen and pigs, chickens and sheep 10
his stock, until the operations are
made q profitable business. At the
end OF Eve years a new program on
q more extensive scale Is started.
Many Become Independent.
In this way. DR.. Spillman declared,
many Indians. formerly poverty
stricken. are now large ranch own
ers and truck farmers and their
economic problems have been solved.
One OF the chief problems in deal
ing with the Indians, DR.. Spillman
pointed out. L. to change the tradi-
tional view held by them that man
uai labor was beneath the dignity OF
o brave"
The Indian IL not lazy" he said,
but In the old time his business was
hunting and fighting TO protect the
interests OF the tribe. Farming and
the care OF livestock. except horses
and cattle, were womanis work. In
educating the Indian. IL IL necessary
10 get that notion out Of his head
and get him to do a woman's work.
II IL Just q question OF educating an
Indian az to what is mans and what
wonan's work"
Many of the wealthy Usage In
dams. with incomes OF $4,000 and
more q month from their oil lands.
are being fieeced numerically by
sharks whose business IL IL 10 sep
srate them from their wealth. DR..
Spiflnan said, and the only way to
escape those who prey upon them
was illustrated by the following an
ecdote:
One notoriously wealthy Usage
would ride his limousine TO the super.
intendents headquarters On the reser.
walton each day and remain until
late in the evening. lounging about
the porch. When asked why he
seemed TO prefer the ''oflce" to his
comfortable stone town house. this
reservation there is not a gang OF
buzzards always around me trying TO
get my money"
New Car Each Month.
The average life OF an automobile
In the hands OF an Usage Indian H.
one month, DIR. SpiIlrnan declared. He
buys 8 new car each month. drives
II almost 10 death and then "junks"
- 1Ss e~HoASsEE fEsH 1BGE VI expensive
make. This helps solve for the
wealthy class. he explained. the prob.
lem or getting ria II his excess bank
account, besides agording a boom"
IN the aiitornotiye Industry.
Cf all the Indian tribes in the United
States, the Pifnas Of Arizona are per.
maps The most peace loving, DIR. Spill.
man told the Georgetown students.
They have never fought against the
United States." he said. but often
nave Fought with us against other In.
dian TRIES" They have been farmers
,oF hundreds Of years. having devei-
ope1 their own irrigation system from
water taken from the ella River Dur.
ing the lsst decade white settlers far.
Their up the river rewarded the In
oians' faithful loyalty in earlier 6ays.
DIR. Spilimsn explained, by taking The
water out ~ the river, leaving them
with nothing but occasional food va
Ter, which waS not adeQ uste fDr crop
production
"Eincs that time the Pirnas have
fad hard struggle" he explained.
but The Government fs now building
The Coolidge Reservoir tt san Carlos,
Ar7z.. for the benefit u these Indians.
When II H. filed they viii ge. ample
N tE