(agency people, any, 12 etc., they
presented to you a bill for expenses
of travel to New York to take
us in to the agency. I paid you
two dollars as my share of that.
Will you sign the bill of receipt?

Also, at Lacuna, the train
you got at the train you paid
for, and I paid you two dollars
($2) as the price for a train to take
me to the agency and back. I
took no receipt, will you give
and return this, too?

In case you see any
objection, kindly pass no further

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OR REPRODUCED
WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF
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NEW HAVEN, CT 06520

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS,

WASHINGTON, D. C.

November 24th, 1899.

(PERSONAL)

Dear Major Pratt:

I am heartily glad, upon the whole, that Dr Eastman and Mrs. Eastman are to remain with you. The Doctor's wish to continue his professional work has been the only point involved which made me doubtful. The question seems to be wisely decided. I hope that Dr Eastman will bring you a large number of pupils.

By the way, since you had your little joke at my expense because no students came from the Blackfeet Agency which I visited alone, it gives me a little special satisfaction to hear, from Major Logan this week, that he has recently sent you a party of twelve students. What are they like?

I have had a full conference with the Commissioner about Mr Terry. It was evident that you had done good work in this respect, too. If Superintendent Hart is willing to take a transfer to the Flandreau school, Commissioner Jones is ready to transfer Mr. Terry to his old position at Puyallup, I am confident. I shall be very glad to see this earnest, and, as I believe, conscientious teacher put back into a place where he will feel that he can re-establish himself entirely in the good opinion of all his friends,

2

and that misrepresentations have not broken his usefulness.

As to the issue of hides to the Sioux, I think the Commissioner is right in his determination not to give away the hide where it is not needed; but he has recently decided (and probably with wisdom in view of all the circumstances), to suspend the order refusing the issue of hides until next spring, and to allow agents to issue the hides "where needed"--which will mean, in every case--until next spring.

I am getting very interesting replies to my circular letter to all agents asking questions as to allotments, agricultural possibilities in the land already allotted, methods of marking allotment boundaries, register of marriages, births and deaths with reference to making a definite, and protecting Indian titles to land, etc.

Have you ever thought it worth while to make any representations to the Speaker with reference to the appointment of the Indian Committee?

When are you likely to be in Washington again? Can you not let me know a day in advance, when you are coming, that I may be sure to see you?

I suppose that our friend, the Post Office Inspector, has sent you photographs of our afternoon's sport on the Williamson river,

3

and of our trip to Yainax. Didn't we have a good time in the
midst of our business, and our anxiety about your Indian boy who made
the sad ending at South Amherst?

With cordial regard, I am,

Department of the Interior,
BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS,

Washington, D. C., December 26th,

Major R. H. Pratt,
Carlisle, Pa.

My dear Major Pratt:

Of the dates of your commencement, I have made a
me memorandum. As the time approaches I will write you again, of
course.

I have read with deep interest your abstract of the replies
made by the superintendents of Indian schools to the circular is-
sued by you inviting comments upon the resolutions passed at the
Los Angeles meeting. These comments are of great value. They in-
dicate a growing unanimity of opinion of superintendents, upon
many important questions.

As I think over these resolutions and examine them again in
the light of the replies of superintendents, I think that we are on
the right line in all points except one. I am not able to have the
slightest hope that Congress will establish ten new non-reserva-
tion schools; nor do I feel at all confident that ten such schools
could be so established as to work out good results for the ser-
vice. The first difficulty, as I said to you last summer, is to
find men to take charge of these schools who are at all fitted to

[1899 Dec 26]

make them any such strong influence for good to the Indians, as
the Carlisle school has been, and is.

But we can soon speak of these matters. Please let me know
when you are to come to Washington, and where you are to be. There
are many things about which I wish to speak to you.

As to Mr. Terry, I think that I have been able to do a great
deal to facilitate the object he has in view; but Mr. Terry nearly
upset everything just before he left by sending Mr. Cushman and a
Senator, together, to "put pressure" on Commissioner Jones. Mr.
Cushman appears to have lost his temper; and the Commissioner, very
properly, felt touched and disinclined to take, as quickly as he
otherwise would have taken it, any action which was intended by him,
but which was so hotly pressed for by Mr. Cushman's insistmg
that "he did not see why two Members and a Senator should not
have what they asked for," etc., that the whole matter was set
back a month or two. Plans are now well under way which will re-
sult in Mr. Terry's re-appointment to Puyallup within three or
four weeks unless something unforeseen should stop the course of
events again, I received a letter yesterday from Mr. Terry, say-
ing that enemies of his at Tacoma were trying to secure signatures
from present and former employees of the school, protesting
against his re-appointment. I do not think that any such action
will prevent his re-appointment; but he makes a mistake in writing
and speaking as if his irregularities left him absolutely free

3

from any just criticism. Of course this is not the fact. And while
the Commissioner is very generous in saying that he feels that
Mr. Terry has suffered more than he ought to have suffered, yet
Mr. Jones feels that he cannot take the ground that such irregu-
larities are a matter of absolutely no consequence. All will go
well, I think, unless Mr. Terry or his friends overpress Commis-
sioner Jones. In that event, there are possibilities of a violent
revulsion of feeling on the part of the Commissioner!

(1) A definite date for stopping the issue of rations at certain
reservations (except to the very old, the infirm and orphan
children; (2) a compulsory law for school attendance; (3) uniform regu-
lations (to be enforced) requiring the registration of all mar-
ried couples at all agencies, and providing for a systematic rec-
ognition and registration of marriages, and for a permanent regis-
ter for marriages, births and deaths at each agency; and the es-
tablishment of one or two non-reservation schools at the best
places, and in the best farming communities possible, and as
far as possible from the reservations:--these are points upon which
I think we should all press for legislation this winter.

You notice that Los Angeles was much worse shaken up last
night than when we were there.!

Hoping to see you soon, I am,

How do you do, this Hello?
Did you have a restful Night?
Was it not much by not going to
Charleston, in July, I think.

My son was both studying
in New York - then. Seminary
in Columbia Law School!

Mr. Gat, on Sunday
and I, are at home, having
returned a week ago.

Remember us to Mr. Pratt
and your dear母臨兄, Place.
The transfer of a physician to
my home for Dr. Eastman
at Harrowbrook has made a
"bribe". But sometimes
bribe have the air

fulled and more monogamy. How is
they true?

What a time we had, in the
Wilkinson and Spring rivers!

Yours faithfully,
Marshall F. Stet.

P.S. I am pressing commissaire Form to issue regulations ensuring substance of marriage law professed and practiced by our trust. Winter. I think that we will do so at once. Write me, pressing me to act!

Department of the Interior,

Washington, D. C., December 26, 1901.

Colonel Pratt,

Carlisle Indian School.

My dear Colonel Pratt:

How is your health? I have not heard from you directly in a long time; and the little items I see about your stay in hospital make me somewhat anxious lest you are suffering more than I have known. I am very glad to see by the papers that you are going on that delightful tour to the Orient by the "Celtic," early in February. If you have time, drop me a line and let me know how you are. If there is any thing of any kind which I can do for you in any way, here at Washington or elsewhere, to facilitate your plans for this much-needed and well-earned rest and travel with your family, it would give me great pleasure to have you let me know what it is.

Please remember me to Mrs. Pratt and your daughters, and believe me,

Department of the Interior,

Washington, D. C., February 10, , 1902.

Colonel Pratt,
U. S. Indian School,
Carlisle, Pa.

My dear Colonel Pratt:

The pressure of business rendered it impracticable for me to get away last week. With Mr. Vreeland of New York, I am much interested in drafting a bill for the allotment of lands in severalty and the breaking up of tribal relations, in New York. Thedan-gerous amount of leasing of Indian reservations to immense Companies of cattle men, with Railroad Companies behind them, has en-grossed a good deal of time and attention in these last weeks. I am sorry that I could not be present with you. No one rejoices more constantly than do I in the strong work you are doing at the School.

I am glad you are to get this per od of rest. Can you not write me about the matter on which you desired to speak with me? I need not assure you that if you wish to write anything in confidence, your confidence will be carefully respected by me.

Mrs Gates joins me in the kindest regards to the ladies of your family and yourself.

Department of the Interior,

Washington, D. C., November 3, 1902.

Colonel R. H. Pratt
Government Indian School
Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Dear Colonel Pratt:

Herewith I send you an article of mine on the "Present Status of Indian Affairs," which was published through a syndicate, in the Boston Transcript, Christian Work, Northern Christian Advocate, the Washington Post, and I infer about a dozen other papers, although I do not know the names of these papers. In the fourth column I have marked the paragraphs which give my opinion as to the "outing system" and "charity."

I have this week's copy of the *Red Man*, with your account of the Mohonk meeting. I was particularly interested in the account of Thursday evening--the evening on which I spoke.

Yours always faithfully,

Department of the Interior,

Washington, D. C., February 18, 1903

Colonel R. H. Pratt
U. S. Indian School
Carlisle, Pa.

My dear Colonel Pratt:

I am very sorry to see by the morning paper that you are reported to have resigned the superintendency of the school at Carlisle. I earnestly hope that you will reconsider. I have been shut in at my house for a week by an attack of the Grippe, and could not in any case have been present at your commencement; but I saw by the papers that you had a very large attendance and enthusiastic time, as of old.

I hope that in these days you will let the value of the work you have done and can still do for the Indians, have great weight with you, and that you will not allow any personal feeling, however good a warrant you may have for it, to prevent your rounding out your life-work for the Indians in a way that will do most for them, and in *retrospect* will be most satisfactory to you, and to the host of your friends.

Let me know if there is anything I can do for you in any way.

With deep affection, and sincere regard, I am,

Department of the Interior,

BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS.

Washington, D.C., February 24, 1903.

Colonel R. H. Pratt
Sup't U. S. Indian School
Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

My dear Colonel Pratt:

Yesterday I came to my office for an hour or two and in my mail
found the copies of your letter of February 21st to the Commissioner of In-
dian Affairs, and I read it with deep interest. It is a matter of pain to
many of us that anything in connection with your relations with the Govern-
ment should be the occasion of pain and disappointment to you. But I am very
glad indeed that you are not pressing for immediate acceptance of your resig-
nation, but are willing to wait for a time to consider the future, its possi-
bilities and its needs.

I went last week to confer with the Commissioner of Indian Af-
fairs, particularly to speak of your matters again with him; and while I was
in his office, but before I had a chance to begin my conversation with him,
the Secretary of the Interior called him up to consider the news of your resig-
nation just published in the papers that morning. I was able to tell Com-
missioner Jones something of your convictions and feeling as to what was due
you from the Department. You will not understand me to imply that Commis-
sioner Jones needed to have anything said in your favor; for you know well
that he is a good friend of yours. But I think I was able to put things in
the light in which you would wish them seen. He said that he would urge
you not to press your resignation, and that he hoped (as I do) that you will
go on with your work at Carlisle.

This morning I asked General Whittlesey to look through again your
correspondence with the Commissioner. I had before this shown him in
confidence the copies of your telegrams and letters to General Corbin, which

Department of the Interior,

Washington, D. C., February 26, 1903.

Colonel Pratt
Indian Training School
Carlisle, Pa.

My dear Colonel Pratt:

Were you arbitrarily "relieved" from the Superintendency of the Indian School at Carlisle, by the Department of War, before you sent your letter of resignation to Commissioner Jones? I have written to prominent friends of Indian education in many parts of the country, urging them to express strongly and immediately to President Roosevelt and to Secretary Hitchcock, the wish to have you reappointed to the Superintendency of Carlisle. This is what Commissioner Jones also desires.

I was sorry to hear from Thomas Albert, of the Absentee Shawnees, who had just left some children at Carlisle, and who called on me yesterday, that you were not well when he left Carlisle, Monday. I hope that you have not been made ill by the anxiety and annoyances of these last weeks of correspondence. I hope to see you still do a most useful and happy work at Carlisle, for years.

Yours faithfully,

Department of the Interior,

Washington, D. C., March 2, 1903.

My dear Colonel Pratt:

I have this morning received your good long letter of Saturday, and I will give it further consideration before answering in detail. I write now only to let you know that I am not asking "many people to appeal" to the President and the Secretary of the Interior. I wrote to about five or six influential people, and suggested to Mrs. Quinton the wisdom of their association sending appeals. In all that I have done, I have made it perfectly clear that I act solely on my own motion.

Yours very truly,

P. S. I have a reply from Archbishop Ryan, to whom I wrote asking that he write the President advising your retention. He answers, "I have written to the President in favor of Colonel Pratt, and I trust he may be retained in office."

Department of the Interior,

Washington, D. C., March 5, 1903.

My dear Colonel Pratt:

At the Anniversary of the Women's Indian Association, a public meeting here, on Tuesday afternoon, I had a resolution (which I had drafted) introduced and passed requesting the President to retain you as Superintendent. I had also seen Dr. Barrows, President of the Mohawk Conference, and had urged him to see the President in your interest. I had also written to Mrs. Quinton suggesting that the Women's Associations throughout the country act by way of request to the President and Secretary Hitchcock that you be reappointed, not for your own sake but for the interest of Indian education and the representative piece of work which you have built up, and which no other can manage so well as you.

I am glad to receive this morning your letter of March 3rd, saying that you have withdrawn your resignation.

It seems that another Army officer, Captain Mercer, is here at the Ebbitt House, as an avowed candidate for this appointment; and certain Members of Congress and Army officers are pressing him strongly. I have been greatly pained to see how many friends of the Indians have so little disposition to interest themselves at all for any one who is supposed to be temporarily in disfavor with high officials! I have never had any opinion at all of a man who would not make a strong fight for a friend when he was most in need of being sustained, and even for a friend who had differed from him strenuously and hotly, on many points, in the past. I hope that you will be reappointed. I am using every effort which I feel it is helpful to toward that end. And I

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.

Colonel R. H. Pratt,
U. S. Indian School,
Carlisle, Pa.

My dear Colonel Pratt :

At the Anniversary of the Woman's Indian Association, a public meeting here, on Tuesday afternoon, I had a resolution (which I had drafted) introduced and passed requesting the President to retain you as Superintendent. I had also seen Dr. Barrows, President of the Mohonk Conference, and had urged him to see the President in your interest. I had also written to Mrs. Quinton suggesting that the Women's Associations throughout the country act by way of request to the President and Secretary Hitchcock that you be reappointed, not for your own sake but in the interest of Indian education and of the representative piece of work which you have built up, and which no other can manage so well as you.

It seems that another Army officer, Captain Mercer, is here at the Ebbitt House, as an avowed candidate for this appointment; and certain members of Congress and Army officers are pressing him strongly. I have been greatly pained to see how many friends of the Indians have so little disposition to interest themselves at all for anyone who is supposed to be temporarily in disfavor with high officials! I have never had any opinion at all of a man who would not make a strong fight for a friend when he was most in need of being sustained, and even for a friend who had differed from him strenuously and hotly, on many points, in the past. I hope that you will be reappointed. I am using every effort which I feel will be helpful, toward that end. And I am making it clear that I do not act in any case at your request. Do not be hurried into any action which will make it more difficult to bring about your retention at Carlisle, for the sake of Indian education.

Yours faithfully,

(Signed) MERRILL E. GATES.

C O P Y .

Department of the Interior,

Washington, D. C., Sept. 21, 1907, 190—

General R. H. Pratt,
Perrenold Apartments,
17th and Emerson St.,
Denver, Colo.

My dear General Pratt:

We have steadily advanced the influence of your good personality upon all that concerns the development of manhood and citizenship among the Indians; and it did me good to receive a letter from you this morning. Probably you noticed that in our last annual report I raised several of the suggestions which your letter indicates, in discussing the Commissioner's letter for sending gangs of Indians to work a distance from their homes.

Mr.

All that you write about Dagannette's work among the Indians is interesting, and I shall have your letter with me when I go to Mohonk, and the considerations which you present and that letter shall have our careful consideration.

One of the points (there are but few of them) on which I differ radically from Commissioner Leupp, is his attitude toward the outing system.

It seems to me, for even some years before you left Carlisle that you were singularly biased against what is best in the Carlisle method.

I wish that you would tell me something about your family.
My older son is a law student at the Legal Aid Society, New York City, at a salary of $3500 a year with twelve or fifteen assistant attorneys, and six branch offices.

R.H.P.-2.

He is in good health and is doing well. My second son, Will, is Pastor of the Wellst Presbyterion Church, in Brooklyn, which he organized a little more than a year ago, and which is having a very remarkable growth.

call

My daughter makes with me what we still a"home," although you know how the

heart went out of our home when

larger wife so suddenly, now nearly two years ago. General Greece returned from the mountains to-day with his mind still clear.

Please give my regards to Mrs Pratt and your daughter, and your sons if they are with you, and believe me always.

Washington, D. C., December 14th, 1909

My dear Major Pratt:

May I ask you to give me the day of the month (and the day of the week) for your commencement, at which I have accepted your invitation to make the address? Can you, without too much trouble, outline to me briefly the exercises of the day and the week; and let me know at what hour in the day this address of mine falls, and how much time you wish it to occupy?

How soon may we hope to see you in Washington?

Personally, I am sorry to see that Senator Thurston is to be Chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs, and not Senator Platt, as we had hoped.