Show TAKE fAKE UP U CIVILIZED WAYS ViA YS AND GROW RICH Only 20 of Indian Tribes Hold to Tepee Washington April April 10 19 marl marked th the anniversary of the first Indian enabling act In other words years have elapsed since Americas America's first official effort to operate co-operate with the he In Indian lan tribes was begun During this period sa says s 's the tine New York Times volumes of speeches about the Indian and his fate have been delivered In congress Not only congress but various civic associations have expressed sed their sorrow sorrow sorrow sor sor- row over the plight of the Indian while Americas America's treatment of ot the vanishing vanIshing vanIshing van van- tribes has hns furnished the basis for many m ln books The general condition of the Indian today Is the reverse of that prophesied years cars a ago o. o In 1781 1789 Henry Knox secretary secretary secretary sec sec- of war predicted that In 50 r 0 years ea s the aboriginal nomadic Indians would be reduced to a very small number In 1804 IBM the Indians were regarded as war-makers war beyond re re- dempton About that time a secretary secretary secretary secre secre- tary of the Interior remarked that their total destruction has hns been openly open open- openly ly Iy advocated by gentlemen of high position Intelligence and personal character Yet the present statistical survey of the Indian Is far from depressing There are people rated as Indians Indians In In- In the United States though not nota a few of them are half haIr Some sit In congress some are In business and the professions some of them are In professional sport others are In Inthe Inthe inthe the army and nav navy This total Is an an Increase of In the last ten years Adopting Civilization Of the various Indian tribes remainIng remainIng remaining remain- remain Ing there are speaking 58 different languages But nut of a all these tribes there are only 20 where the majority live In tepees or hogans Most of them prefer regular houses with all aU modern conveniences The few tribes that prefer the old traditions traditions traditions and will not follow the younger generations are living on reservations In n six different states Arizona has the largest settlement California and New Mexico follow The number of Indians men and women who prefer the more comfortable comfortable com com- quarters of modern civilization lon tion Is Increasing The governments government's most recent count shows that 44 O families live In permanent houses that are to all aU Intents and purposes as asgood gooe good or even better than those of the average white American About 50 of the Indians male and female are voters who exercise their fran fran- V chise dilse Equal suffrage among them has been we well and long established It Is obviously right that the government government gov gov- ov- ov should see that the Indian Is protected In his land holdings Values have lave risen till tm the Indian Is land wealthy Indian farmers number and they the are cultivating with modern agricultural equipment more than acres The value of the steers owned by Indians has been estimated estimated estimated es es- es- es at nt more than In 1922 1022 there was barrels barrels bar bar- of oil produced on lands of the Osage nation Indians Of the value of nf this per capita was distributed distributed distributed dis dis- to them then from royalties and anet bonuses This tribe alone has received received re reo more than from their oil The Osa Osage e nation Is butone but butone butone one of the five civilized tribes of Oklahoma Okla homa the total at the last enumeration enumeration enumeration tion being Money In Bank There Ther are 13 acres of Irrigable irrigable Irrl- Irrl gable Indian land and of land actual actual- actually ly Iy Irrigated acres The federal federal fed fed- eral government has expended large amounts of money to bring water to these Indian lands totaling thus far 2430 On lan land that Is reserved to the Indians there Is estimated to tobe tobe tobe be board feet teet of timber valued at Land and cattle houses and citizenship citizenship citizenship citizen citizen- ship are not the only Indian posses posses- There are vast sums of cash cashIn In bank to the credit cre lt of Indians Tribal Tri bal bul funds held In trust b by the government government govern govern- ment on Interest at 3 to to 5 5 per cent amount to honk hank el of Individual Indians now a aggregate rp ut more than Besides the Indians of their own free will Invested Invest Invest- ed 2 in Liberty bonds The Indians themselves are asserting asserting assert assert- ing their rights In a way familiar to the whites whites whites-by by 01 In Washington recently recent nine tribes formed the National Council of American Amer Amer- American ican Indians Its purpose purpose purpose-is Is the welfare welfare wel wel- fare of the l Indians lIans the protection of or their property and the advancement n among them of ot the advantages of ot i I the white man has made mode the In Indian lan anxious to have moro I of the advantages of civilization By Bya ll a curious coincidence the formation of the National Council of Indians was organized not far from the spot where the he powerful Algonquin tribes once held periodic council There Is la lano no doubt douht of the influence already exerted exerted exerted ex ex- ex- ex by by this In Indian lan organization Congress Is being Importuned for tor a n thorough Investigation of Indian affairs affairs af af- fairs o 0 |