THE RED MAN, Volume 4, No. 3.
November 1911
page 109.
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"Criticism of the Government was frequent and sharp. Like the platform
drawn up in April, these papers are likely to become historic. They will
be in great demand from the day they are put on the market and unquestionably
will have an effect on the legislation and policy of the nation."
|
The First National Conference of Indians:
By F.A. McKenzie.
THE vision of the day when from the four quarters
of the land there should come the representatives of the native peoples
to labor for the welfare of all the tribes, a vision which has long occupied
the minds and hearts of many men and women, has at last been realized.
The first national conference by Indians to plan for permanent organization
and persistent and undying activity in the interests of the Indians of
the United States held its sessions, as announced, from the 12th to the
16th of October in Columbus, Ohio. When the historic six, representing
five Indian tribes, met in April, no one could prophesy what the results
in October might be. Far easier would failure than success be forecast.
But the plans were built not on surface enthusiasm, and were not relinquished
because of known and large difficulties. The faith which removes mountains
assumed charge, and it has been justified of its fruits. Out of that little
gathering there has come an organization, permanent in spirit, though free
of constitutional forms, which numbers an Active and Associate Membership
of over 300. From all over the United States the messages of good-will
and assistance have come in large numbers. The first gathering brought
together more than 50 Indians, beside their friends, to consult over the
needs of their own race. When it is considered what a sacrifice this represents
in time and money, this showing is very significant. Many more would have
come had circumstances permitted.
The associate members from a distance shared
in the same spirit of interest and altruism, otherwise such people as Mr.
Foote and Miss Annie Fuller, of Boston, Mr. John W. Converse, Grand Sachem
of the Improved Order of Red Men, of Massachusetts, Miss Crawford of Oklahoma,
Mr. Sniffen of Philadelphia, and Miss Andrus of Hampton Institute, would
not have been there. The coming of the Rev. Fisher, from the Seneca Reservation,
of Dr. Robert D. Hall, of the Y. M. C. A., and the Superintendent of Presbyterian
Missions, Dr. Moffett, also contributed to the
strength of the occasion. Bishop Brooke, of Oklahoma, greatly complimented
the conference by coming, even though he could stay
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only for Thursday morning. It was altogether a time made auspicious by
the spirit of those present and by the outlook and invitation into the
greater work of the future.
It was not a spectacular convention. The delegates
were there to wrestle with serious and difficult problems. Nevertheless
there were features of attraction for those interested in the curious,
unique, or artistic, and there were meetings exciting wide attention and
publicity.
The rare exhibition of blankets and pottery, as well as the literary
and industrial exhibit sent by a number of Indian schools, including Carlisle,
Hampton, Haskell, and Phoenix, drew sightseers and purchasers from the
opening day to the close of the Conference.
The delegates began to arrive on Wednesday.
Thursday morning was spent in registration and in strengthening acquaintance.
Thursday afternoon was given over to business. The temporary organization
was extended to the close of the Conference, and committees to draft a
constitution, by-laws, and platform were appointed. Mention should be made
at this point that the meetings for business and for the reading of formal
papers were all held in the Ohio
Union, a splendid building on the Campus of the Ohio State University.
The Union is the gathering place and social headquarters for the more than
3500 students of the University. Ample quarters were provided for all the
needs of the conference. The University went further and provided luncheon
for all the delegates in the “Commons” on both Friday and Saturday, President
Thompson taking occasion to dine there himself on both occasions.
From five to six Thursday afternoon, representatives
of the various organizations in Columbus, hosts to the Conference, tendered
an informal reception to the delegates at the Hotel Hartman, the hotel
headquarters. Manager Hadley, of the Hartman, is entitled to the greatest
of praise for the every favor and courtesy shown to the individual delegates
and to the Conference as a body.
Thursday evening a large audience gathered
in Memorial Hall to listen to the addresses of formal welcome by representatives
of the city and to the responses by representatives of the Conference.
President Thompson presided and was joined in his greetings by a representative
of the Governor of Ohio, by the Mayor of the City, and by the Secretary
of the Chamber of Commerce. The responses were by Chairman Dagenett, Mr.
Sloan, Mr. Parker, and
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Miss Cornelius. The principal address of the evening was by the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs, Hon. Robert G. Valentine. Mr. Valentine was on his way
west, but stopped long enough to express his deep interest in the Conference,
and his hope that it would stand for publicity and free speech. He ventured
the opinion that the membership of the organization should be continuously
widened until it included every critic of the government. The Association
could not exert its greatest strength if it were not known to be free and
untrammeled.
The Musical entertainment of Friday evening
afforded an unusual treat to an audience of about 600. The singing of the
Carlisle Quartette, the interpretation of two hymns in the sign language
by Miss McFarland, the soprano solos by Miss Sadie Wall, the cornet solos
by Mr. Archiquette, and the powerful baritone solos by Dr. Frank Wright,
as well as the recital of Chippewa customs by Michael Wolf from Hampton,
all combined to send a most favorable report throughout the city, and so
to attract larger numbers at the next meeting in Memorial Hall.
Saturday evening the weather was not propitious.
Nevertheless in spite of the rain, a good audience gathered in the University
Chapel. Professor George W. Knight, of the Department of American History,
presided over this meeting. The principal address was given by Dr. Eastman
who held the close attention of his audience in his interpretation of the
Indian and his philosophy.
Ten minute talks by non Indians occupied the
remainder of the evening. The speakers were Mr. Sniffen, Mr. Converse and
Miss Crawford. Each brought good wishes for the new association.
Sunday was designated as Indian Sunday, and
the ministers and some others were kept busy in the churches throughout
the city.
Never before was Columbus so thoroughly enlightened
and so thoroughly interested in Indian affairs and in Indians.
The Quartette and Michael Wolf turned missionaries
to the unfortunate during the day and sang for the inmates of the city
work-house, and for the boys and girls in the school for the blind. Miss
Wall sang for the farmers’ convention at the Chamber of Commerce, while
Miss McFarland and the Quartette delighted the large congregation at the
Broad Street Presbyterian Church in the evening.
The real test of the interest and enthusiasm
roused by the Conference came on Sunday afternoon. Memorial Hall seats
about
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3600. Hundreds were in the hall half an hour in advance of the meeting;
and when it came time for Dr. S. S. Palmer, of the Broad Street Presbyterian
Church to open that session devoted to Moral and Religious Questions, the
great hall looked practically full.
There were certainly more than 2500 people
there. Counting in the meetings in the churches, more than 10,000 people
in Columbus listened to Indian speakers on Indian Sunday. Dr. Robert D.
Hall brought the greetings of the International Y. M. C. A. The Rev. Philip
Deloria talked on the subject of Divorce. The Reverends Sherman Coolidge
and Henry Roe Cloud emphasized the necessity of the recognition of religion.
Dr. Frank Wright preached a sermon which gave pointers, as Dr. Palmer remarked
later, to the orthodox of other races. By the raising of thousands of hands
(and also of a good collection) the great audience expressed its desire
to have the Conference return to Columbus next year. Columbus had
met the test of hospitality.
But the essential work of the Conference was
not found in these large public meetings. Rather was it in the daytime
discussions at the Ohio Union. As time will show, the contribution which
the Association and its members is to make to Indian welfare, will consist
in things which reach down and touch the everyday life of the people.
What are the things worth while? That is the
question which must be answered if the Association is to lead the race
from the desert into the promised land. That is why the discussion of problems
stirred the delegates so much more than any public event. That is why such
a topic as “The Indian in Agriculture” could start an intensity of discussion
that only increased as the sessions wore on. The papers by Mr. Shields
and Mr. Jack brought out even more clearly than was before known to interested
people the two facts: First, that the Indian can succeed under normal conditions
in agriculture, and second, that the non-citizen Indian is so handicapped
that he cannot finance his industry to compete with his citizen neighbor.
Miss Cornelius presented her plans for an industrial community operated
for and by Indians. The philosophy which lies back of this plan, is one
which must ultimately be applied in many communities. Mr. Doxon proved
in words as he has proved in life, the possibility of the great success
of the Indian as a skilled mechanic, while Mrs. Baldwin pointed out not
only the historic po-
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sition of woman in the home, but also conspicuous examples of artistic
homemaking by the modern Indian woman.
The high order of discussion was not lowered
in the afternoon. Arthur C. Parker's “Philosophy of Indian Education” was
thoroughly modern in its matter and tone. Its advocacy of “social betterment
stations” was thoroughly in harmony with Miss Cornelius’ paper in the morning.
Mrs. Deitz demonstrated anew both the existence and value of Indian Art
in our modern life, Mr. Oskison and Mr. Davis in spirited papers showed
that the Indian is succeeding in large numbers in the professions. Far
from decrying the tendency toward the professions, Mr. Davis held that
it was better to live by brain than by brawn.
All of Saturday was devoted to legal and political
problems. Mr. Sloan presented the principal paper in the morning on the
“Administration of the Reservation,” and in the afternoon the discussion
centered round the papers by Mr. Chase and Mr. Mani on “The Law and the
Indian of the United States.” When all these papers and the stenographic
report of the warm discussions which accompanied them are published, as
they will be shortly, they will do three things: First, they will demonstrate
the capacity of the race to deal with serious problems; second, they will
offer substantial suggestions for the solution of the problems involved;
third, they will prove that speech in the conference was free and unconstrained.
Criticism of the Government was frequent and sharp. Like the platform drawn
up in April, these papers are likely to become historic. They will be in
great demand from the day they are put on the market and unquestionably
will have an effect on the legislation and policy of the nation.
As was not unnatural, a great deal of the
interest of the delegates was concentrated upon the subjects of the constitution
and organization of the Association. Late Saturday it was suggested that
a special session be called on Sunday to consider these matters while all
of the delegates were present. But the suggestion was strongly and in the
end practically unanimously voted down. So it remained for the secret executive
sessions Monday morning and afternoon to thrash out these problems. According
to the reports that were made public, a draft of a constitution was presented,
but it was tabled. It was decided not to effect the final organization
at this time, but to leave the whole matter open until a Constitutional
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Convention could be held in the summer of 1912. This decision was indicative
of a high order of statesmanship in the Conference. Indian affairs have
always been enveloped in an atmosphere of suspicion. By the action taken,
renewed assurance is given to every Indian in the United States that there
is no secret force outside or inside that is controlling the Association.
Every one who wishes may still have in 1912 an equal share in determining
the organization and administration of this organization of all Indians
for all Indians.
The Conference resolved itself into a Committee
of the Whole to carry on the business of the Association until the permanent
organization should be effected. They then proceeded to elect officers
for this Committee, and chose Thomas L Sloan, Chairman, and Charles E.
Dagenett, Executive Secretary. Mr. Sloan in law and Mr. Dagenett in administration
are men of exceptional ability and efficiency. It was further decided to
open headquarters in Washington, which has since been done. Mrs. LaFlesche
is already in charge of the office on the 5th floor of the Metropolitan
Bank Building, opposite the United States Treasury. The place for the 1912
Conference has not yet been decided.
With the splendid start thus made it rests
with each individual Indian to say what the final result shall be. For
the first time the door is open, and it is open wide. The impress which
the Association has already made upon the country is something remarkable.
If every one will pull steadily with his neighbors now, many good things
will come true. Every man and every woman, every boy and every girl old
enough to understand, can help. It will be necessary to sacrifice time
or money or (sometimes) ambition, but that is the cost of everything worth
while. The more valuable the greater the cost, seems to be the usual rule
of the universe. There are some things that can be done right away. Before
the next Conference there ought to be at least 1000 Active Members of the
American Indian Association, and at least 1000 Associate Members. Which
thousand will be made up first? Every person interested can help to find
members. Probably letters will be the easiest means of reaching friends.
Everywhere everybody is urged to notify headquarters of his willingness
to join and to help. Those who join now will be charter members and can
share in the making of the first constitution.
It would be a matter of serious omission to
fail to say something
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about the luncheon tendered the Conference Monday noon, by the Improved
Order of Red Men. The Conference was aided in many ways by this Order.
With Congressman E. L. Taylor, Jr., as their spokesman and toastmaster,
this occasion proved most delightful. At the close of the luncheon the
ladies’ auxiliary of the Order presented a purse containing $25.00 to the
Association. Before the delegates returned to their business meeting, the
Red Men also gave them an automobile ride through and around the city.
At the Monday luncheon and in another smaller
gathering, Congressman Taylor pledged himself to do what he might for the
good of the Indian. This is but one sign of the gains that may be made
if only all the Indians will unite in harmony to consider what is needed
and justly belonging to the race. Every reasonable request backed by a
united race will secure prompt and serious consideration by Congress and
the country, and generally will meet with a favorable response.
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THE RED MAN, Volume 5, No. 2.
October 1912
page 53.
A Modern Indian Council
By Arthur C. Parker.
During the past year and a half students of
the “Indian Problem” have witnessed the birth and development of a new
factor in the field of social endeavor. The Society of American Indians,
which held its Second Annual Conference at Ohio State University during
the first week of October, this year, did not come into existence to fill
an empty need nor to add merely to the number of organizations already
devoted to the interest of the Indian. It came as the answer to the timeworn
question why the Indian did not do something to solve his own problem.
With an organization of his own people the
Indian may now grasp in an effective way the many problems that create
in the aggregate the much discussed “Indian question.” The very fact that
the scattered groups of Indians throughout the land could come together
in a harmonious council devoted to the creation of a constructive program
stands as an achievement. The magnitude of this event was expressed by
General R. H. Pratt as he stood on the platform of the conference on Saturday,
October 5th. After having reviewed his career as a friend of the Indian
and his familiarity with the Indian question, General Pratt said: “It is
without hesitation that I say that this occasion is the most momentous
event in all Indian history.”
The conference opened on Wednesday, the second
of October, with the registration of the members and the sessions of the
executive committee. By invitation of the Ohio State Historical and Archeological
Society, the Society of American Indians was invited to participate in
the dedication of the Logan elm - the historical tree under which Logan,
the Mingo chief, signed his treaty with the whites. Nearly five thousand
people from the surrounding region witnessed the dedication of this famous
elm tree, which is one of the four largest of its kind in the United States.
The principal addresses were made by Dr. Frederick G. Wright, Hon. E. 0.
Randall, Secretary of the Historical Society, and Prof. William H. Mills,
Curator of Archeology at the University. Addresses in response were made
by Hon. Chas. E. Dagenett, a descendant of the Miami of Ohio and the present
Supervisor of Indian Employment in the United States Indian Service, and
Mr. Frederic E. Parker, a Seneca Indian, now residing in New York City.
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54 THE RED MAN
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The official welcome by the city was given to
the conference in the Chamber of Commerce Auditorium on Wednesday evening.
Quite appropriately a “red man,” though a modern one of improved order,
in the person of 0. Max Levey, the great prophet of the Order of Red Men
of the State of Ohio, was the chairman. Addresses were made by the mayor
of the city, Prof. Frederic G. Wright of Oberlin College, Hon. E. 0. Randall,
and President W. A Thompson of Ohio State University. Responses were made
to the kindly speeches of these gentlemen by Mr. John M. Oskison, a Cherokee
Indian and well known magazine writer, Mr. Chas. E. Dagenett, and President
Sherman Coolidge of the Society, supplemented by a few words by the Secretary.
On Thursday morning the real work of the conference
began. The meeting was called to order by President Sherman Coolidge, an
Arapaho, in the Ohio Union, the student club house of the University, after
an invocation, there was a discussion on the reservation system, the principal
paper being on the moral and social conditions Of Indian reservations,
by Asa R. Hill, a Mohawk Indian and a student of Denison University in
Ohio. Mr. Hill made a strong plea for the improvement of the reservation
and asked that means be provided for better education not only of the children
but of the older people whom he believed needed to be reached in a more
effective manner. Mr. Hill's plea for the more rigid enforcement of the
excise laws was most eloquent, and the examples which he gave of the results
of the use of liquor on Indian reservations were powerful arguments for
temperance. After a thirty minute discussion by the members of the conference,
Mr. F. E. Parker read a paper on the Indian as a citizen, in which he discussed
the part which a citizen Indian might take in public affairs.
Thursday afternoon was devoted to a “get-together-time”
on the campus. This hour was provided in order that the members of the
conference might become better acquainted one with the other. There were
visits to the various departments, with special attention given to the
Indian Museum, under the charge of Prof. Mills, which contains the relics
of the mound building Indians who formerly inhabited Ohio. The members
of the conference were interested to learn that thousands of years ago
their ancestors were familiar with many arts and inventions which we now
consider as modern. They were shown examples of ancient copper working,
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THE RED MAN p. 59
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inlaid ornaments of pearl, and many specimens illustrating the practical
and esthetic life of those early people.
On Thursday evening the concert arranged by
the Hospitality Association was given in Memorial Hall, the great convention
auditorium of the city. This concert was under the direction of Ella May
Smith, the leader in the musical circles in central Ohio. There were a
number of Indian songs given by the Hampton boys, who appeared in their
native costumes. Michael Wolfe and George Brown sang a number of the Ojibwa
folk songs, while Messrs. David and George Owl sang the tribal songs of
the Cherokee. One of the features of the program were the soprano solos
given by Miss Leila Waterman, a Seneca Indian girl who is a student at
Carlisle School. Miss Brewer, a Puyallup Indian girl, graduate of the Salem
School at Chemawa, Oregon, was the accompanist. An additional attraction
at the concert was the exhibition of the Thorpe Olympian trophies. The
citizens of the city took great interest in viewing these visible testimonials
of American prowess in the athletic world and remarked that it was singularly
appropriate that these laurels should have been won by an American Indian.
By invitation of the Chamber of Commerce the
Friday sessions were held at the Chamber of Commerce building, both auditoriums
having been placed at the disposal of the Society. The morning session
was devoted to a continuation of the discussion on the reservation system,
the chief paper being that read by Henry Roe Cloud under the title, “Some
Social and Economic Conditions of Indian Reservations.” Dr. Montezuma discussed
the problem in his characteristic way and other members of the conference
debated the merits and demerits of the reservation in a most effective
manner.
Mr. Roe Cloud, who is a Yale graduate and
a deep student of his own people, said among other things:
The reservation came into being through the logic of events. Whatever
our attitude as free men toward the reservation may be these days, the
Indian of the past looked upon it as a form of captivity. Reservations
breed pauperism. If you help men without teaching them to help themselves
and awakening in them some form of aspiration and endeavor, then you do
them correspondingly great social injury. By paternalism you banish the
spirit of work and remove incentive. Other races have the spirit of necessity
that drives them on. In the actual struggle for a livelihood they discover
and learn things of which we, as reservation Indians, never dream. The
reservation system is fundamen-
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p. 60 THE RED MAN
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| tally bad. Its segregation principle and the environment it forces
upon the Indian blocks the way to progress. |
In the afternoon Mr. Wheelock as chairman introduced
Mr. Thomas L. Sloan, who addressed the Society on “The Law and the American
Indian.” As is always the case, Mr. Sloan's address was a masterful discussion
of the relation of the Indian to the law of the land and the duty of the
law of the land to protect the Indian in his present rights as well as
to insure his health and education. During this session at the recess which
was called by the President, Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs F. A.
Abbott requested that since he was about to leave the city on important
Government business he should like to make a few statements. The request
was granted and Mr. Abbott presented his ideas of the “Indian question.”
One of the principal papers of the day was presented by Chas. E. Kealear,
an Indian of Arapahoe, Wyo. Mr. Kealear discussed “Reservation Administration”
and mentioned a number of specific cases in which the Indians had been
wronged. It is such intelligent presentations that attract attention and
are sure to excite the publicity and sympathy that will bring reform. In
the evening the joint conference with the associate body was held in the
large auditorium of the Chamber of Commerce. The principal speakers at
the conference were President Sherman Coolidge, who addressed the conference
on “The Duty of the American Indian to His Race and to His Country, United
States of America:” Michael Wolfe, who gave an eloquent address on the
“Plea of the Young Indian;” Dennison Wheelock, Esq., an Oneida, from Wisconsin,
on “The Indian of Today, His Situation;” Supt. Moses Friedman, who spoke
on “The Opportunity of the Race and of the Society;” and Hon. E. B. Meritt,
of the Indian Bureau, on “A Program for the Indian Service.” Each one of
these addresses was of exceptional interest.
Perhaps the most important feature of the
conference was its business session, in which the organization was perfected.
The constitution and by-laws as revised by the constitutional committee
was submitted and voted upon article by article, and adopted. The statement
of purposes was fixed by vote and the platform drawn up and adopted. With
this basis for organization of business the election of officers took place.
Rev. Sherman Coolidge was re-elected president, and the writer of this
article was continued as secretary. The council of vice presidents was
elected as follows: Chas. E.
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THE RED MAN p. 61
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Dagenett, vice president on membership; Mrs. L. C. Kellogg, vice president
on education; Dennison Wheelock, vice president on legislation. The outcome
of this business session may be known briefly by mention of the following
results: First, a definite organization: second, a definite purpose; third,
broad but progressive platform; fourth, an establishment of an annual conference
at some great university; fifth, the establishment of headquarters at Washington,
D. C.; sixth, a permanent bonded secretary-treasurer; seventh, provisions
for the publication of the annual proceedings; eighth, provisions for the
establishment of the Quarterly Journal of the Society of American Indians,
to contain the papers and addresses of the conference and such matters
of current and literary interest as might be decided upon by a board of
directors.
On Saturday evening the second joint conference
was held. The opening address was made by Dr. Carlos Montezuma, on “Light
on the Indian Situation.” This was followed by a strong and practical address
by Gen. R. H. Pratt, who spoke on “The Solution of the Indian Problem.”
General Pratt said that the occasion was the thirty-third anniversary of
the time when he brought the first group of students east for schooling.
Other addresses of importance were made by John M. Oskison on the “Apache
Situation,” and W. R. Johnson on “My Fight with the Liquor Interest.” Prof.
F. A. McKenzie, whose earnest labors made possible the conference at Columbus,
gave a brief talk in which he summed up his desire for the Indian. He said,
“I ask that the Indian desire but one thing - the best; I ask that he be
given only the best.”
On Sunday the members of the conference were
delegated to the city churches and thousands of people were interested
in the stirring talks given by the Indians. Newspapers seldom comment upon
sermons, but the importance of these Indian Sunday addresses brought forth
many interesting comments in the newspapers of the city on Monday. More
than ten thousand people were reached and heard the plea of the Christian
Indians for the salvation of the race.
It would be a serious omission to neglect
to mention the splendid sermon given to the Society on Thursday morning
of the conference by Dr. Washington Gladden in the First Congregational
Church. Dr. Gladden’s sermon served as an inspiration to every member of
the conference during its sessions. His eloquent appeal to the inherent
pride of the race should have been heard by every
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p.62 THE RED MAN
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Indian in the country. It will be published with the other papers and addresses
in the proceedings of the conference and in the Quarterly Journal.
On Sunday afternoon in Memorial Hall, the
great convention hall of the city, the Christian members of the Society
conducted, under its auspices, the conference on the religious and moral
needs of the Indians. The principal speakers were President Coolidge; Rev.
W. H. Ketcham, of the Catholic Bureau of Missions; Rev. Robert Hall, of
the Indian Y. M. C. A. work; Rev. Stephen Jones, a Santee Sioux; Rev. Asa
R. Hill, a Mohawk; Henry Roe Cloud, a Winnebago; Rev. Roland Nicholas,
a Pottawatomie; and General Pratt, who acted as chairman. Miss Waterman
rendered a solo and the Hampton boys sang Indian hymns in their native
language.
The religious conference it is hoped will
always be the inspirational session of the conference.
Besides the associate members from a distance
whose names are mentioned in the body of this article, there were present
Miss Caroline Andrus, of Hampton; Miss Annie Fuller, of Boston; Miss Edith
M. Dabb, of New York City; Mrs. R. H. Pratt; Mr. and Mrs. Gale, the musical
ethnologists; Mrs. Moses Friedman; representatives of schools and colleges
in Ohio, and others.
The primary aim of the organization is to
develop and organize men and women of Indian blood as wise leaders of their
race. The race itself must see the necessity for bringing its members to
a realization of the greater function which it has as one of the social
elements within the American commonwealth. It wishes to awaken within the
race an appreciation of its own capacity to achieve; it wishes to stimulate
the effort to achieve, accumulate, and advance; it wishes to put upon the
Indian himself the burden of demonstrating his own powers to BE, to DO
and to CONSTRUCT. Race consciousness properly developed begets pride in
one's own race; race pride begets the incentive to achieve. A dispirited
and utterly crushed race cannot be uplifted. No human power can uplift
it. It is only when the man or the race sees that it is worth saving that
it will be saved, and it is only through sacrifice and devotion that it
can be saved. An Indian must say with a man of any race who has risen,
“I am proud of my race. It is not an inferior race. It can advance; it
can achieve; and by God's help I shall do my utmost to prove it.” The Society
wants its members to feel this and then to put on the
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THE RED MAN. p. 63
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armor of faith and lead their people outward and upward into Christian
enlightenment and Christian citizenship.
The great faith which the American public
has in this heroic endeavor
of the earnest members of the Society to create a new era for their
race has lead the newspapers of the country to devote many columns of space,
including editorial comment, to the discussion of their plans for service
to their race and to humanity.
There is nothing spectacular or sensational
in the conferences, but notwithstanding this a great deal of public attention
has been drawn to them simply because of the manifest earnestness of the
members of the Society. The presidents of great universities, editors of
magazines of influence, college professors, bishops of churches, missionaries,
teachers, educators, and the thinking citizens everywhere have come into
the Society as associate members and given it their unqualified endorsement.
Here at last is the opportunity for the Indian
himself to express his own mind and have a hand in directing the destiny
of his race. At the annual conferences there is the opportunity for debating
“the problems” with the best known friends of the race. The platform is
free and every Indian who wishes to speak may do so. The meetings are open
and every member may use his vote for deciding the questions that come
before the Society and in determining its officers. Associate members,
however, are not permitted to vote upon these things, since the organization
is fundamentally one for the development of the Indian statesman. There
is a great future before the Society if it loyally holds to its purpose
to devote itself to the uplifting and advancing of the race. At present
the Society needs the encouragement and assistance not only of every Indian
who cares for his people but of every American citizen who believes in
a square deal for every American.
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