Red Man's Burden

Half a century ago the 390,000 Indians in the U. S. owned 157,000,000 acres of land. Today 330,000 Indians have only 47,000,000 acres, and many of them are dependent on government bounty. Indian Commissioner John Collier, agitating a New Deal for Indians, has for months been shuttling back and forth between the palefaces on Capitol Hill and the redmen on the reservations, holding solemn pow wows in both places about a new law (TIME, March 12). That law would give them an independent system of courts, buy new land for the landless and, in general, impose upon them added responsibility for their own welfare. Solemnly the Indian chiefs listened to Commissioner Collier. Some rejoiced at his proposals while others objected bitterly. Reactions: Edward Quick Bear (Rosebud Sioux): The old way leads to the end of the trail. We can lose nothing by trying the new way. Harry Whiteman (Crow): I have been told the Commissioner's heart is in this bill. I also have a heart and my heart is with the welfare of my people. . . . Don't cram this bill down our throats, Mr. Commissioner. Rides-at-the-Door (Blackfeet) : If what is told us is true, this is the Indians' salvation. Let us call on the Great Spirit to make it so. J. P. Morgan (Navajo): Mr. Collier says it has taken the lawyers in Washington months and months to frame this bill. Well, it will take us Navajos months and months to understand it. For once the redmen's objections were heeded. Out of the bill were stricken provisions for special Indian courts and for all other compulsory requirements. Last week when the Senate and House got around to passing the measure, the New Deal for Indians consisted of the following: 1) The right of a tribe by majority vote to obtain a Federal charter for a corporation to run tribal fishing, lumbering or other activities. 2) $10,000,000 for a revolving fund for loans to tribal organizations. 3) $250,000 a year for the expenses of tribal organizations. 4) $250,000 a year for Indian scholarships. 5) $2,000,000 for new land purchases. 6) Civil service changes for easier admission of Indians into the Indian Service. To many an old Indian the Collier bill looked as startlingly radical as other aspects of the New Deal did to Old Guard Republicans.

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