It was in this fashion that the old world snatched away the fee in the land of the new.  It was in this fashion that America was divided between the powers of Europe and the aborigines were dispossessed of their country.  The barbaric rule of might from which the paleface had fled hither for refuge caught up with him again, and in the melee the hospitable native suffered “legal disability.”

History tells that it was from the English and the Spanish our government inherited its legal victims, the American Indians, whom to this day we hold as wards and not as citizens of their own freedom loving land.  A long century of dishonor followed this inheritance of somebody’s loot.  Now the time is at hand when the American Indian shall have his day in court through the help of the women of America.  The stain upon America’s fair name is to be removed, and the remnant of the Indian nation, suffering from malnutrition, is to number among the invited invisible guests at your dinner tables.

In this undertaking there must be cooperation of head, heart and hand.  We serve both our own government and a voiceless people within our midst.  We would open the door of American opportunity to the red man and encourage him to find his rightful place in our American life.  We would remove the barriers that hinder his normal development.

Wardship is no substitute for American citizenship, therefore we seek his enfranchisement.  The many treaties made in good faith with the Indian by our government we would like to see equitably settled.  By a constructive program we hope to do away with the “piecemeal legislation” affecting Indians here and there which has proven an exceedingly expensive and disappointing method.

Do you know what your Bureau of Indian Affairs, in Washington, D.C., really is?  How it is organized and how it deals with wards of the nation?  This is our first study.  Let us be informed of facts and then we may formulate our opinions.  In the remaining space allowed me I shall quote from the report of the Bureau of Municipal Research, in their investigation of the Indian Bureau, published by them in the September issue, 1915, No. 65, “Municipal Research,” 261 Broadway, New York City.  This report is just as good for our use today as when it was first made, for very little, if any, change has been made in the administration of Indian Affairs since then.

PREFATORY NOTE.

“While this report was printed for the information of members of Congress, it was not made a part of the report of the Joint Commission of Congress, at whose request it was prepared, and is not available for distribution.”

UNPUBLISHED DIGEST OF STATUTORY AND TREATY PROVISIONS GOVERNING INDIAN FUNDS.