THE choice of pursuits followed by Indians in the United States is much varied and proves, if anything, that capacity of the race to lay hold of any occupation from that of ditch digger to college president. Indians are found among wholesale dealers, chemists, engineers, artists, clergymen, lawyers, bankers and musicians. Notwithstanding this, seven out of ten are herders, farmers or foresters. Of the 73,000 Indians gainfully employed, over 17 men out of every 1,700 are in the higher professions, and only 15 women in 1,500.

These facts, based, on the 1910 census, are set forth by Arthur C. Parker in the article appearing in the autumn number of the Quarterly Journal of the Society of American Indians. They are, the writer states, of much importance in estimating the versatility of the race in its vocations. Many people do not know that over fifty mail carriers in the United States are Indians. Others have become sailors, chauffeurs and hack drivers. In the manufacturing trades and mechanical industries, Indians are found as boilermakers, carpenters, printers, electricians, jewelers, basket makers, plumbers and blacksmiths. Among the women there are 26 millinery dealers and over 4,000 weavers.

Six lighthouse keepers in the United States are Indians. Over 350 men of the same race are policemen. Forty are marshals, sheriffs and detectives. Eighty are United States marines. Of the 130 Indians who have become preachers, three

are women.

There are 30 Indian actors and 138 have become showmen.

Regarding the much discussed point as to whether Indians are really willing to work, the writer states that upon inquiry from a large number of superintendents of Indian agencies he learned that Indians who would not work when they could were a negligible quantity. Given congenial employment, the Indians will work steadily. That the Indians are not a lazy race is the belief of the writer, based on the census statistics. The figures, however, indicate the need of better training in the more productive occupations, in conservation of resources and in business thrift.

Geographically regarded, it appears, the writer declares, that the North Carolina and Mississippi Indians are the most industrious of all, and next in order those in Michigan, New Mexico, New York and California. In other words those Indians who are least under Federal jurisdiction and those who have the smallest annuities and the most difficult surroundings are the hardest workers.

The Indian population in the United States and Alaska is over 265,000. Members of tribes are found in every state, the greatest number being in Oklahoma, where they comprise over 74,000 of the population.

Regarding taxation and legal status, there has been a 50 per cent improvement in twenty years, Mr. Parker maintains, and adds that at this rate all Indians, with the possible exception of those in Arizona and Montana, will be classfied as taxed in 1940; in other words, they will have become citizens and supporting units of the Government.

Nevertheless, the fact still remains, the writer concludes, that no series of definite

grades has yet been established that in a uniform way will lift the Indians from a state of pure wardship to complete citizenship. And it is this lack which has prevented any true freedom.

Some Indian Bureau Achievements During 1915

1. Health conditions are considered of first importance. Six new hospitals were constructed during the past year in furtherance of a vigorous health campaign. Every Indian hospital bed not necessarily occupied with those suffering from disease or injury is being utilized for the Indian mother in childbirth. Education and protection of property are highly important but everything is regarded secondary to the basic condition which makes for the perpetuation of the race. 2. The Indian Office has taken aggressive steps toward the development of improved vocational training and has adopted plans which will accomplish the education necessary to instill in the Indian youth the responsibilities of selfsupport and citizenship. Emphasis is being placed on agriculture and domestic science. This program will be carried out in all Indian schools.

3. All Indian schools and reservations are being required to utilize every acre of available land for the production of the things they consume. They are fast becoming object lessons of industry, economy and self-support.

4. Every effort is being put forth to the end that the Indians shall no longer be altogether consumers but shall become producers, thereby bringing about a corresponding reduction in Congressional appropriations.

5. Through the use of the $600,000 reimbursable appropriation for the promotion of industry among the Indians the Indian Office has been enabled to purchase equipment and establish on a sound and business-like basis numerous Indian fami

lies on farms and through this system of loans promote the financial integrity and prosperity of the Indians participating in this fund.

6. The policy of promoting and developing the livestock industry by the purchase of 2,678 stallions, 1,048 bulls, 12,272 heifers, 2,510 steers, 3,738 cows, 2,110 mares, 469 rams, 513 sheep, 670 horses and 67 mules at an expense of $1,500,000 inaugurated during the year ending June 30, 1914, has been continued by the expenditure of a similar amount during the year ending June 30, 1915, in the purchase of 3,682 horses and mules, 72 stallions and jacks, 15,804 cows and heifers, 1,194 bulls, and a considerable number of other miscellaneous stock.

7. The increase in the number of Indian-owned stock has correspondingly decreased the areas of grazing ranges for lease. This condition, together with the advanced prices of beef, mutton and wool and the great demand for horses and mules, has materially increased the number of bidders for Indian reservation leases and has resulted in uniformly advanced prices for grazing privileges.

8. The number of acres farmed by the Indians has been greatly increased during the last year, more than three times the amount of seed having been distributed last spring than ever before. There is now every indication that the Indian will soon become a real-thing farmer and successful stock-raiser.

9. The Indian Office has developed a new type of cotton of the long staple Egyptian variety which has been given the name of "Pima" after the name of the Indian reservation in Arizona on which it was produced. Approximately $1,000,000 will be realized from this production during the year.

10. The greatest efforts are being put forth to induce the Indians to take advantage of the expenditures, totaling more

than $12,000,000, for irrigation construction which in the past, on several projects, have been almost unproductive. On many reservations the areas actually irrigated have been more than doubled in the year of this report. As the reimbursement to the United States of funds spent for irrigation works is being required by law almost universally, greater care has been exercised in arranging that the funds of no individual Indian be hypothecated to improve the lands of others. For this purpose and to unify and perfect irrigation accounting, an improved and complete cost-keeping system has been installed upon all irrigation projects, providing for the first time uniform records.

11. The operation of the Flathead, Blackfeet, and Fort Peck irrigation projects was such as to cause the Indian Office to suggest to the last Congress legislation which but for the failure of the Indian bill would have been enacted into law and which will be urged upon the present Congress. It is believed that the property of the Indians and the funds received from the sale of their lands should be released from the lien now imposed upon same for the total expense of constructing these projects and that the cost of construction shall be imposed upon water users, Indian and white man, alike, without discrimination according to the benefits received by each.

12. For the first time an appropriation out of the Ute judgment fund was made for the benefit of the several tribes of Ute Indians to which same belonged, a considerable part of which is being utilized to protect the water rights of the Indians on the Uintah reservation. Since March 14, 1915, more than 20,000 acres have been placed under cultivation and the water rights thereby protected. Continuation of this work approaching the progress now being made will insure full protection to these Indians.

14. The rules of probate procedure adopted by the county judges at the suggestion of the Commissioner, afterwards promulgated by the Supreme Court, have in their enforcement resulted in the saving and safe investment of more than $1,000,000 during the last fiscal year.

15. New regulations have been adopted to govern the leasing of the Osage lands for oil and gas purposes which becomes effective in March, 1916. Under these regulations the Osage Indians will receive one-sixth and in some cases onefifth royalty instead of one-eighth on oil and one-sixth royalty on gas instead of a nominal payment on each producing well. They will also receive $1 per acre per annum on all undeveloped leased territory until the same is developed. Large tracts of producing territory under leases expiring March 16, 1916, will be sold on competitive bidding from which it is expected a great sum of money will be realized. Improved drilling conditions have been adopted which will greatly diminish the waste in oil and gas throughout all Oklahoma to the Indians of Oklahoma.

16. During the past year the offices of the Commissioner to the Five Civilized tribes and the superintendent of the Union agency were consolidated and a (Continued on page 13.)

The Native American

Entered at Phoenix, Arizona, as Second Class Mail Matter

JNO. B. BROWN, Superintendent.

An Dlustrated Fortnightly Magazine, Devoted to Indian Education and Printed by Indian Student-Apprentices at the United States Indian Training School, Phoenix, Arizona, under direction of E. W. Lawrence, Instructor of Printing.

TWENTY-FIVE CENTS A YEAR

The Chums-A Fable

ONCE upon a time there were two chums and they worked in an Indian school. They had troubles and they told them to each other. By and by they made a great discovery and this discovery was to the effect that everybody had it in for them. Hence it came to pass that the two chums became more closely allied and knitted together. They interlocked their shields and formed themselves into a hollow square, as it were, to repel the attacks which they more and more saw coming.

The state of preparedness which the chums developed brought about its usual and natural results and it soon became known that somebody had said something about the Two. Then and thereafter the Two were busied in repelling assaults, in making counter charges and, during the lulls, in the manufacture of ammunition.

How did the chums become chums? By the simplest possible process-they were drawn to each other. One was an old employee at the school when the other arrived and she put her arm around the new one the first day, telling her all About It in a whisper.

MORAL-Do not tie up too soon or too closely to One lest you exclude some other Good One.

As to Classes of Labor

In the markets of today there are certain classes of service known as skilled and un-skilled labor. The classification is based not so much upon the peculiar ability or lack of ability on the part of the worker as upon the nature of the service to be performed. We have been accustomed to class certain mechanical trades as "skilled," for example, carpentry, plumbing, masonry and various similar handicrafts or sub-divisions of these trades. On the other hand we have classed such work as ditch-digging, coalshoveling and hod-carrying as un-skilled labor.

The writer believes, yes, knows, if he knows anything, that these classifications are erroneous and that there is no form of labor but may be done better than the average man does it. There is no such thing as un-skilled labor, albeit there are unskilled laborers.

The boy or girl in school who excuses carelessness on the ground that the particular work in hand does not demand or does not develop skill is on the wrong pedagogical path, just as surely as is the athlete who does not do his best on the ball field when "only practicing.”

The writer once took much pride in his skill in the use of the hoe and still thinks that in some lines and for limited periods of time he is difficult to distance or excel in the manipulation of the well-known garden implement. Just a few years ago, however, he met a cotton grower of renown who had seen many seasons of personal service in the field. In a rash moment a cotton chopping contest was arranged and at its close another reputa

tion had gone glimmering. It was ours. There are not years enough left for this agriculturist to acquire the skill shown by that ex-cotton chopper, now president of a First national bank, hence we salute him.

So on down and up through the professions, trades and jobs we have looked in vain for the work that did not require skill or where mind applied to the material task did not pay big dividends. We have not found it but have found instead not merely that all attempts to acquire skill in tasks, however, simple result in better production and further that manual or mental skill acquired in doing one thing exceedingly well is not all lost when we change from one form of work to the other.

Y. M. C. A. and Discipline I BELIEVE the prime object of discipline in our schools should be the training and organization of habits, conduct, behavior, and obedience to higher principles and ideas to such a degree as will cause one to choose and do right for right's sake.

It would be possible for our military training, system and organization to enforce strict obedience to rules and regulations, to keep clean "outside the cup," but lasting discipline, the kind that will make better men, must come from within, from the heart-the desire to do right from right motives and principles. This kind of obedience can not be inculcated through a blind obedience to rules and regulations; through fear of punishment. It is very true that there must be the strong hand of correction at times, to enforce obedience, to those who are yet ignorant or insensible to the higher life

and ideals, but the seed of these principles and ideals should be planted during school life.

We expect our young men to go out from school as leaders, with the habit of obedience of right principles firmly fixed by high ideals that will enable them to stand for the right and for everything that stands for the uplift of character and morals of the community in which they may be placed. It has been said, "There is no impression without expression." If this be true, then it is our duty to so impress upon the minds and hearts of the young, right motives and right principles before we can expect right conducts and actions, a behavior that will become a part of one's self.

Here is where the association steps in as a powerful influence, instilling into the minds and hearts the principles, life, and teachings of the "Man of Galilee."

The young man who places himself under the influence and teachings of the Y. M. C. A., attends its meetings, takes a part in its activities, and associates with its strong, clean, moral, young men, can not but receive lasting impressions of good behavior and conduct, planted firmly upon the rock foundation of a good character which, after all, is the greatest asset a young man can possess to go forth to fight life's battles among his fellow men.

Far too many of our young men go forth from our schools and colleges with splendid learning, accomplishments and ability to do things, but seriously lacking in that greatest essential-character.

These talented men often do infinite harm to both society and their fellow men, far more than if they had remained uneducated. I firmly believe that the Y. M. C. A. and the religious work done in our school is of the greatest importance, not only for the school life but in shaping life's course after school days are over. All right thinking and right