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Show COMMISSIONER INDIAN AFWAIRS. 25 I feel that a serious obligation rests upon me and upon every employee of the Indian Service to see that no effort is spared to make the most of the great opportunity which the Indian's property and the action of Congress now pre-sents to the Indian. It is my duty to require that every supervising officer, every superintendent, erery farmer, every stockman, and in fact every employee of the Indian Service meets this obligation in full measure. The political Conditions of the world will make the next few years a period of great prosperity for the American farmer. Let us see that the Indian with his broad acres is in truth an American farmer and that he properly partielpates In this unusuni opportunity. I desire that our Indian fairs this year be made the ozening of an intelligent and determined campaign for the industrial advancemint of the Indian. ~ e t ' this year's fair mark the start of the Indian along the road the purpose of which is self-support and independence. Hereafter let your fair each year be a mile stone fixing. the stages of the Indian's progress toward that goal. It is a primary duty of all superintendents to understand the Indians under their charge, to study the resources of the reservation for which they are responsible, its climate, the character of its land, the type of cattle owned by the Indians, their horses, their sheep, and their other stock. , With this information you should map out a comprehensive plan of cam-paign based on the conditions presented by your Indiana This plan should cover not only one year but a period of years, having in view an ever-increasing number of able-bodied Indians farming better and more acres of land, the con-tinual improvement of the live stock of the individual Indian and of the tribe, end the use of grazing, timber, and mineral lands with the greatest economical benefit. This campalgn should be understood by the farmers, the stockmen, the Industrial teachers, and in fact all employees connected with industrial work on your reservation, and you should endeavor not only to procure their efficient aid in carrying out your plan, but also their personal interest and sympathetic moveration. Let pour fair this sear be the place and time at which you will join in launching this live campaign for industrial betterment. Wormer widespread negligence and mismanagement in the cultiwtlon of the soil, the breeding of stock, and the handling if graning land is no excuse for the continuance of such conditions, and they will not be permitted to exist on an Indian reservation during my administration. Be continually at the fair yourself with your farmers and all of your indub trial em-o lo-v ees. Let the exhibits emphasize in an impressive manner the difference between inferior and high-grade agricultural vroducts, and let them demonstrate in no uncertain way that greater profit reklts from raising the best and the most of everything produced on the farm or ranch. Encourage the Indian to take the progressive view. This should not be dimcult where he has heforemhima clear object lesson sue! as Is emnhnsised by i)lacing his horses, cattle, and sheep. his corn, oats, wheat, alfalfa, and forilge on exhibition in legitimate tivalry with those of his neighbor at the.Indian fair. The improrenleut of stock should be aggressirely advocated and impressed upon the mind of every Indian filrruer and stock raiser. He should be brought to understand that the thousands of well-bred bulls, stallions, and rams were purchased during the last few months to do nmny with the evils of lack of nufKciellt and well-bred male stock and the inbreeding ;llmost universal in the past. He should uuderstalld thilt iu order to secure the best results the male ' stock must not only be improved, but that the old and worse than useless male |