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Show COXMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. ' 63 fight in your position that if we,cnn save the American Indian from the c u m of whisky we cun save him from pretty ~aucha ll the other ills that threnten him." No better proof of the ems attending the use of liquor can be given than to Cite the attitude of the present war lords of the Old \Vorld. Liquor is the instrument commonly used by the unscrupulous who reach out to get the Red Man.' Every effort within,the power- of.nii.the emp1opa.s in the Indian Service should he made to Rave tlle Ihdinn from the cnrse of the liquor traffic. I have never announced a policy, but if I were to declare one today it would he in these few words: In dealing with Indians and Indian problems, under like eonditlom, treat all questions practically the same as if white people alone were involved. Sometimes it occnrs to me that I take my joh too seriously: hut, after all, do you think it possible to take too serio~~slryes ponsibility involving tlle health, educntion, property, nnd in some measure the destiny of a hnman race? The Indinn Office deals with a people numbering approximately 325,000 souls. We have virtually n government Nithin a governmellt. Our bureau deds with 'every social, educational, economic, and contractual relntlooship. It has some feature of nearly eyery other bureau or department in Wnshingtou. It is original in its operation, constructive in it# action, and frequently without precedent. A Commissioner of Indian -4iTnirs might to advantage be n lawyer, doctor, teacher, farmer, stockman, lumberman, oil expert, and mining engineer-have prnctically all of the equipment within the range of hnman affairs. There Is no phase of life npon which he does not have to act practically every day. In addition to his activities in connection with the life of the Indians, be has . to deal with the varied relationships of almost 6,000 employees, and there are numerous perplexing and constantly arising conditions which require courage and faithful, unbending adherence to duty. In closing, let me say .that I believe the employees of the Indinn Service as a whole are the most capable of all employees in the Government service, and that their average com~ensation is not in DroDortion to their worth.and ncmm- I . ~ plisl,ments. In the performance of my duties as Commissioner nf Indinn AiTnirn. I have had no -n eater sntisfnetion tllnn my nrsoclntion in the office and the Geld with those devoted employees who in many instances are making sacrifices nnd who nre rendering the most faithful nnd eJ3cient service. Ny pilgrimage across the continent to meet you in this splendid conference 1s not only to express to you something of my views on Indian administrntion. hut that we mny consult with one another, strengthen our appreciation of duty to the Indinn mce, and so execute our respective responsibilities ns to insure enlnrgement of vision, to the end that the white and r@ races shall, through our efforts, become more and more integml parts of our civilization and together march side hy side in pence, prosperity, nnd happiness. CONCLUSION. No one am be connected for any appreciable length of time with the Indian Service without becoming deeply interested in the Indian, his problems, and the plans for their solution. It has been so with me, and I have found among the employees of the oEce and in the field many who are rendering most excellent and devoted service. In closing this report on the activities of the bureau, I wish to express my appreciation of these loyal-to-dqty associates. That their efforts and mine have not been in vain is evidenced by the recent marked |
