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Show 20 COMMISSIONER OF INDUN AFFAIRS. PEYOTE. In my judgment legislation is urgently needed to control the growing and harmful habit among the Indians of using peyote. Scientific investigation of the nature of this narcotic drug shows conclusively its dangerous effects. Some of the Indians profess to use peyote as a medicine for nearly all diseases, while others claim it is an ancient Indian sacrament in their worship. But medical scientists say that peyote has no medicinal value and if habitually used results in the derangement of both mental and physical struc-ture. Its defense as religious rite is largely fictitious, the pro-moters of its use having seized upon this idea in an attempt to pre-vent or delay prohibiting legislation. On a number of Indian res-ervations the use of peyote is not known; on others its introduction has been very recent, and on some it is becoming an insidious and alarming curse. Since the matter of prohibitory or regulating legislation has been before Congress a number of times without enactment, the Indian. Bureau has not sought strict regulations in restraint of this evil under the general powers vested in the department, but has recently issued a pamphlet on peyote containing much information compiled from the office files and other scientific sources for the purpose of aiding a fair and unprejudiced understanding of the subject, and a limited number of copies will be available to those interested in the improvement of social welfare generally, and especially among the Indians. I think it not untimely to sugeest the need of legislation subject-ing all Indians to the laws of civilization respecting their marital relations. Indian Service officers and employees, missionaries, and others have been teaching for many years the enlightened moral standards for this phase of social well-being and, as compared witb 10 years ago, gratifying progress has been made. But there is still too much disregard of the sacred rinciple upan which con-jugal happiness and the dignity of fami& life depend to be passed by without the correction for which there is lacking adequate court jurisdiction. The vicious practice of Indian custom marriage and separation is deplorable enough when followed by those of no education above the teachings of tribal tradition, but it is intolerable on the part of Indians who know better and have benefited by the uplift of con-ditions that rest uuon a hinher social order. The tribal courts. or court of Indian'offenses,-are not sufficient to deal success full^ with the loose marital relations of barbaric origin and there should be some means provided for invoking State law more effectively than now exists, or otherwise requiring the decency which must be at the heart of all family. life before we can have the right begin-ning of progress toward civilization. |
