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THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
Commissioner Sells made a trip to Oklahoma recently to look into
Indian affairs in that section. From various reports to reach us the Com
missioner not only took some very important steps toward the better
ment of the condition of the Indians of Oklahoma, but made a splendid
impression everywhere he went as an able and honest official as well.
The new year was ushered in at Chemawa with considerable of a
demonstration. Whistles, bells, tin cans, triangles, banjos, harmonicas,
fiddles, combined with a large amount of good lusty yelling, made all of
us sense the fact that 1914 had arrived. The band was out and serenad
ed our people Supt. and Mrs. Wadsworth invited the members of the
band to have coffee and cake at The Cottage, a courtesy which was great
ly appreciated by the boys.
Superintendent Wadsworth had the honor of being chosen as one of
the judges in the debate held at Woodburn Friday evening, January 9,
between Woodburn and Salem high schools. Supt. Wadsworth, realiz
ing the value of such on occasion, invited the advisory members of the
literary societies, and the officers of each society, to accompany him on
the trip. All kindly accpted the invitation, there being twenty-two mem
bers in the party, who feel well repaid for their trip.
Mr. J. B. Johnson, our friend of Colfax, Wash., under date of Nov. 28,
wrote Supt. Wadsworth as follows: “ Came home last Wednesday from
British Columbia, where I had visited some of the schools. The pleasant
recollections of my visit to your school, stored in memory, will always
be bright in reflection. Were I a resident of Salem I would, no doubt,
make myself obnoxious by too frequent visits to the wonderfully inter
esting and beauliful place.” We dare Mr. Johnson to move down here
and try us.
Mr. James Stewart of Lapawai, Idaho, arrived a few days ago with a
party of pupils from Nez Perce Reservation. Mr. Stewart was a student
when this school was located at Forest Grove and was one of the first
party of students to arrive at Chemawa. That party built the first
school house of poles and shakes while encamped at what is now called
“ Old Chemawa.” He was a member of the graduating class of 1885.
Since leaving Chemawa Mr. Stewart has engaged in business and is now
a civil engineer in the Forestry Service. He has been a useful man
where his services have been required. He gave the student body an
excellent talk at the morning and afternoon sessions in the chapel. His
talk was appreciated by all and was helpful in every way. One thing
mentioned in his talk was his signing the temperance pledge thirty years
ago, and which has never been broken.