THE CHEM AW A
AM ERICAN
3
that human growth comes from within, not from without. The Indian
must be permitted and required to exercise himself.
I wish each Indian might know you personally and feel the enthusias
tic touch of your intense interest in his walfare. I hope you may have
the health, encouragement and suppoit to continue the splendid work
you have begun, for there is in the Indian character that intrinsic worth
which will respond to opportunity and friendship in terms of growth,
competency and good citisenship.
With my continued high regard and cordial best wishes, I remain,
Very sincerely yours,
G abe E. P arker .
(Hon. Gabe E. Parker, Register of the Treasury of the United States,
who wrote this letter, is a distinguished Choctaw Indian. This copy
of same may be of interest to you «ns an indication of the responsive
sentiment among the Indians to Commissioner Sells localise of the
efforts he is making in their behalf.)
POLITICS IN THE INDIAN BUREAU
A S P L A Y E D B Y C O M M IS S IO N E R S E L L S
iDIAN Commissioner Cato Sells has succeeded in in
spiring implicit confidence in himself among those with
whom his work keeps him in touch. Strangely enough,
the first man for the commissioner to win was the In-
dian himself. In Oklahoma, the Indians have always
regarded the Indian office, not as a means of help but
rather as a system which was holding them in check. Now they seek
the advice of the bureau and are lending helpful co-operation to the gov
ernment in the inauguration of the many reforms which have been intro
duced by the present administration.
Several important changes have been made in the Oklahoma service
and more are to follow. There will also be some additions. The com
missioner has made it perfectly plain to those who seek appointments as
oil inspector, provided for in last bill, that civil service rules will gov
ern. In removing Creek Attorney Mott from his job, politics was the very
last consideration and partisan politics had little to do with the selection
of Mott's successor, The commissioner has made it perfecly plain that
in the selection of a successor to J. George Wright and Dana H. Kelsey,
the successful candidate must have more to commend him than merely
his democracy. Those who have been added to the service have been