12
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
FOURTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
MOST SUCCESSFUL IN EVERY WAY
Before every Conference of the Society of American Indians there have
been forebodings and fears. This was true this year. It is an exceedingly
difficult thing to gather a body of Indians at their own expense of time
and money, to consider the solid and serious, but intricate, interests of
their people. But, once gathered, their very seriousness presents a new
difficulty. They come from many tribes, situations and places. Their
ideas frequently do not agree. On various topics they see "rocks
ahead." And yet where intensity of interest tends to divide, devotion
to race and Society always held them together. Forgetful of minor ques
tions, great principles, or a frequent spirit of harmony have brought the
Society at the close of each Conference more confidence in itself and
greater strength for the work that lies ahead. Harmony was the prod
uct, as well as the keynote, of the Madison Conference.
This fact was illustrated in various ways. The re-election of the old
officers was one of the evidences, not only of an appreciation of their
services, but of a desire to forget minor differences, to forget errors even
if necessary and all human agents are subject to errors in order to
demonstate that the Society was harmonious and could maintain acourse
unchanged by the riffles of personal feeling. Of course there were dif
ferences of opinion, but they were plainly thrashed out in executive dis
cussions and public meetings, and out of those frank discussions the
integrity of good intentions rose strong and clear above the errors, real
or imaginary, of action, and furnished the basis of enduring confidence
in each other and of solid harmony in the Society. And harmony based
upon integrity and frank discussion is the only harmony worth while.
The second evidence of harmony was the raising of $1,800 in cash
and subscriptions right at the Conference. A deep and united belief in
the Society brought that sense of personal responsibility which means
effort and sacrifice. And as the members invest their money in the
Society they are giving their hearts. Honest hearts can agree even
when honest heads cannot.
This consummation of harmony was matched by a forward movement
of real significance. It was decided to have assistant Secretaries to rep
resent each considerable tribe in each state. These Assistant Secre
taries will serve in a measure as field agents, with the special object of
enlisting new members in the Society. The plan means publicity,
wide-spread knowledge of the purposes of the Society, a very much
larger membership, and therefore larger funds and larger power. The
Society is rapidly to become the real spokesman for the wishes and