THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
13
higher interests of the Indian people.
Conscious of its integrity, of its unity, and of its power, the Society
decided that the moment had come for a more direct appeal to the Presi
dent and the Congress of the United States for the consideration of
those changes in legislation and administration which they believe are
imperative at the present moment. With conviction profound and
hearts united the Society will ask for a hearing before the President of
the United States during the first Week in December. It is believed
that the President will be glad to receive the memorial of his Indian
friends. '
The members of the Society and all their friends, so many of them as
can, are urged to be present in Washington when the memorial is taken
to the president. They are asked to write Mr. Dennison Wheelock, of
West De Pere, Wisconsin, chairman of the committee having the matter
in charge, at once, and to make all possible suggestions as to what that
memorial should contain. Any one who has knowledge of wrongs will
do well to send in their suggestions and information, so that it may be
considered for incorporation in this document which the Society hopes
will so clarify the situation as to bring prompt action from the national
government.
The Madison Conference did a great work for the Society. It opened
the way for each member to do more for the good of the Indian people.
Let us hope that each of us will do all thai we can, and not forget that
each can do something.
The Madison Platform follows:
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., Oct. 5-11, 1914:
The Society of American Indians, in Fourth Annual Conference as
sembled, adopts and reaffirms the principles and purposes set forth in
the platform of the Third Annual Conference, and we urge upon our
members increased activity in the promotion of those principles and
purposes as the highest form of service to the American Indian. We
call upon our own people to lay hold of the duties that lie before them,
to serve not only their own race as the conditions of the day demand
but to serve all mankind.
In this behalf our hearts go out in sympathy to our blood brothers,
the struggling peons of Mexico, and we express our profound sense of
gratitude to the President of the United States for his attitude on the
Mexican situation. The cause of the Mexican Indian is our
cause. They are attempting by force of arms, we by force of public
opinion, to obtain equality before the law.
We commend much of the good that has been accomplished by the
present administration of the Indian Bureau, and we recognize in Com-