2
THE CHEMA W A
AM ERICAN
line W. Andrus represented Hampton Institute. Professor F. A. Mc
Kenzie, for the first time was absent from a conference and was greatly
missed.
An unusally large number of Indians came for presenting claims and
complaints. Among these were Nahwats and Howard White Wolf of
the Comanclies; George No Horse, Knows-the-Ground and Thomas
Medicine Horse of the Crows; Ira Isham, of the Couer d’Alene Ojib-
way; Carlos Montezuma and Daniel Thomas for the Pimas and Papa-
goes; Cleaver Warden for the Cheyennes and Arapahoes: Janies Murie,
Stacy Natlock and Julius Caesar for the Pawnees.
The Platform adopted contains a digest of the discussions with
general recommendations for improving the situation of the Indians.
If it could be followed in its essential parts by the administration and
by the Government both races, the white and the red, would greatly
profit.
The Platform follows:
The Society of American Indians assembled in Fifth Annual Confer
ence in the City of Lawrence, Kansas, reaffirms those principles of de
votion to the race and to the nation which have been its guiding star
from the beginning. With an increased membership in equal represent
ation of native and white Americans, the Society is increasingly im
pressed with the responsibility resting upon it. The anomalous situa
tion in which the race finds itself and the serious evils which threaten
its happiness, integrity and progress, are such as to compel the follow
ing expression of our beliefs and wishes. We trust that Congress and
the nation will consider seriously the requests we make and grant them
in full measure. We appeal to the intelligence and to the conscience
of the nation.
1— Congress, thus far has taken no action on the Carter Code Bill, in
troduced in 1912 at the instance of this Society. So long as the Indian
has no definite or assured status in the nation; so long as the Indian
does not know who he is and what his priviledges and duties are,
there can be no hope cf substantial progress for our race. With one
voice we declare that our first and chief request is that Congress
shall provide the means for a careful and wise definition of Indian
status, through the prompt passage of the Carter Code Bill, or some
similar measure.
2— Our second request is based on the second great legislative need
of our race. Our tribes have waited for many years for money owed
them, as they believed by the United States. We therefore urge upon
Congress the passage of the amended Stephen’s Bill, or some similar
measure, which will directly open the United States Court of Claims to
all the tribes and bands of Indians in the country. Without standing