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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1930)
The CHEMAWA AMERICAN Page 4 OUR INDIAN PROBLEM (Continued from page 3) There is an economic law just as universal and in exorable in its operation as the law of gravitation, which decrees that each individual must work out his own destinv. The really important thing is not so much what the government is going to do for the Indian, as what the Indian is going to do for himself. Plutarch tells us that “the man who first ruined the Roman people was he who first gave them treats and gratui ties,’’ and that’s the same man who first ruined the Indians. We can only do so much tor other people and beyond that pivotal point the law of diminishing returns, another important economic law, begins to operate. The young able-bodied Indian who would acquire independence and self-reliance must observe these great economic laws just as other people must observe them. He must work and through his own efforts learn the value of time and money. He must be taught by experience to transact his own business and thus learn how to manage his affairs. He must till or manage his own lands if he would learn to ap preciate their worth; and he must keep his hands out of missionary barrels and his name off of ration rolls if he would maintain his self-respect. Indians who would continue to possess valuable property which has come to them as an inheritance must work to keep it, and those without property must work to get it. The government’s biggest problem is to teach the In dian these simple truths. Through education and right leadership lies the only hope of accomplishing lasting and beneficial results, and we shall succeed in benefitting the Indian only as we succeed in getting him to do things for himself. We might pour all the gold in the United States Treasury at his feet and forever exempt him from all effort and toil on his part and he would soon vanish from the earth. No race in the history of the world has ever made any progress or advanced to a state of enlightenment, independence and prosperity except through its own efforts, and it is not reason able to suppose there will be any Divine intervention in favor of the Indian. We should, therefore, teach him to pray, not that his just burdens be lightened, but rather that he be given the strength to bear them. The task confronting the new administration of In dian affairs is so great as tobe almost appalling. The whole nation has been aroused as never before over the plight of the American Indian and too much, no doubt, will be expected by those who hope to see a whole race transformed, as if by magic, in a twinkling. No man, or set of men, can accomplish the impossible. Indians, like ourselves, are slow to change their habitsand cus toms. It is going to require time and patience and courage to correct the evils that have grown out of a policy of benevolent paternalism and neglect. It will be difficult to get the Indian to change his point of view, and it will be just as difficult for some of us to change ours. But any organization or institution that works and does things is a growth and development and not a spontaneous creation. We can only give to the task all of the energy and ability we possess and then hope for the best. Although our girls were defeated at Canby last Tues day evening they decorated themselves with a lot of glorv before the game was brought to a close. Both teams played fast and clever ball. Even in defeat Margaret Hoptowit and Agnes Dowd, guards; and Alice Ladderoute, center, were the real stars of the game. Their cool aggressiveness was largely respon sible for the close score of 20 to 13. Mrs. Downie, the girls’ coach, and the entire basketball squad made the trip by motor bus. Miss Eakin and Miss Judd ac companied the squad as the official score and time keepr ers. All reported with pleasure the good game ou- team played and an enjoyable trip. According to the Salem Statesman for Feb. 19th the Willamette rooks showed real speed to defeat the Chemawa basketball team on Tuesday night, 46 to 25. The Capitol Journal also reported a “dazzling passing attack’’ for the Chemawa team and then both papers wound up their articles with mild reproaches at our team for lack of timing and general inaccuracy in the scoring area. All of which sizes up pretty well our performance at this game. Coach Downie was unable to be present because of illness and that undoubtedly had something to do with our defeat. Salem high school took a heart-breaker from us here last Saturday night. The final score was 22 to 20. Our quintet started with a burst of speed and rounded up four baskets almost before one could say scat. But Salem called a halt and our five relaxed and re linquished their hold on the situation which they never seemed able to regain. Salem landed an occasional basket and finally tied the score 11 to 11, but shortly before the half closed our boys chased up two more baskets to lead at half time 15 to 11. In the second half we forgot almost altogether the tremendous value in short, quick passes and close-in shots and resorted to the long and more spectacular type and as a result we made just five points while Salem garnered eleven and won. Salem deserves full credit for playing a good, consistent game. Those who saw the contest believe that our five surely has learned its “longshot” lesson. Marcus Simmons, Leonard Vivette and Albert Miller played a good, consistent game, while John Marsden and Jesse Prettyman were thrown off their stride and did not perform up to their usual standard. Our “B” team played Salem’s “B” team as a preliminary which turned out to be a real ball game and before it was. brought to a close there was as much excitement and interest manifested as we have had at any game thus far. At the close of the regular playing time the score stood a tie—17 to 17, During the play-off period our quintet of “hot shots” con- verte done foul and a field goal to win 20 to 13. Dominic Dog Eagle, Warren Wilder and Jesse Jabeth were the stars of the game. All three of them contributed much toward the victory. On March third we play Woodburn high at Salem to break the tie between the two teams. It we are successful in over coming Woodburn then Silverton conies here. The winner of that game represents Marion county in the district tournament. Naturally we will watch the outcome of these games with a great deal of interest. Monmouth Normal wrestlers defeated our wrestlers Friday night, 42 to 30, at Monmouth. Our young grapplers are still handicapped by inexperience. George Pepion starred for us by throwing his man in two straight falls.
