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.