Weekly Chemawa American., May 18, 1906, Image 1

lUcclily Cbemawa American
VOL. IX. MAY 18, 190(5 No. !
f) ldiai for Tilitary Career
From the carpenter's bench to West
Point, with every prospect of a brilliant
military career, is the startling and in
spiring story of Paul Knapp, a half
breed Pottawatomie Indian, who has
suddenly sprung into prominence through
the president's appointment. It was not
a political appointment. No influence
other than that of the boy's frank per
sonal letter to Indian Commissioner
Francis E. Leupp was behind the ap
pointment. Mr. Leupp had never heard
of young Knapp until his letter was re
ceived. Knapp had heard of the Indian Com
missioner's plan to make soldiers of the
Indians, so he wrote the letter, stating
his qualifications and ambitions. The
missive struck a harmonious chord and
aroused the enthusiasm of Mr. Leupp.
After a thorough investigation it was
ascertained that the youthful Pottawa
tomie's record was as clear as anybodj''s
could be and that everywhere he had
gone a trail of good impressions had
been left behind.
This was all Commissioner Leupp de
sired. He at once laid the matter before
President Roosevelt and made a plea
that Knapp be given a chance at West
Point and incidentally demonstrate that
an Indian is capable of making a first
class soldier, criticism to the contrary
notwithstanding. Mr. Leupp's enthu
siasm communicated itself to the chief
executive and the appointment was
made.
Out in a little Michigan town, where
he had been working faithfully at his
trade, not too proud by reason of a fair
education to Vise his hands, Paul Knapp
was soon made the happiest of all the
Pottawatornies.
One of the policies announced by Mr.
Leupp since his appointment as Indian
Commissioner is to train young Indians
for military service. He would have the
Carlisle school pay first attention to the
development of things military, thus pre
paring the government's wards for serv
ice in the army, either as officers or men
in the ranks. In conjunction with the
Superintendent of Carlisle Mr. Leupp is
now pefecting a plan with this end in
view.
So the letter of young Knapp was op
portune. Tie is the pioneer and both
President Roosevelt and Commsssioner
Leupp expect splendid reports from him,
and the Pottawatornies is a good subject