“With keen appreciation of these conditions Congress in the current appropriation bill has made available for the Indians over $600,000 as a reimbursable fund, and $250,000 additional for general and specific industrial use, all for the purchase of stock and farm equipment, as well as about $800,000 of the funds of the Confederated Bands of Utes for the civilization and support of those Indians.
“I feel that a serious obligation rests upon me and upon every employee of the Indian Service to see that no effort is spared to make the most of the great opportunity which the Indian’s property and the action of Congress now presents to the Indian. It is my duty to require that every supervising officer, every Superintendent, every farmer, every stockman, and in fact every employee of the Indian Service meets this obligation in full measure.
“The political conditions of the world will make the next few years a period of great prosperity for the American farmer. Let us see that the Indian with his broad acres is in truth an American farmer and that he properly participates in this unusual opportunity.
“I desire that our Indian fairs this year be made the opening of an intelligent and determined campaign for the industrial advancement of the Indian. Let this year’s fair mark the start of the Indian along the road, the purpose of which is self-support and independence—hereafter let your fair each year be a milestone fixing the stages of the Indian’s progress toward that goal.
“It is the primary duty of all Superintendents to understand the Indians under their charge, to study the resources of the reservation for which they are responsible, its climate, the character of its land, the type of cattle owned by the Indians, their horses, their sheep and their other stock.
INDIANS RECEIVING INSTRUCTION IN PLUMBING. HASKELL INSTITUTE, KANSAS
“Former widespread negligence and mismanagement in the cultivation of the soil, the breeding of stock, and the handling of grazing land is no excuse for the continuance of such conditions, and they will not be permitted to exist on an Indian reservation during my administration.
“Be continually at the fair yourself with your farmers and all of your industrial employees.