s as it should be. Many theories have been advanced
concerning him; but I think we all agree that he has outgrown the
present method, which now seems to retard his progress. Yet the old
machinery continues to exist in cumbersome and more or less inefficient
form. It is a question whether it really does much more good than harm;
but it seems clear that some of the tribes still need intelligent and
honest guardianship. To my mind, this machinery might be adjusted more
nearly to the requirements of the present-day Indian.

Professor Moorehead has suggested the plan of putting the Indian Bureau
under a commission of several men, to be appointed for long terms or for
life, free of political considerations. I can scarcely conceive of
wholly non-partisan appointments in this age, but length of service
would be a great advantage, and it does seem to me this experiment would
be worth trying. Such a commission should have full authority to deal
with all Indian matters without reference to any other department. I
would add that one half of its members might well be of Indian blood.

CHAPTER VIII

THE INDIAN IN COLLEGE AND THE PROFESSIONS

It is the impression of many people who are not well informed on the
Indian situation that book education is of little value to the race,
particularly what is known as the higher education. The contrary is
true. What we need is not less education, but more; more trained leaders
to uphold the standards of civilization before both races. Among Indian
college and university graduates a failure is very rare; I am sure I
have not met one, and really do not know of one.

The press is responsible for many popular errors. Whenever an Indian
indulges in any notorious misbehavior, he is widely heralded as a
"Carlisle graduate," although as a matter of fact he may never have
attended that famous school, or have been there for a short time only.
Obviously the statement is intended to discredit the educated Indian.
But Carlisle is not a college or university, although, because of the
wonderful athletic prowess of its students, they have met and defeated
the athletes of many a white university on the football field. Its
curriculum is considerably below that of the ordinary high school; it is
a practical or vocational school, giving a fair knowledge of some trade
together with the essentials of an English education, but no Latin or
other foreign language. Consequently its graduates must attend a hig