an eye upon legislation
affecting the tribes, as well as a permanent office in Philadelphia. Its
officers and agents have kept in close touch with developments in the
field, and have conducted many investigations on Indian agencies,
resulting often in the exposure of grave abuses. They have been
courageous and aggressive in their work, and have not hesitated to
appeal to the courts when necessary to protect the rights of Indians.
They have also done much to mold public sentiment through meetings,
letters to the press, and the circulation of their own literature to the
number of more than half a million copies.

One of President Grant's first acts was the creation, in 1869, of the
United States Board of Indian Commissioners, a body of ten men supposed
to be "eminent for their intelligence and philanthropy," to serve
without pay in an advisory capacity, and to cooperate with the Interior
Department in securing a sound and progressive administration of Indian
affairs. The only appropriation is for travelling expenses and for a
salaried secretary with an office in Washington. It has been one of the
important duties of this Board to inspect the Indian supplies when
purchased, if possible securing goods up to the standard of the samples
submitted and preventing open fraud. Its members have travelled
extensively in the Indian country in order to observe conditions, and
their patriotic services have been appreciated by both races.

In the autumn of 1883 Mr. Albert K. Smiley, the large-hearted owner of a
hostelry overlooking beautiful Lake Mohonk, in the Shawangum range,
invited a number of prominent Indian workers to meet as his guests for
discussion of actual conditions and necessary reforms. With this
historic meeting began an uninterrupted series of "Mohonk Indian
Conferences," at which missionaries of all denominations, Government
officials, members of Congress, representatives of philanthropic
societies, teachers in Indian schools, editors, ministers, and other
influential men and women, with a sprinkling of educated Indians, meet
annually at the call of Mr. Smiley, and since his death in 1912 at that
of his brother, Mr. Daniel Smiley, to discuss all matters bearing upon
the welfare of the race in a sympathetic atmosphere and amid the
pleasantest surroundings. Mr. Smiley was a member of the Board of Indian
Commissioners, and for many years these conferences were closely
connected with the affairs of the Board, and the pr