that the movement would not be understood either by our own
race or the American people in general, and that there was grave danger
of arousing the antagonism of the Bureau. If such a society were formed,
it would necessarily take many problems of the race under consideration,
and the officials at Washington and in the field are sensitive to
criticism, nor are they accustomed to allowing the Indian a voice in his
own affairs. Furthermore, many of the most progressive red men are
enlisted in the Government service, which would make their position a
very difficult one in case of any friction with the authorities. Very
few Indians are sufficiently independent of the Bureau to speak and act
with absolute freedom.

Some ten years later I was called to Columbus, Ohio, to lecture for the
Ohio State University on the same course with Dr. Coolidge and Dr.
Montezuma. Prof. F. A. McKenzie of the university arranged the course,
and soon afterward he wrote me that he believed the time was now ripe to
organize our society. We corresponded with leading Indians and arranged
a meeting at Columbus for the following April. At this meeting five were
present besides myself: Dr. Montezuma, Thomas Sloan, Charles E.
Dagenett, Henry Standingbear, and Miss Laura Cornelius. We organized as
a committee, and issued a general call for a conference in October at
the university, upon the cordial invitation of Dr. McKenzie and
President Thompson.

Four annual conferences have now been held, and the fifth is announced
for next October at Oklahoma City. The society has 500 active and about
the same number of associate members; the latter are white friends of
the race who are in sympathy with our objects. Our first president is
Rev. Sherman Coolidge, and Arthur C. Parker is secretary and treasurer.
The Society of American Indians issues a quarterly journal devoted to
the proceedings of the conferences and the interests of the Indian race.
At these meetings and in this journal various phases of our situation
have been intelligently and courageously discussed, and certain remedies
have been suggested for the evils brought to light. These debates should
at least open the public ear.

Of course the obstacles to complete success that I have referred to
still exist, and there are others as well. Our people have not been
trained to work together harmoniously. It is a serious question what
principles we should stand for and what line of work we ought to
under