The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 42, July 1938 - April, 1939 Page: 151
446 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Book Reviews
of Indian ownership of land within the area embraced by the
United States of America. ... "
Avoiding such subjects as tribal histories, Indian wars, border
relations, and a dozen others that fill most books about Indians,
the writer holds true to his course and follows from 1633 to 1935
this question of the Indian and the land, the very hub and center
of the Indian problem.
More than two-thirds of the book deals with the history of the
allotment plan, the idea that each Indian or head of a family
should be given in fee a tract of land which would be his home
after the fashion of the white man. Finally, in 1887, Congress
passed the Dawes Act, declaring that henceforth it would be the
policy of the Indian service, and making provisions for applying
it generally.
Thereafter the officials of the federal Indian administration
worked diligently to put it into effect, for they had strong faith
in the allotment system.
Only here and there was heard a voice of warning. Few people
took seriously Senator Teller's prophecy when, in 1881, he said
in opposition to breaking up the reservations that the Indians
would "curse the hand that was raised professedly in their defense
to secure this kind of legislation. . . ." (P. 206.) It may be
too much to say that Teller's prophecy has come true, but certainly
the hopes of the allotment enthusiasts have not been realized. The
best tribal lands are gone; and today, under the Wheeler-Howard
Act of 1934, the Indian department is buying lands to enlarge
certain tribal holdings and is encouraging co-operative organiza-
tions among the Indians to use the lands in common.
Mr. Kinney's book is scholarly. The author has avoided extrav-
agant praise and reckless condemnation. His interpretations and
conclusions are preceded by staggering compilations of informa-
tion in detail. Indeed, this reviewer found the book tedious in
places and felt that it could have been made fifty or a hundred pages
shorter to advantage. The most disappointing chapter is the last,
dealing with "The Past, the Present, and the Future." Not enough
space is devoted to "the Present," that is, the plan of acquiring
additional lands to be used by the Indians in common. Also, the
reader finds few predictions about the future of the program now
in effect. Perhaps the author is too wise and too well versed in151
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 42, July 1938 - April, 1939, periodical, 1939; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101107/m1/165/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.