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Chapter 4. Salem Indian Training School
- University of Nebraska Press
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[First Page [114], (1) Lines: 0 to ——— 0.5pt Pg ——— Short Page PgEnds: TE [114], (1) 兵 其 4 Salem Indian Training School Chalcraft sensed that but briefly would he hold the superintendency of Chemawa Indian School, located just outside Salem, Oregon. He entered the position with the school languishing in a state of chaos, and left four and a half months later with the situation little improved. In stark detail, Chalcraft’s reminiscences illustrate the clenched grip that political influences had over Indian affairs. According to him, high-level Democrats in Washington dc set the table for his removal when they deliberately isolated him from the friendly confines of the Puyallup reservation and the Republican colleagues there who could assist him. Chalcraft believed that a complaint — in this case,partisan hiring,the very tactic he accused them of — was then manufactured as justification for his dismissal. I arrived at Chemawa, where the Salem Indian School is located, on Saturday evening, November 3rd, 1894. Chemawa is a station on the Southern Pacific Railroad five miles north of Salem, Oregon. Supervisor of Indian Schools, Charles D. Rakestraw, temporarily in charge of the school since Superintendent O. H. Parker had been removed a few weeks previously, was at the train and greeted me cordially. The next day was spent in observing the Sunday program and meeting the school employees. On Monday morning, I gave Supervisor Rakestraw my Oath of Office to be sent to Washington with a report of my arrival. We then beganinvoicingtheGovernmentpropertythatisnecessarywhenthere 114 [115], (2) Lines: 50 to 56 ——— 0.0pt PgVar ——— Short Page PgEnds: TEX [115], (2) is a change in the officers responsible for it. As we were leaving the school office, Supervisor Rakestraw handed me three petitions that had been submitted to him by Salem men seeking positions in the school, all stressing the fact that they were loyal Democrats. One of these,containing ten signatures,was from Lyman Benson,asking to be appointed school Engineer; another, with one hundred and twentytwo signers, was from a Mr. [G. W.] Zaenker seeking employment as Shoemaker. I was advised to give attention to these; and then told that the school Clerk, John P. Clark, was not competent to do his work and it would be wise to let him go and get Mr. [George]Wills,a Democratic politician in Salem. Rakestraw’s wife was at the school, serving temporarily as an Assistant Matron, and he informed me that it was understood in the Indian Office she was to become the Chief Matron when that position became vacant; and if the Chief Matron, Mrs. Lillian E. Ellis, did not resign within a reasonable time, I was to recommend her transfer to some other school so she could be appointed by the Indian Office. In closing our conversation, Rakestraw wasted some breath in taking the precaution to say,“These instructions are not given in my official capacity, but as a personal matter.” What Rakestraw had said clearly indicated to me that I was expected to get rid of all politically objectionable employees in the school to make places for Democrats; and, as I was known to not be of that faith, I would, without doubt, suffer the same fate later. I had made no comments on the subjects brought up, but there, surely, was plenty in my mind. Civil Service rules at this time covered the work of class-room teachers and Superintendents only. All other employees were appointed and dismissed by the officer in charge, subject to approval by the Indian Office. This permitted unscrupulous men to appoint personal and political friends without regard for the qualifications for service. I have always been of the belief that neither political nor religious convictions should disqualify Indian Service employees, if they were otherwise competent; and I would have carried out Rakestraw’s instructions, as far as filling vacancies was concerned, if I found the Salem Indian Training School 兵 115 [116], (3) Lines: 56 t ——— 0.0pt Pg ——— Normal Pa PgEnds: TE [116], (3) applicant competent and of good character; but to create a vacancy by removing a satisfactory employee from office for that purpose was another thing. Changes in management of the school had been frequent since March 20, 1889, when Superintendent John Lee left the school. He was followed by Wm. H. H. Biddle, who served until August 5, 1889; then by G. M. Irwin, who held of...