The Commissioner of Indian Affairs,

Washington,

Sir:

I respectfully refer to my letter of October 2, 1920 presenting the necessity for fixing of record the actual status of certain white, Mexican and foreign-Indian persons residing on the lands of the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, particularly at Laguna Pueblo.

On the day of the Laguna fiesta, September 19, 1920, a ball game was scheduled between two Indian teams, the Lagunas and the Isletas. Baseball games, with few exceptions, present dispute. In this instance the players quarreled with their two umpires, Mr. Pablo Abeita (an Indian Judge) and Rev. Father Fredolin Schuster (a Catholic missionary priest) after having agreed to respect their decisions; matters reached high tension and the umpires were helpless. Until this time I held a place as a spectator, together with my Indian police. Seeing that the crowd, in which were many Mexicans and whites, evidenced a disposition to project itself into this argument, and meaning to support the umpires, I proceeded onto the field in my authority as Superintendent, accompanied by my Indian police officers. The Indians showed a momentary disposition to dispute the matter with me; but I did not fail to dominate this crowd of Indians after having faced a hundred armed and excited Navajos in the Black Mountains.

But I cannot guarantee to quietly control insolent, disputative white men or Mexicans who for thirty years or more have been belligerent toward Government officials. And when one such white man, named Jack Evans, who is married to a Laguna half-blood Indian, attempted to assert his authority as a deputy sheriff of Valencia county and to take charge of that section of the Pueblo, I protested his action, and was informed that I should mind my business and permit him to do as he pleased. Upon order from me my Indian police despite his resistance, ejected this man from the ball field. They made possible my control of the Indians, who were incited by this man’s actions and his language, and later by the actions of another “squaw-man,” one R. G. Marmon, to resist authority.

Marmon made the statement in my hearing that “all Federal officials are damned fools; that he had lived there for thirty years, indicating that such had been his experience; that the Laguna Indians would support them (squaw-men) rather than take orders from any Agent.” Marmon did not have the courage to tell me this personally, but announced it to the crowd within my hearing, with view to inciting sympathy from it. Later, again at a point removed, he challenged the authorities of my police, and the Chief of Police demanded to know who and what Marmon was. He replied, “I am an Indian.” The Chief said “If you are an Indian, you take my orders as an Indian.”

I wish to repeat that the action of Evans and the language of these two men were such as to invite the Indians who were showing respect for authority, to once again resist….

Such testimony not only covers their actions on this occasion but indicates their general attitude toward Government officials. It also indicates that whereas on occasion they wish to be white citizens, whenever a Government favor is to be had they are hungrily applying for it….

I do not positively state that R. G. Marmon was never received into the Laguna tribe; but I know that he is alternately white man and Indian as his personal interests direct. I want his status fixed, so that if he is Indian, it will be made of record, and thereafter he will obey Indian Service regulations. If this man’s status was ever fixed as an Indian, it was by the Laguna Pueblo officials, and some years ago all such records were burned — so that it is impossible for the present Pueblo officials to state what those records contained. The unsupported statement of R. G. Marmon should have no weight, although as Superintendent I would agree (should the Pueblo officials agree) to record him as a Laguna Indian, he thereafter to be an Indian for all purposes of regulation. And I am assured by the Governor of the Pueblo and certain of his Pueblo officials that they do not want to recognize or receive this Marmon or any other white or Mexican intermarried with their women as members of the tribe. They fear this very attitude of domination evidenced recently — as they have experienced it in the past.

Of course, the children of such marriages must be recognized as of Pueblo status, and if they live on a Pueblo must observe regulations. The fact is that these intermarried persons not only live on the Pueblo, but claim an Indian status when it pleases them to do so, and seek to dominate trade and generally advise Indians — not always for the Indians best interests….

The Office should know that I am assured that the commission issued to this man to act as deputy sheriff at a point where no county sheriff or deputy sheriff has authority, has been withdrawn by the State officials. Any unreasonable delay in this matter will result in this man’s continuing to make himself obnoxious to officers, to Indians and those who reside in Indian country and wish to obey the regulations of the Department.

Respectfully,

LEO CRANE

Superintendent.

Source: Letter from Leo Crane to Commissioner of Indian Affairs, October 5, 1920; Consolidated Correspondence and Other Records, 1911–1934 Box 5; Various Pueblo Jurisdictions 106; Record Group 75; National Archives, Rocky Mountain Region.