The Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington.

Sir:

Indian Office letter dated August 19, 1921 received, transmitting one addressed to Honorable Nestor Montoya by R. G. Marmon of Laguna, New Mexico, concerning the Pueblo Indians of Laguna, their lands, jurisdiction, etc. The Indian Office directs that I carefully examine such letter and submit a report thereon at my earliest convenience.

I have read this letter with interest, coupled with some little astonishment, because of certain statements indicating that the writer knows less about the Laguna Pueblo situation than I had given him credit for. Mr. R. G. Marmon is that person who somewhat assisted in aggravating a law and order situation at the Laguna fiesta of 1920, the whole matter having been submitted to the Indian Commissioner with my report, and supporting statements, under date of October 2, 1920, and decided by Indian Office letter dated October 14 (L-C; 82594 & 82596-20; WMW). This matter was investigated by Inspector Linnen, at which time Mr. Marmon assured me that hereafter he would make himself agreeable and cooperate in every way possible with Governmental affairs, rather than continue his rather vehement methods of opposition….

Mr. R. G. Marmon is a white man, married to a Laguna Pueblo Indian, who has lived with these Indians for many years, who has actually served as Governor of Laguna Pueblo in times past, and who has raised a very creditable family of half-blood children. The inference of his letter is that a very large percentage of the 1800 Laguna Pueblo Indians (Census 1921) are as advanced as Mr. Marmon and his children. This is not the case.

The educated status of the Marmon children, it should be stated, is somewhat due to United States Government favor, as whenever there is an “Indian benefit” to be acquired, the Marmons are quick to apply for it, and for the time being are eager to accept an Indian status. At all other times, and in connection with all other questions, they are as quick to assert a white status. I offer his letter in evidence of this, because he states just what the Government should do for the Pueblo Indians of Laguna, to-wit:

“All the Pueblos need is for our Government to give them schools, a good doctor, and a first class legal advisor.”

According to Mr. Marmon the Government should do away with agents, Indian judges, Indian police, stockmen and farmers, etc., — and thereby relinquish all jurisdiction; and to what end (?) — that Mr. Marmon, and his sons, and others of his very limited class may profit through the benefits of Government without acknowledging or recognizing any Governmental jurisdiction.

It is not a fact that Mr. Marmon and his family represent a very large percentage of Pueblo Indians. There are at Laguna perhaps 50 persons, of the 1800, competent to manage their affairs. With the widest interpretation of the word “competency,” it might be conceded that there are 100 such persons. There is no such number on any one of the other nine Pueblos under this Agency. The combined census for the ten Pueblos totals 6439 Indians, and it is submitted therefore that the percentage of competency is relatively small….

Having visited the Indian Office, with Supt. H. J. Johnson of the Northern Pueblos, in the summer of 1920, for conferences concerning the Pueblo situation; and having considerable Departmental correspondence evidencing the Governmental viewpoint toward these Indians, I am inclined to believe that it is not the Governmental intention (past or present) to build a fence around these Indians; or to in any way obstruct their natural evolution and advancement; but to give them every opportunity to demonstrate their competency, at the same time protecting them from influences that have affected the Pueblos since 1848, when they were so indefinitely acquired. Their present condition makes this superintendency a most difficult post, because so long as the status of the Pueblo Indians remains undefined it is a question whether all Federal Law enacted for the benefit of “Indians” applies to them and their problems. As I recently had the honor of presenting to the Secretary of the Interior, any activity of mine that may be criticised has been thoroughly based upon decisions of the United States Supreme Court, the United States District Court, and definite orders of the Interior Department — which form a well defined Governmental policy; and should the present Administration see fit to revoke all such orders, the small protection and jurisdiction that has been evolved may be succeeded by the chaotic condition that preceded the “Sandoval decision.” My actions have been based strictly upon what has been deemed best for the whole Pueblo population, and not a small percentage of intermarried white men and their half-blood descendents….

On the one hand Mr. Marmon states that certain of the Laguna Indians rent railroad lands and State lands, and have homesteaded Government lands outside the “Indian country;” that certain of them vote and pay taxes; and in the same letter he infers that the Government seeks to corral all these persons within a fence and to decide that they are incompetent. The very fact that certain Laguna Indians have done these things, and still do them, is evidence that Governmental officials seek to advance them when they are competent. As a matter of fact, with the exception of the Marmon class, all such business has been supervised by this Agency, under the former and present superintendents; and the only thing that the superintendents have not advocated, is the voting, to which it is doubtful that Pueblo Indians are entitled, and which is permitted when the Indian is voting the right way. If his vote were not satisfactory, it would be promptly challenged by election officials; and I will venture to say that the “Laguna Indians” who vote may be counted on the fingers of two hands. This has been one method of certain persons to endeavor to maintain at the one time, a white status mixed with an Indian status. When these same people get sick, including Mr. Marmon they want prompt and free medical attention from “a good (Government) doctor;” and when the Pueblo Superintendent has issued an order (although it may have been in error) that will save $100 lease money, advantage is taken of that too. In such instances, they are “Indians;” in all other matters, white voters and taxpayers.

I am quite sure that the Government officials at Washington are not likely to abandon the 1700 Laguna-Pueblo Indians and the 900 Acoma-Pueblo Indians, all residing in Valencia county, to make things easy and free for the possible 100 persons who may be determined as “competent.” I have yet to meet one full-blood Pueblo Indian, of whatever intelligence, who wishes the Governmental jurisdiction withdrawn. There are many malcontents among the uneducated, who would like to run their Pueblos along old Indian lines, but even they do not wish to be defined as “citizens of the United States.”

Respectfully,

Leo Crane,

Superintendent.

Source: Leo Crane to Commissioner of Indian Affairs, October 15, 1921; Consolidated Correspondence and Other Records, 1911–1934 Box 5; Various Pueblo Jurisdictions 106; Record Group 75; National Archives, Rocky Mountain Region.