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of America, and they are Government employees.  And those men are well educated men and they are holding good jobs.  Of course, they are holding good jobs for their side.  But those men started this organization and it proves to be a strong meeting here in talking about an independent organization, and they are very strong men to carry out this organization that we are going to have.  Because in my reservation, there is an Oklahoma Indian that is holding a position now and another fellow, who is Superintendent of the Suapai Indians, from Oklahoma.  Those kind of men are needed to be members of this organization, if they are going to make an independent organization.  I believe that those men, who are employed in the Indian Service, they are going to make out some way so that they will be eligible for membership and support this organization.

JESSE ROWLODGE:  What effect will the Hatch Act have upon Indian Service employees serving in this organization?

MR. DWIGHT:  My interpretation is that the Hatch Act will not have any effect on Indian Service employees belonging to an Indian organization.

MR. KENOTE:  In connection with the talk with respect to the Secretary denying a Government employee membership in an organization, they are saying here that you can't be an employee of the Government and hold an elective position on the Council.  I feel that if we adopt this resolution we are confirming the belief of the Indian Office and the Interior Department that Indians cannot be employees of the Government and enjoy elective offices and be members of the organization.

MR. BEAVER:  I should like to say as I understand it by the Constitution, the gentlemen who are in the Government service are eligible to be members of this organization.  You gave them that right and I understand that just awhile ago you passed a resolution asking Congress and the Department to recognize their rights, so I believe it is a matter that can be clarified.  Maybe it just needs a regulation.  It seems that that can be rectified without any trouble.  If you are asking Congress to recognize these men's rights, then we are on the way.

MR. PHINNEY:  I am one of the several boys who are branded Indian Service.  I came to Denver as an Indian.  I didn't come here to ask any of you people how you make a living.  I think from whatever capacity I have here that I would not cherish a membership in this organization that is diluted.  I talked with the Commissioner of Indian Affairs several months ago about the status of the employees of the Indian Service, not officially but in a personal conversation.  He told me he believed that the Indian employees of the Government should not be compromised in any sense whatsoever, that they should not express any governmental loyalty.  If they became members of this organization, they should think and act as Indians one hundred per cent.

MR. WHISTLER:  I never was a Governmental employee of the Indian Service.  I think it would be a great mistake to mention the fact in there and sort of give him a diluted membership.  It strikes me that