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Now, I have about one more thing to say and I am going to turn the meeting over to you. There has been a good deal of criticism of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in years past, both by the general public and by the Indians. I have no doubt but that a good deal of it was justified. I said to some of my good friends in the meetings as we came across the country that I think the time for generalized criticism, in which you damn everything and everybody, is past, if we are going to do an effective job. My hide is pretty thick. I have taken a lot of criticism in my time and I am ready to take any you want to throw. I would like to suggest that you make it constructive criticism, rather than damning over all. I say that for more than one reason. I suspect that the Bureau of Indian Affairs has suffered in its appropriation hearings and otherwise because there has been so much of what I call "shotgun" criticism. It is time we begin to use a rifle. Let us not scatter our shots. Let us get down to cases. I don't want to be misunderstood: I don't want to stop criticism. It's one of the things that is absolutely essential if we are going to get an effective job done. I assure you that we are probably going to make some mistakes here and there, for which we will be criticized. We have all got to work together. There are people who would like to put the Bureau of Indian Affairs out of business tomorrow, or next week, or next year. That would not affect me personally, too much, because I could still get along. But it would create a chaotic condition by which a great many people would get hurt, and I am going to try to avoid it if I can.

I don't know how long I have talked, Mr. Chairman, too long, I assure you. I am here to try to answer any questions I can during the time you want to devote to it during the rest of the morning. If I can't answer them, I will see if I can find somebody who can. I want to end this statement by telling you just one other thing and it is just a sentence. I don't believe in making promises I cannot keep, and if I do make any such promises (because of something I can't control) I'll come back and tell you why, so you will understand. There's no use in claiming to do something which I cannot do, and it would be an injustice to you. Justice, Johnson, I appreciate the opportunity to look into the faces of the folks who are here, and with ample time to make a general statement. I am at your service. (APPLAUSE)

Justice Johnson stated that this organization appreciated the Commissioner's coming so that they can get first-hand information as to his stand on the pressing problems. He stated that the efforts of the Commissioner would be in vain without the cooperation of the Indian people. There has been too much criticism in the past without offering something constructive in its place. He said NCAI is ready to cooperate with the Indian Office on any program that they thought would be of benefit to the Indian people. He urged the delegates to questionthe Commissioner but said he did not want any speeches; he wanted the questions to be brief so that more people could be heard.

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