DISMISSAL OF WADE CRAWFORD, SUPERINTENDENT DISMISSAL OF WADE CRAWFORD, SUPERINTENDENT 171810 JULY 1, 2, AND 8, 1937 Printed for the use of the Committee on Indian Affairs UNITED STATES WASHINGTON: 1940 BURTON K. WHEELER, Montana ROBERT M. LA FOLLETTE, JR., Wisconsin II LIBRARY OF CONGRESS DIVISION OF DOCUMENTS A DISMISSAL OF WADE CRAWFORD THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1937 UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS, Washington, D. C. The committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:30 a. m., in the Indian Affairs Committee hearing room, Senate Office Building, Senator Elmer Thomas of Oklahoma, chairman of the committee, presiding. Present: Senators Thomas of Oklahoma (chairman), Wheeler, Chavez, and Frazier. Present also: John Collier, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and S. L. Fryer, superintendent of the Navajo Reservation. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will be in order. We have with us Congressman Pierce, who wishes to speak to us in connection with the Crawford matter. STATEMENT OF HON. WALTER M. PIERCE, A MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF OREGON Representative PIERCE. Mr. Chairman and Senators, I am here representing the Second District of Oregon, as a Member of Congress. Senator CHAVEZ. You were formerly Governor of Oregon, were you not? Representative PIERCE. Yes; I was formerly Governor of that State. I come before you and Mr. Collier to see if we cannot get a modification of the order of dismissal of Wade Crawford. Wade Crawford is a high-class Indian of the Klamath Tribe, which is in my district. He is of Indian ancestry. When I came to the House, representing the Second District, in March 1933, Mr. Crawford was representing the Indians of that section. One of the first things he did was to come to my office and recommend John Collier as Indian Commissioner. I did not know Mr. Collier but I made that recommendation. Sometime later I was informed that. Wade Crawford was appointed for that district-which pleased me much. And then later I learned that Wade Crawford was dismissed with prejudice. I think that is a little severe, and I ask that the words "with prejudice" be withdrawn from his name. I understand there is nothing criminally wrong in his career. He comes from a high-class family. There may have been friction between him and the Bureau of Indian Affairs; but when it comes to "dismissal with prejudice," it is as the poet describes Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing; But he that filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enriches him And makes me poor indeed. I am asking this for Wade Crawford, who is a man of sincerity and integrity; and I ask that the order be modified. I think it was too drastic, Mr. Collier; and I beg for modification. The CHAIRMAN. Very well; thank you. 1 |