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Foreword
57

The Institute made it clear to the Secretary that the only member of the permanent staff of the Institute who could be detailed to the survey was Mr. Lewis Meriam, who would be placed in charge of the project as technical director. The other specialists would have to be secured temporarily for this particular undertaking. The Institute at that time was not prepared to submit to the Department the names of the persons whom it would appoint to the survey staff, as it could not make such sélections until the project had been agreed upon and funds for its prosecution had been secured. It did, however, describe the type of personnel it would endeavor to secure; persons highly qualified as specialists in their respective fields, scientific in their approach, not sensationalists, and free from preconceived views and opinions that would interfere with their impartiality and fairness in gathering and interpreting the facts. It was recognized that to get this impartiality and fairness it would often be necessary to select persons who had not previously made any special study of Indians and Indian affairs. The Secretary was further assured that, although the Institute for Government Research would make the selections for appointment to the staff, it would discuss with the proper officers of the Interior Department the training, experience, and personal qualifications of the persons considered for special employment so that it might be sure that these officers were reasonably satisfied at the outset. The Institute had no desire to appoint anyone whose work would be discounted from the beginning by officers of the Department or by public spirited citizens interested in the problems considered. Its object would be not to have different sides represented on its staff but to select persons qualified as specialists who had not previously taken sides.

On June 12, 1926, the Secretary of the Interior sent the following letter to the Director of the Institute for Government Research:

The Secretary of the Interior
Washington

June 12, 1926.

Dr. W. F. Willoughby, 26 Jackson Place, N. W., Washington, D.C.

My dear Dr. Willoughby:

Referring to your letter of May 26 in reply to mine of May 21, I am pleased to note that we are in substantial agreement regard-