Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-05-21
Another Indian Talk.

RED CLOUD, SPOTTED TAIL, LONE HORN
AND OTHER CHIEFS INTERVIEW THE
COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Red Cloud and Spotted Tail, the Sioux
chiefs, accompanied by their Interpreters,
visited the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs
this morning and somewhat imperiously de-
manded that their headquarters at the Ire
mont House be at once changed to the Wash
ln9ton House, where they stopped when here
before, for the reason that theN rooms at the
fremont are too small. The Commissioner
promptly and decisively informed them that
the change could not be made. He would
however, If they desired ii, give them a camp
and supply them with tents and good fool
but they would not be allowed TO 90 to the
Washington House, and they must saw no
more about il. Both of the big Indians
seemed TO take umbrage at the decision of
the Commissioner, and Red Cloud said that
ne would not go into camp-that he wanted
his old headquarters or norn at all. They
then left apparently in hun. The Com
missioner has secured another parlor at their
hotel large enough for a council should they
desire To hold one.
LONE HORNS PARTY HAVE AN INTERVIEW
Lone Horn, and the other chiefs of the
cheyenne river Sioux, had talk with Com
missioner Smith and Gen. Cowen, acting
Secretary of the Interior, this morning The
principal speech was made by Long Man.
dan, an old man wearing green goggles. He
complained of short rations and annuities,
and said his people do not have all the oxen
and wagons they need. They want horses
and guns. II they had guns they would not
eat so much beef, and it seemed hard when
they do not have all they want to eat that
the Great Father would not give them guns
TO xii antelOpes and duck. They have three
hundred houses, and each family has piece
OF cultivated ground. They also have some
schools.
The Commissioner said all the trouble
about rations arose from the fact that their
numbers had increased by nearly four thou
sand (Black Hill Indians) since the esti-
mates were made, and that If they fed their
cousins they must expect to be short them
selves. The difficulty in the way of supply
ing them with guns was that some bad In
GUNS To SHOOT WHITE MEN,
and he was afraid TO let even good Indians
have them, for fear they would loan or sell
them to the bad Indians. He asked if muZ-
e-loaders would do to shoot antelopes and
ducks, and Long Mandan replied in the neg
alive, saying they preferred Winchester RI
fies.
Charger said few words, after Which
White Swan said it could not be possible
that all agents are under one Great Father,
because some OF them give more than others.
He complained that Red Cloud and Spotted
Tail got more than their share
The Commissioner said that formerly Red
Cloud and Spotted Tails people were not
counted. They are now counted, and receive
no more than what they are justly entitled to.
White Swan said he had always noticed
that the worse an Indian behaves the more
reply, evidently remembering the fact that
Congress In making appropriations never
asks whether tribes deserve aid, but whether
they will fight If they don't get it. II the an
swer to the question Is in the affirmative, the
aid is always granted.
During the interview the commissioner
called up Spotted Elk, Black Hills chief,
and asked him about his country. He re-
piled, II don't brag about the Black Hills
country when I'm talking to white men, but
love 1t and don't want to leave it."
PROF. MARSH WANTS TO SEE THE BIG
CHIEFS
"a Mr.. Marsh" who recently arrived
from the Red Cloud agency with q Specimen
Of -four which Red Cloud gave him as having
been issued by the agent, is in the city, and
stopping at Wormley's. He has sent his
card to Red Cloud and Spotted Tail, and re-
quested them to make him visit. These
chiefs, however, have been reminded that
the Great Father advised them the other
day not to have any communication with
white men, except I'm the presence of either
the Secretary OF the Interior or the Commits
sioner Of Indian Affairs, and the suggestion
made that they invite Prof Marsh 70 visit
them at the Interior department, where they
can have Q talk through interpreters.