Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-03-21

ask, whence comes so much knowledge
Ii Mr.. Fem or any Of his admirers de-
sire to make the acquaintance of chief
Moses, who is full. blood Nez Perce,
will be pleased to introduce him. or
them to the old man at any time. Old
Moses together with George Timothy
and Levi were the ack nowledged chiefs
Of the bands living On the Alpowa and
vicinity, and his son. James Moses, was
sub chief for three years at this agency.
and drew his salary provided BY law.
Old Moses moved on the reserve in
1872.
As regards the statement made by
Mr.. Fem pertaining to certain petit
ton gotten up by the representative
men Of the Nez Perez tribe Of Indians,
| must call upon yourself, Mr.. Editor,
to bear me out 10 the following: The
petition in question was forwarded you
by Mr.. Frank Fem of Mt. Idaho I. T.,
son Of the delegate 10 Congress, who re-
quested you to forward the petition to
Mr.. P. B. Whitman at this agency, and
have him (Whitman) translate it into
The vernacular of the Nee Perez tribe.
In said letter OF Mr.. Frank Fenu's he
stated that he had previously sent the
petition over to Rev. Mr.. Fec at Kan.
iah, to ascertain bis views and have it
interpreted to the Indians at that sta
ton; that the petition had been received
back and Mr.. Fee favored the idea set
forth in said document. Upon receipt
Of the petition you forwarded it, to-
gether with Mr.. Frank Fenp's letter to
yourself, TO Mr.. Whitman, with short
mute from yourself. After Mr.. Whit.
man had read the three papers he
handed them to me to read and asked
what h, should do with them. told
Mr.. Whitman to do as he desired IN
the matter, but. would suggest that on
the following Sunday, when most of
the Indians from this part OF tho re-
serve would be in attendance at church,
he interpret the petition in question to
them, which was doue. Mr.. Whitman
was free to act his pleasure in this
matter, as yourself.
| come next to Capt. Falck's report
of the council. | was not instructed to
invite any one to attend the council.
still did invite Hon. II. 0. Adams OF
your city, who accepted the invitation,
and would have invited Gen. Wheaton,
commanding District Clearwater, had
he been at home. The council was no
more tho business Of the military than
Of the citizens OF the surrounding coun
try. BY his actions, Capt. Falck has
shown himself to be one who is ready
to listen to the complaints of Indians on
the reserve, aud compromise the digni
ty OF his position by meddling with
matters which do not come under his
jurisdiction, and that too while in tenn
porary command of a post. In this
connection desire 20 brand as 40 abso
lutte untruth, a statement you made in
an editorial published in an issue Of
your paper some few weeks alter the
council above referred to was held.
You stated that had never referred
to the Iniians the matter Of homestead
ing l60 acres Of land. although had
been instructed so to do by the Interior
Department. When your attention was
called to the erroneousness Of said
statement yon gave Capt. Falck as your
informant. desire to state that that
matter was referred to the Indians for
their consideration in the Spring Of
1878, and all, with the exceptions Of
lev living on the Cottonwood expressed
themselves as opposed to it.
Mr.. Fem in the course Of his re,
marks says Capt. Falck authorized him
to "speak fully" pertaining to the coun
Gil Of August 18th 1873, and Mr.. Fem
with Capt. Falck's permission. states
that. contrary to my instructions, /
made ''long speech" against the trans.
fer. This is intended to convey the
idea tina. | made said speech" prior
to the Indians expressing their desire
as to the transfcr, and that / endeay-
orej to influence the Indians to express
themselves as opposed to the transfer.
This ! pronounce simply false. aud can
refer the matter to Lieut.. Williams Of