Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-24

A novel and somewhat interesting event
occurred at Little Falls, Monday-being a
conference between representative citizens
of Morrison county and delegation of
chiefs and braves, representing a general
council of the Mile Lacs Chippewas, resi-
dent on the small reservation at the foot of
Mile Laos. The Indians numbered six, and
included the principal chiefs of the band.
The whites numbered about thirty, and in
cluded about all the business men of Little
Falls, and a goodly number of other early
settlers of Morrison county. The whites
were called together at request of the Indi-
ans, who came from their reservation to ask
intercession with the government in their
behalf. The meeting was organized by the
whites, on motion of Mr.. Butler, by elect
ing Mr.. Churchill chairman and Mr.. Stivers
secretary. The Indians, through their
spokesman, then explained their situation
and grievances, as follows:
At the time of the troubles 1862 the
Mile Laos, he said, were friends of the
whites. They had seen that tho foolish In
dams who warred against the whites had
been driven away, he knew not where. while
the Mile Laos remained at the place of their
birth. According to their behavior at the
time of the troubles they expected friend
ship at Little Falls, and they now came there
for assistance They had lately heard many
rumors of injury intended to them, and be-
gan to believe these rumors-that certain
WHITE MEN WERE PLOTTING
to drive them from their land. They saw
their agent but once year, when he came
and went in haste. Toey were promised by
the great chief who was killed Nincoln) that
| they should have their reservation as long
as they behaved themselves. Four years
ago all the great men at Washington talked
| friendly to the Mile Laos. The
st. Paul man who was then in Congress said
they should remain as long as they
wanted to on their reservation. We have
always been friendly with the whites. Our
young men are working with whites now,
and they have been told that there is plot
to rob us-that our lands have again been
entered at the land Office. They had no
knowledge that their lands we're coded to the
government. The treaty which it is said
cedes the reservation was made by chiefs
and braves who are dead, but they were not
authorized to cede the land. Hole-in-the-
Day made the treaty. One of their chiefs
was present and received part of the money
given to the treaty That part of the
money they had never used. It was buried.
They knew where it was, but they kept it as
they keep the land. The chief who receiv-
ed the money, before he died, told them to
keep the money, and that the land was still
there to keep as long as they were friends of
the whites.
Such was the substance of the preliminary
statement by the Indians. In a converse
tional discussion which followed among the
whites it transpired that the uneasiness of
the Indians arose from rumors concerning
the following transactions. Under
| oLANDEsTINE ORDER
or ruling by the late Secretary Chandler, the
Mile Laos reservation was declared to be
public lands and subject to entry, in the alb.
sence of any further legislation by Congress
on and after March 18th, 1879. Four years
prior to this last date an attempt made to
enter the lands was negotiated by Secretary
Chandler, but the parties to the attempt
were informed of his ruling or order, which
was concealed from the public and the In
dams, although q certified copy of it was
early pigeon-holed at the White Earth agency
Office. On the 18th of March, 1879, one year
ago, the land Office at Taylors Falls, acting
under this clandestine order, allow
torney in fact, to file about
the Mile Laos lands taking about two
| h. al l.,
pine lands, most of the lands fit for cnltiva-
ton and the best water privileges. Although
Mr.. Walker appeared as attorney in fact, it
is only an open secret that the real parties
to the transaction are specializing capitalists
(two) Of st. Paul and Saltwater, who may
or may not have Mr. Walker and others for
partners. While the operation would nat
urally alarm the Indians, who are greatly at
tached to the locality and who have before
been not little damaged in their property
by lumbermen and pine grabbers, it is also
in the line of taking advantage of the white
residents of the State, who, if the lands are
for sale, ought to have an equal chance at
buying them. But it appears that Secretary
Schurz, Immediately upon the filings made
edge, peremptorily directed that the entries
De CduCclou blu poISOuouy BOW tuos uio oi-
rection was obeyed. The st. Paul and Still
water Spectators have, however, appealed to
the supreme court of the United States and
mean, it is thought, to hold the matter in
allegiance until some one more complaisant
than "the id -Dutchman," as they term
him, becomes secretary of the interior.
The Indian spokesman, following the ex-
plantations made by their white friends, COR
tinued as follows: You understand now why
we have come to ask your help. All We
want is our small reservation. We claim it
and believe we ought to retain it. We want
to make an agreement with the government
for the future. It seems to US that we are
tied and cannot mOve-perhaps, because of
our good behavior; for those Indians who
make trouble have houses, cattle and farms,
while we can get nothing from the govern
ment. am afraid of that paper, pointing
to a statement of the alleged entry of their
lands) III cannot tell what it amounts to, but
it seems to me as if it were match intended
to burn up our country. You know our de-
sires and we appeal to you to help Us.
STATE SENATOR SIMMONS