The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-08-23
THE COUNCIL BOARD.
Another Indian POw-WOw at the In
terror Department..


terror Department.
There was another consultation at the
Interior Department this morning between
the visiting Indian delegates and Secretary
Kirkwood. There were moro delegates
present than yesterday and quite an attend
ance of ladies and children. Most of the
chiefs, evidently tired of store toys, APP
pcared In their fantastic costumes one old
fellow, with o ring through his nose and
wearing immense shell earrings appearing
with blanket and tomahawk, moccasins
and bran-new plug-hat with feather
in it. The superintendent of the In
dim police, Capt. Swords, who GRATED
yesterday, was one Of the most conspicuous
of those present, being attired in an clabo-
rate new uniform of dark blue with brass
buttons, corded around the edges with red,
having red stripes down the side of his
trowscrs. To this was added white hat
and gaudy Japanese fan, and on the breast
of his coat was large German silver star,
his badge of office. His hair was parted in
the centre and hung down over his shoulders
in long plaits. So neat and gay did he look,
in fact, Major Brock and all ordinary police
superintcndents would pale before his elc-
gancc. lI
was the first orator. He remained in his
seat while speaking, and used his gold
headed cane with effect when gesticulating.
He spoke in his native tongue through In
terpreter Williamson. The first point
touched upon by White Thunder referred
to certain white men who were living upon
their reservation who had learned that the
Government had threatened to drive them
off. White Thunder maintained that they
were good people and liked by his tribe, but
not much work could be gotten
out of them because they stood
in constant dread of being ordered of
by the Government. Great Father" said
White Thunder, "there are about seventy
of these white men with Indian families,
many of them with children. Their wives
are our sisters, their children our nephews
and nieces. We want them to stay. They
are our friends, and we can't say any thing
against them. If we did not like them we
would have driven them off long ago."
Secretary Kirkwood-"Are not these
whites
A Set Of Dirty Loafcrs,
who have settled down there to 'live off the
Indians?"
White Thunder" Great Father, there
are such who sometimes come and try to
get into our tribe but we drive them of
promptly. Those now there will work II
let alone"
Secretary Kirkwood-"D Do you not think
their remaining will do harm?"
White Thunder" If they are managed
right they will be good men to have among
us. If you treat them right they will be a
help to us.
Secretary Kirkwood-" Yet am still in
clined to believe that many of them are
loafers. fs-
White Thunder" then, Great
Father, we will say this: Suppose you treat
all Of those who have been with us ten
years or more as half-brecds, and drive all
of the rest of. ?"
White Thunder then devoted his atten-
ton to the question of supplies and asked
that when such were forwarded that the
Indians be furnished with memorandum,
or something by which they could learn
whether they received just what had been
forwarded, intiniating that the agents did
not always deliver all their goods. He also
complained that the agents were not willing
to pay the Indians the same price for haul
ing freights as was paid to white men. The
Secretary promised to regulate these
matters; and with reference to pay
for work, said it was his desire
that there should be no discrimi-
nation between the Indians and whites.
The question then arose as to the time when
annuities and supplies to be allowed White
Thundcr's tribe expired under the treaties
of 1868 and 1876. 1t was shown to White
Thunder's satisfaction that the annuities
ceased at the expiration of thirty years
from the first named date above, and that
there was no time fixed by law for cutting
Off supplies. C "
Red Man BETTER Informed Than
White Man.
IL 4 4.
up the treaty question referred to above, and
placed such a wrong construction upon the
matter that White Thunder said to the in
tcrpreter, impatiently Z" Ask him what he
knows about It anyhow This. when re-
peated to the Secretary, caused the latter to
laugh, as did all in the room, with amuse.
ment, as it was shown by the law that the
views of White Thunder on the subject
were correct. White Thunder then spoke
of the satisfactory progress of affairs gener-
ally with his people and ut the agency, and
concluded. The Indians then departed for
their hotel and dinner. t II af7
The Afternoon session
began at o'clock. The only chiefs present
were White Thunder, Red Cloud, Young
Man Afraid His-Horsesa and Capt. Swords
The latter had received an addition
to his new uniform in the shape
of policeman's baton, with elaborate
red cord and tassel. All the Indians
smoked cigarettes, and, though there were
ladies in the room, did not seem to care for
their presence Young Man Afraid-of- His
Horses seemed particularly interested in the
ladies, and while the other chiefs talked,
he employed the time posing and smiling
for their edificatiOn, very much after the
manner of the average masher.
White Thunder resumed his Grafton COM
menced in the morning. The topic entered
upon was interesting. 1t was little cleo
pioneering on his own hook, and he man.
aged it after the most approved STYLE even
excelling the average shrewd Virginia pol.
itician. He called attention to the
recent death of Chief Spotted
Tail, and explained that it was
necessary for some one to be designated to
carry on his work, and suggested that he be
appointed to succeed him. He explained
that at the time of Spotted Tails death
there were only four head chiefs of the ma
tion Spotted Tail, two other chiefs, now too
old to be Of service, and himself, and rs the
matter stood all the work would fall upon
him anyhow, and he felt sure that he had
the confidence of his people. Such promo
tions were customary with his people.
Secretary Kirkwood said he did not care
anything about customs. What he wanted
to know was whether the Indians did not
have laws governing such subjects. The
white men had laws which were satisfac-
tory in cases of this kind. " For instance.