Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1881-07-30
McLAUGHLlN's PLAN.
The New Agent at Standing Rock Out
lines His Policy.

The New Agent at Standing Rock Out
lines His Policy.
st. Paul Pioneer Press.
One of the most thoroughly posted
men in the nation orr Sioux characteris-
tics, prejudices and dealings is Major
James Mclaughlin, who left last even
ing for Devils Lake, where he has been
agent tor many years and has gained
wide reputation for conscientiousress
and ability in dealing with his charge.
A Pioneer Press representative had
friendly chat with Maj. Mclaughlin yes
terday, and the subject of the prospec-
tive treatment of those so recently hos.
tile came up. Major Mclaughlin freely
recognized the difficulties Of the posi-
ton, but said:
Having accepted the charge of the
agency will not let the word fail en-
ter my mind even. I know shall sue,
coed with these follows, as have with
their conquerers above. Without having
any definite plans may say it shall be
my endeavor to gain the confidence of
the worst chiefs and head men first. Let
me but succeed in making them feel that
while 1 will not tolerate insubordinatios
I am still through and through theft
friend; that I have neither reason nor
wish to deceive or in any way unjustly
treat them, and the rest will be compar-
atively easy. know their characters SO
thoroughly and how largely distrust en-
ters into it and warps their Judgment.
OF course the nomadic instincts and
longings for the absolutely unfettered
liberty of the plains and the mountains
will come strongly over the recently sur
rendered braves at times will have to be
kindly yet firmly combatted; but tell
you, my friend, while I believe as you
have said. that it is far from impossible
that Sitting Bull even now meditates an
| escape from the reservation when he
shall have been fed and clad, and has
had an opportunity to regain his lost in
tiuence over the people, I believe none
the less fully that by this time next sum-
mer that redoubtable chief will have
changed his desires and have become an
Agency Indian in the better meaning of
the term. I shall convince him first,
that the whites mean him no harm and
bear him naught of malice, and then by
some little preferment or authority-al-
most intangible in itself, but to man
who believed he might be hung
when captured, very great deal-he
can gradually be induced to learn the
| W. ueA odAe AAo DcSI 1uGcleStS Will De
subserved by obedience to the powers
that be. Maybe I'm trife too san.
guine and little Utopian in my ideas.
but hope not. The treatment that
will win with Sitting Bull will with such
notifications or alterations as tempera.
ment may dictate, be successful in the
case of other chiefs, and you see whether
don't, in few years, have peaceful
| 0y1 n Vpn11 I;e,,o,o.l la IL.
One thing, among others, Maj. Nc.
Laughlin has in his favor is his harmony
with the military authorities. In the
years he has served as agent at Devils
Lake, not a breath of discord nor a
suspicion of iarring unpleasantness has
occurred between him and the several
officers commanding at Fort Totten;
while, on the contrary, the writer has
heard, over and over again, from army
officers expressions not only of approval,
but of warm regard for Maj. Mclaughlin,
many of them characterizing him as the
model Indian agent in the United States.