St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-15
HOPE SLOWLY FADING.
The Prospects of the Passage of the Sioux
Reservation Bill by the House
Not Good.
Heroic Work Being Done for the Meas
ure by Messrs. McManima and
Mcclure of Pierre.
DELEGATE Gifford's Near-Sightedness
Gives People the Impression
That He is Stuck Up.
H. NJ. Days Umbrella to be Called
for by Its owner About
the Ist of June.
A disappointing Outlook.

Special TO the GLOBE.
WASHINGTON, May 14.-There is to be
another disappointment for the people of
the empire. Those who favor the Sioux
bill and hope for the opening of the reser-
Walton are liable TO be sadly mistaken III
their anticipations. There are lowering
clouds, and there is not single fringe of
silver on them. AS the 9th and Goth of
May approach, the days upon which the
bill viii be considered by the house, the
faces of the champions of the bill grow
longer and their smiles fade away when
thew speak of the measure. The arrival of
McNIanima of Pierre was big REINFORCE
ment for the bill, but even he does not look
so CHEEKY nor speak so chirpily as erStwhile
when the fight was young. His alter ego,
Mcclure always sees the rOSeate tintS of
the picture, and cannot or will not look at
the shadows He is ever hopeful but he
doesn't talk as freely as he used to do. 1t
is evident that there is something going
wrong and that the friends of the bill are
apprehensive. 1t is to be regretted that it
is so. Nothing of more importance for the
welfare of the territory has been conceived
or attempted for long time. The opening
of the reservation means liberty and progress
to all the river towns. Its retention by the
Sioux means almost starvation to all. 1t
will be financial ruin to many. The prob
ability of a discussion in the house grows
daily, and the
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
indicate an acrimonious debate. There are
members of the house whose influence and
opinions cannot be belittled who consider
the bill as it stands an act of injustice to
S,,ta flnNr will fi.rirt
terly. The only question is whether the
merits of the measure will counterbalance
its dement's and secure its passage. 1t is
possible that the Objectionable features may
be eliminated. for the friends of the bill ale
willing to make any concessions; and then
again, it may be that the merit possessed in
the mere fact of the need of the action may
cause those who object to consent to its
passage as all act pro bono publlco. In
other words. there may be members who
will vote for it on the principle that it is
right to do wrong, that good may come of
it. An important factor in the matter is
that the chairman of the committee, Hon.
DIN Wellborn of Texas, is warmly in
favor of the bill. He unhesitatingly says
that the reservation should be opened at
the earliest possible date, as matter of
general good or the greatest good to the
1t is unfortunate, however, that there are
members of the committee who are almost
as powerful before the house. who will OPP
pose it. Indeed. Mr.. Wellborn recognizes
some of the defects of the bill, but is will
ing to overlook them for the time. Others
are
NOT so CHARITABLE.
It has been asserted by some that even
Mi. Wellborn has thought of antagoniZing
the bill. in some of its parts, and it is
feared that he may yet do so. Letters and
petitions are coming into the house end of
the capitol from the people, urging the
passage of the bill or any sort of substitute
for it, in order that the land may be thrown
open to settlement. A senator who is in
favor of the bill, who voted for it when it
passed the senate, says that he will will
not only vote for almost any amended bill
on the subject. but that he believes so
strongly in the merits of the measure
that he is almost tempted to seek an inter-
view with the house committee in order to
urge his views upon them. So you will
see the bill is not without its earnest cham
pions. Moreover, I have seen MeSsrs.
McManima and Mcclure in the house, day
after day, working with the members. eX-
planning all the features of the matter to
them, so that they may be able to vote
knowingly upon the bill when it comes up
for final action. At the same time, they
use every endeavor to make friends for their
bill, and they are quite successful. L have
seen a great deal of lobbying, good. bad
and Indifferent done in the capitol. but
never have known any to work so persist
emily and courageously for any scheme as
these gentlemen are doing. Pierre and the
entire section interested ought to be proud
of the men who are looking after this
important matter. Nevertheless, although
the GLOBE and its representative are awake
to the interests of all portions of the
empire, it is not safe to predict success just
now in this matter.