Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-10-19
THE SIOUN IN WASHINGTON.
A Conference with Secretary Villas
Speeches by the Chiefs.

A Conference with secretary Villas
speeches by the Chiefs.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15.-The Sioux In
dian chiefs began conference with the
secretary of the interior this morning.
The conference WAS opened with prayer
in the Sioux language by Rev. MIR. Cleve-
land, member of the commission, when
he repeated the Lords prayer some of the
Indians repeated it with him. Secretary
Villas asked the Indians to state freely
their objections to the proposed law pro-
viding for the sale of portion of the
great Sioux reservation in south Dakota.
Sitting Bull said he simply wished to say
he belonged to the government of the
United States and when he addressed the
secretary and members Of the commission
as my friends" he did so because he was
one of the people. The Indians he said
wished to speak in regard to this law men
men and he hoped everything would be
done in a quiet manner. His words
| caused chorus Of approving "ughs" from
the other Indians.
John Grassbock, a speaker among the
| Indians, then took the floor. He spoke
slowly, and stopped frequently to consult
with the Indians seated near him. lie
apologized for taking time for consulta-
| ton, by saying he was Ignorant and could
not use notes. He therefore made use OF
the Indians as note books. He spoke for
about an hour. He said he had never OPP
posed the bill as whole, but only as TO
some of its parts. In speaking OF the
treaties of 1868 and 1876, he asked why the
obligations of these treaties had
never been fulfilled by the government.
Under the former treaty the money due
them had never been paid and the school
had not been established until 10 years
| ago. Pointing to map he nad taken
from his pocket he asserted that the west,
ern boundry line of the reservation should
belong away west of It's present location
and he wanted TO know who moved this
line who had gotten the land that rl9ht
fully belonged to them. That portion OF the
reservation the government proposes tt
take contains more than II ,oGo O'
acres. He now thought instead o.
fifty cents per acre they ousn,
sells its lands for. He maintained tina Il
was wrong to give the heads OF famllle,
double the amount given the women ant
children and said the old men would sool
die, and therefore would not need so nNtl
land as the young men who hai the oNI
way to make. Speeches were made ny 4
: chiefs who repeated the poln's rt'a,i D..
} Grassbock. Big Name OF The % yer prL!
| agency, announced himself "A i"F'r Z
the law and he was the only soeaSet "b'
was in favor OF it, Waite Gho'f Nu'
Drifting Goose of Grow Creek a.'> az
claimed the members of the coLwos-i
endeayored to secure the compi anc, 4"
the Indians by harsh words. They re-
clared the comm Issi0ners seized the III
) daus and dragged them forward TO ~
table to sign the paper. COmmisslol Q
! Cleveland told to the @ orters VIII
sat next to him to languag
! used 10y these Indians was hyper
= bolic and of course force In ~
2 form was used or attempted to be, used
: $ cretary Villas told the chlets All lht
: mad said would be laid before Ire pros
dent and they would be informed OF hi
decision. The conference then az journec