Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-13

READY FOR THE CONFERENCE.
After the red men had entered the room and
taken their seats, Secretary Villas came in and
took chair at the head Of the room. On his right
were seated the members Of the Sioux commission
and on his left Indian commissioner Ooerly. AS
Interested spectators, were Assistant Secretary
ou secrea,v co 'ns cnes q or tSe
House Indian committee; Mr.. Clifford, delegate
from Dakota, Along the sides Of the room were
and gentlemen from the city.
OPENED WITH PRAYER.
The proceedings were begun with prayer, Of
fered by Rev. Mr.. Cleveland, a member OF the
Sioux commission, in the Sioux language, while
all In the room arose to their feet and remained
standing. he prayed briefly that the Great Spirit
would be present In the meeting and would guide
and direct 10 proper and righteous conclusion.
ADDRESS OF SECRETARY Villas.
Secretary Villas then addressed the Indians, each
sentence, and sometimes portion OF q sentence,
being interpreted as uttered, by the French half
breed interpreter, Louis Primean, who came on
with the Indians The Secretary said: "Y0u have
Travelled a long distance. am glad to see you,
and glad to see you come in white mans dress
hope you Will have pleasant visit here, and that
your coming will be a good thing for you and your
people In the reservation. IA chorus OF "UEhs"
from the Indians, indicating approvaLl The Con-
gress that makes the laws which govern the whole
on the west, and you in your long Journey d,d not
travel half the way-CongresS which makes the
laws for this country, has made this law.
Indians to take sure steps toward civilization,
and that the waste and unused lands on your res
ervations might be settled on and made homes Of
II therefore passed this law and directed me- the
secretary OF the Interior 70 present this law to the
Indians on the reservation. WANTED your people
to understand 1t just as 1t is. caused to be printed
copies OF the laws with map attached. and IN
SUFFICIENT number TO furnish every male Indian
over eighteen yeards Of age with copy, II he
by getting some one to read 1t 70 him
If he doubted the ofr1cal interpreter. ap-
pointed commission OF OF three good men
has had much to do with the Indian people, who
has been in charge Of a school for Indian children
for a great many years; Rev. Mr.. Cleveland, who
years, and who understands your language, and
Judge Wright, lawyer In TINS Department, who
soners 10 make this law plain TO every one OF you
and your people Before sent them out there
directed the agents TO make lists OF the Indians ON
tied to vote on this law. The lists were llade by
the agents and sent to me before the commission
ers lett Washington Congress required that three
fOurJhs OF all the adult Indians SHOULD sign their
consent before this law could 60 into effect. So
that there should be no opportunity for deception
ments. One asserting to the act and accepting,
| the other dissenting from 1t and disagreeing,
and one was printed In black and and
Sioux 1UdIan who came to the table 70 sign e he
could not read English could zee which he was
signing. l told The commissioners, after they
made this act plain to all that they should require
every male Indian above eighteen years OF age to
sign one or the other. told them to bring back
and would lay them before the President so that
he could see what was the Judgment OF each In
dian on that reservation. The commissioners have
| reported to Inc what has been done. l have
learned that except among our good friends at
the Lower Brule agency and q fow at Standing
Rock, you have refused 10 sign the paper. have
learned that your people wished you 70 come to
Washington and to tell me-lO be laid before the
President-wnat your objections or wishes were
glad TO hear them and to hear whatever you wish
TO say. When have heard IL shall c0nsiuer 1t,
and when have decided upon an answer shall
| Call you together and inform you what the Gov
eminent decides. After we have finished the busl-
moss / will take you to the President and
present you 70 MIN so that you may see Inn.
To-day you will have an opportunity 70 say all you
wish and what you wish. do not wish 10 have
you shortened In time, but have much to do and
would like you to be brief a. possible. viii now
hear you"
The secretary then took his seat
WHITE GHOST WANTS THE TALK POSTPONED.
The Indians sat In silence, their impressive faces
giving indication OF the effect OF what the Sec
fetary had said. Presently from the front row on
the right an Indian OF medium weight arose, and
stepping forward with conciiatUry SMILE shook
hands with the secretary. This was White Ghost Of
He wore around his heck one Of those silver medals
which the Government awards TO Indians for
some service to the whites IL bore the medallion
Through an interpreter White Ghost said that
they had Travelled long distance, were tired, and
asked that the talk be postponed until some other
day. secretary Villas replied that arrangements
| had been made TO have the conference to-day and
to continue on Monday. when he expected that It
! would be ended. He had not time for delayS and
he hoped that the Indians would be willing 70 say
This speech caused quite 4 buzz Of conversation
among The Indians. Grasse, who sat in the mid
die, turned in his chair and talked with sitting
Bull and Gall As q result Of this confab
SWIFT BIRD, OF THE CHEYENNE AGENCY
arose and came forward. He automatically pre-
faced his speech by shaking hands with the Sec.
rotary, the members OF the commission and all the
spectators who happened TO occupy the front seats
Then ne 70 sp 20 q
while the skins OF the Indians were red yet he
knew that all men, white ana red, were equal, and
same Creator was the fathcr OF ali. Then he said
the Indians had come long way In the cara, that
they were tired and 1t would DO agreeable TO them
OTHER CHIPS Favor Posrroxrxxxr.
All this was interpreted as the Indians spoke
Then. TO show that this sentiment In favor Of ad-
1ournment was held generally by all the Indians,
others came forward. swift Bear, Of the Pine
and long iron-gray hair, said: II am an old
man, and the wagon came In has almost killed
te you our oSjscons to the law Sus we csn
not 90 II to-day. Our bodies move with the motion
OF the train The speaker illuslrated this By roll
the way the train pitched about
Little wounded, OF the same agency, also graph
icaily described their condition afIsf bsing On the
train for 30 many days
THE FURTHIR HEARMa PooFPoNxD 70 MouDAY
MORNING.
When al had nn1shed speaking the Secretary
said that he appreciated their condition after
their long journey, and would consent % an Id
Journment until 10 O'Clock Monday morning. He
made one condition, that they would select Ger
tain men a. spokesman and that ~ their objec-
tions would be ready TO Be presented % nondsyx
session. The Indians agreed 70 this and the con
ference adjourned. Many OF them AZ they panDed
out stopped TO shake hands with the Indiana
The law which the Indians are asked 70 conssni
20 u the REIMBURSEMENT OF their hight OF ooCupancy
70 about IL 900 acres q the great Sioux rooof.
vaeion In Southern DAKOTA ana the dtv1nion Of thu
remainder into nix separate reoeruAtions for theil
occupancy. The Government has offered them g
cents per acre for ali lands which may hegsafteI
| BE- taken up By actual homeGeeader9 Tue Indianl
AJAX q 26 per acre nor the sufsendered poetaon boi
Y oensvsd sAas they WA accept % cents p
AGRA