The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-08-16
rHr poW.WoW ENDS.
The Standing Rock 1adians Absolutely Refuse Il
Sign the Treaty.

Sign the Treaty.
News from Standing Rock Agency says the
council with the Indians upon the treaty for
opening the Sioux reservation has broken up
and adjourned.
Each Of the commissioners, in we'll consid.
cred and earnest addresses, warned the 1ndi.
ans of the bad results likely to occur in the
case OF their refusal to accept the offer of the
government. Before the meeting of the coun.
Gil the commissioners knew that it had been
determined by the Indians to go home.
In the open council John Grass
Indians to refuse to sign either paper. They
started to leave, when Agent Mclaughlin
arose and ordered them to remain, which
they did. The commissioners finally ad.
journed the council and told the Indians to
so home and attend to their crops
and the commissioners would proceed
to other agencies; when the Standing Rock
given them. Then they dispersed quietly
and set out for their homes. Every possible
argument has been made to induce the In
dams to consent. 1t is certain that they
had determined in their councils long before
the arrival of the commissioners to reject the
offer. Reports from the lower agencies are
very conflicting. The next agency visited
will be the Cheyenne River.
Another dispatch says: The language Of
Chairman Pratt to the naughty chiefs of the
tribes intensified the opposition Of the In
diaps, and instead of making break in
mented the friendship Of the factions. The
matter was virtually settled when John
Grass arose in conference, and informed
the commission that the Indians would
sign neither papers, and that they would
now return to their farms regardless Of
what the commissioners might say. As
soon as Grass closed the circle was broken
q M no md otcr tod for <Io
efforts of Chairman Pratt to control the In
dams were futile, but Agent Mclaughlin sue
ceeued in restoring quiet and have the con-
ference adjourn with semblance Of order.
1t was most humiliating scene. Tho rep
resentatives of the government Of the United
States sent to confer with tho Indians were
left standing helpless and hopeless while tho
Indians who had repeatedly rendered their
decision not to sign left the conference with
contempt depicted upon their countenances.
When jain Gross, after his brief speech,
called for those to sign "No," not an Indian
arose. When he called for those who sign
"Ies,' every man remained motionless on
the ground. But when no requested those
who would sign neither paper to arise, every
man rose with cheers and yells.
II. Dunbar, issue clerk at the Rosebud
agency, Oak, and J. A. Nebzer, chief of po-
lice, say that they have asked the opinions
of over q thousand Indians during the past
reservation, and not ono of them was In ia
vor oft. Last week the Indians at Rosebud
had big council composed Of over sixty
chiefs and head men, in which all the agencies
were represented, and they unanimously
pledged themselves not to sign and to uso al
doing so.
The failure of the Sioux commission to secure
the consent Of tho Indians to any Of tho agree
ments is very Notifying to the interior de-
partment officials, for Secretary Villas has
taken greater interest In the success Of the
proposed opening of tho reservation than in
anything else coming under his admins
with a special reference to their ability
to deal with the Indians, but such
was his anxiety to secure an army officer
| that after Crook and Ruger declined to serve
he selected Capt. Pratt Of tho Carlisle school,
for the place. 1t seems to have been an un-
department are inclined to place upon Pratt's
shoulders the larger share of the responsible
ity for the present attitude of the Indians.
"Pratt plunged right in there and attempted
to bulldoze the Indians" said one angry
| official land no has not succeeded. He
Is martinez and Gun do nothing
except in q brutal way. He was captain
in a negro regiment before he went to the
school and could knock his men around az
he saw fit. Then he got control of a large
number Of Indian children at Carlisle, and
there he could bulldozc and boss things lie
used to treat people in this department
much the same until he got setback a while
ago. Now he has gone at this work Of deli
cate diplomacy like a bullin q china shop, and,
of course, he'll fall
This opinion of Pratt exceeds to several
other government departments that have
dealings with him. The other members OF
the commission could, it il thought, secure
the consent of tho Indians if it were not for
Pratt.