St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-08
FIRST BLOOD FOR LO.
Standing Rock Sioux EN-
phatieally Decline to Sign
the Treaty.
For the Present Negotiations
With Them Are at
an End.
The Commissioners Will Now
Tackle the Redskins at
Cheyenne.
Duluth & Iron Range Railway
Brakemen Strike for
Higher Wages.

Special to the Globe.
STANDING Rock, Dak., Aug 7.-At
last the persistent and hopeful commits
sioners have realized that ignominous
defeat in the matter of opening the
Sioux reservation stares them in the
face. The uncalled for insults which
Chairman Pratt has given to
the naughty chiefs of the
tribes intensified the opposition of
the Indians, and instead of
making ''break in the rank and file''
of the braves, solidified the opposition
and cemented the friendship of the
factions. The matter was virtually
settled to-day when John Grass arose
in conference and Informed the COM
miSsiOnerS that the Indians would sign
neither paper, and that they would
now return to their farms regardless
of what the commissioners might say.
Grass made pointed speech which met
with the applause of the Indians, and
as soon as he closed the circle was
broken and the Indians started for home.
ALI efforts of Chairman Pratt to control
the Indians were futile, but Agent Nc
Laughlin succeeded IN restoring quiet
and had the conference adjourned with
a Semblance of order. 1t was most
humiliating scene. The representatives
of the government of the United States
sent to confer with the Indians were
left standing helpless and hopeless,
while the Indians, who have repeatedly
rendered their decisions not to sign, left
with contempt depicted upon their
countenances. Two of the commis-
r;rh oe
nessee, and the Rev. Mr.. Cleveland, of
Dakota, have been inclined to fair
and decent policy which, if adopted,
might have secured the consent of the
Indians. but unfortunately the man Sc
lected as chairman has attempted to
pursue the same tactics with the war
riorS of the reservation that he EN-
plOyeS in ruling few
WEAK-MINDED INDIAN CHILDREN.
at Carlisle, Pa. For days it has been
apparent that the Indians were grow
ing more bitter in their opposition to
the treaty daily, but not until to-day
did Pratt realize the fact. Pulled up
with his Importance in the East where
educateS the whites to believe that he is
the greatest Indian controller in the
country, he has been slow to
believe that he knows absolutely moth
ing of the true Indian character. For
the past week he has had control of the
telegraph wire, and has been debating
SO-called news, which has been miSlead-
ing and unfair to the newspapers de-
pending upon his services. At last the
conference has been closed, not
by the commissioners, but by the
Indians, and he can no longer
blind the public with his silly reports of
the great work which he is accomplish
ing. The conference was virtually
of the Indians, when they decided that
to-day they would leave the agency.
The reports which have been brought
by Indian cOurierS from the lower
agencies have been as discouraging as
those sent from this point. and the
opening of the reservation under the
| present act is now considered
AMONG THE IMPOSSIBuITIEs.
Red Cloud sent word that the Indians
at Pine Ridge would not sign, and that
| if the Standing Rock Indians signed
| their action would have no effect upon
his people. 1t is fact. however, that
| many of the doubling Indians at some
| of the lower agencies have been await
| ing the action of Gall, Mad Bear,
John Grass and Sitting Bull, and that
|
| settles the matter beyond all hope of a
| change. Sitting Bulls social call upon
| the commissioners gave Chairman Pratt
| renewed hope, but the cunning old Bull
| was simply giving him all exhibition of
| his diplomacy and of the good training
| he received while on his Eastern tour
| The great man of the tribe Is Chief
| Gall, and to-day's action on the part of
| the Indians left no doubt as to
HIS POWER AND INFLUENCE.
| In the council when ever he spoke of
| the attempt of the commission to divest
| him of the authority to speak for the
| Indians. his followers would give vent
| to their Indignation in the most startling
manner, while every declaration that
| he would remain firm in the decision
| not to accept the treaty was
greeted with trumultuOus applause.
| Last night he said: ''For many days
| we have waited here to hear what those
commissioners had to say. They have
| told us nothing new since we said to
them that we would not sign. We told
them that we would not give them our
| lands, and that we would sign neither
paper, and they said to us that
we would be compelled to sign
one or the other of the papers. Never
before did | hear that man <could he
forced to sign paper unless he wanted
to, and | do not believe they can force
| us. The great father in Washington
never told us that we would have to
sign one or the other of the papers: the
treaty read to US by our educated young
men does not say that we must sign
either of the papers, and when these
| men tell us that we can be forced they
lEHe." At this iuncture the Indians
SpRANG To THEIR FEET
and applauded and when the quiet was
restored John Grass in brief speech
| called for q vote on the treaty. When
he called on those willing to sign NO
not an Indian arose; when he called fol
those who would sign "Yes," every
man remained motionless on the ground
but when he requested those who would
sign neither paper to rise, every man
rose with cheers and WhOopS anC
wells of determination. An inkling oil
the decision Of the Indians reached the
ears of the commissioners and this morn
ing the impatience of the reds became
so apparent that it was deemed adviS
/ able to hold a conference to-day instead
of waiting until tomorrow. as had beer
intended. Calling the conference to or
der, the commissioners again warned
| the Indians of what would follow theil
refusal to sign, and informed them tina
unless they accepted this treaty thei
lands might be
TAKEN EROM THEM
I without giving them a cent for them
But the speeches of the commissioners
| had no effect, and when John Grass anc
4 Mad Bear replied it was evident tha
a. IL t1r<6 al, Tl,a,