St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-01
Cut Worms Doing Consid era
BILE Damage Around
Grand Forks.
Fatal Shooting Afr ay at Hee-
tor, Minn., Between
Relations.
Special to the GIohn


than ever their opposition to the treaty.
Last night the Indians had council,
in which every one of their number
over eighteen years of age was present.
and speeches more earnest and fiery
than ever were made by the chiefs.
After speeches by Gall, John Grass,
Mad. Bear and others of prominence, a
vote was taken on the proposed accept
ance of the treaty, and every duskv
. warrior shouted "no." Not satisfied
with this the most solemn scene of the
week was enacted by every Indian TAX
, ing an
OATH TO THE GREAT SPIRIT
the treaty: that he would sign neither
the black paper, which meant yes, nor
the red paper, which means no. Had
the commissioners been cognizant of
the facts when they met in conference
this morning. they would not have been
so hopeful. The commissioners opened
the conference promptly at o'clock
this morning, all the Indians being
present, including Sitting Bull. who ar
rived last evening. The old rascal
is sullen and reticent, but he informed
an interpreter that he would never con-
sent to the signing of the treaty by any
of his friends, and that he thought the
proposition was all in favor of the white
men. After opening the conference,
Chairman Pratt introduced Gov. Church,
who arrived at the agency last evening.
The governor spoke to the Indians for
thirty minutes, and delivered what was
considered very convincing and effect
i've speech. He did all he could to con-
vince the Indians that the treaty was
FOR THEIR BEST INTERESTS,
and evidently made quite an impression
upon their minds. Agent Mclaughlin
tnen spoke. and as he has the confidence
ofthe Indians it was thought he would
be able to win them over in favor of. the
treaty. He pleaded earnestly for the
measure, and was followed by Judge
Wright. who occupied about thirty min
utes. But all of the speeches were
without effect so far as any evidence of
change could be found in the replies
of the Indians. John Grass was
the first of the Indians to reply.
He said: "Why do you want our lands?
Have you not enough land for the white
people? Look across the river'' (poin t.
ing to the opposite side of the MissourD.
''yOu will see a house here and there.
miles apart. Why do your white people
not take that land and let us alone? You
are not paying us enough for our land.
Fifty cents an acre is not enough. Our
land must be worth much more to the
white men, for when they first come
here they are very poor, and after they
have been here some time they (pointing
to the commissioners and the GOVERNOR
are dressed very we'll"
WILL NOT SIGN EITHER PAPER
Grass maintained his reputation as
cunning speaker and won applause
from Indians
next. He strongly opposed the treaty.
Among other 4hingS, he said in reply to
the commission: II do not believe
the Great Fathers heart will be
bad if we do not sign, and 1
will not sign'' This was rather
discOuraging to the commissioners. but
they will not give UP yet, and will hold
another conference tomorrow. Sitting
Bull said this afternoon that he would
not consent to the opening of the reser-
vation. and the chiefs informed the
commissioners of the action of the In
dianS in taking an oath to the Great
Spirit that they would never sign. All
INTEREST -CENTERS IN SITTING RULL,
but he refuses to have much to say. He
would not enter the circle to-day, but
during the conference sat outside on
his pony with Rain-in- -the-Face, who also
declined to join the circle. Sitting Bull.
Rain-in-the-Face. Long Dog and Circling
Bear are the most bitter of the Indians.
and those who think they have no in
fiuence among their people are mis-
taken. 1t is worthy of consideration
that within few hours from the time
of Sitting Bulls arrival at the agency
the oath to the Great Spirit was taken.
and as Sitting Bull was the medicine
man of the nation during the great In
dian wars, this is known to be one of his
tactics in controlling the tribes. Sitting
Bull didn't propose the oath in open
council. but his emisSarieS and lieuten-
ants were Sprinkled through the circle
and did his work for him. There has
been much disappointment among
visitors who have been deSir-
Gus of hearing Gall speak, for
he has thus far spoken but few
words to the commissioners. 1t looks
as though he has said all that he intends
to say to them. and that he has finished.
He does his speaking in the Indian
councils where he is the greatest
leader in the nation. and he sits
in the conference as mighty
watch dog to see that his
followers do not waver. Sitting Bull
will not have much to say until there is
evidence that the Indians Will sign, and
then he will be heard from. It was eX-
pected that Running Antelope would
be friendly to the proposition. He has
always been friendly to the whites, and
was at one time considered the
GREATEST ORATOR OF THE SIOUX.
| nation. In his case the commissioners
have also been disappointed, as he is
strongly opposed to the treaty. The
| Indians are having good time of it, as
they are being fed by the commission
ers, and there can be no doubt of their
| plan to remain until next ration day,
/ and then to bid the commission adieu.
Red Cloud, the great chief of the Pine
Ridge Sioux agency, is still indus
triOusly at work among the
tribes - stirring up opposition.
and he cannot be suppressed
| Sitting Bull and Red Cloud were the
| leaders in movement several months
ago to go to Washington with delega-
ton of Indians to talk to the president
on the treaty. They said they
were willing to pay their own
expenses in order to talk
directto the president and not as they
feared be deceived by commissioners.
| Having been refused this privilege they
are greatly incensed and this is one of
the secrets of their bitter opposition.
! TO-morrOW'S conference will be inter-