The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-08-16
THE pow.wow ENDS.
The Standing Rock Indians Absolutely Refuse T.
Sign the Treaty.

The Standing Rock Indians Absolutely Refuse {,
Sign the Treaty.
News from Standing Rock Agency says thu
council with the Indians upon the treaty fol-
opening the Sioux reservation has broken up
and adjourned.
Each of the commissioners, in we'll consid.
cred and earnest addresses, warned the Indi-
ans of the bad results likely to occur in the
case of their refusal to accept the offer of the
government. Before the meeting ofthe coun.
Gil the commissioners knew that it had been
determined by the Indians to go home.
In the open council John Gras.
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
go 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
Another dispatch says: The language OF
Chairman Pratt to the naughty chiefs Of the
tribes intensified the opposition of the In
diaDs, and instead of making a break in
the ranks, solidified the opposition and CO.
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 thoy would
now return to their farms regardless OF
what the commissioners might say. As
soon as Grass closed the circle was broken
and the Indians started for home All the
efforts of Chairman Pratt to control the In.
dams were futile, but Agent Mclaughlin sue.
ceeded in restoring quiet and have the con-
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 the
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,
arose. When he called for those who sign
Yes" every man remained motionless on
the ground: But when he 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 no.
lice, say that they have asked the opinions
OF over thousand Indians during the past
month with regard to the opening of their
reservation, and not one of them was in fa.
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 use all
their influence to prevent other Indians from
doing SO.
Thefoilure Of the Sioux commission to secure
the consent Of tho Indians TO any ofthe agree
ments is very notifying to the interior do
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
tration. He selected his commission
to deal with the Indians, but sucl
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.
fortunate selection. and officers OF the interior
department are inclined to place upon Pratt'e
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 can do nothing
except in q brutal way. He was captain
in negro regiment before he went to the
school and could knock his men around a.
he saw fit. Then he got control Of a large
number of Indian children at Carlisle, and
there he could bulldoze and boss things He
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 bullin o china shop, and,
of course, he'll fail"
This opinion of Pratt exceeds to several
other government departments that have
dealings with him. The other members OF
the commission could, it is thought, secure
the consent Of the Indians if it were not fol
Pratt.