St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-19
Why Delay in Appointment of
the Commission to Take
the Vote.
Ordway Might Be a Member,
But SQuaw Indians Can't
Defeat the Bill.
Clifford Did Sleep and Snored
Loudly in the Senate as
Reported.
II. H. Days Predictions No
Charges Against Church
Statehood Needed.

Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, May 1S.-There is a
misrepresentation existing concern
ing the attitude of Secretary
Villas towards the opening of
the Sioux reservation. 1t has been
asserted that because nothing has APP
parently been done. as yet, in the direc-
ton of securing the consent of the In
dians to the proposition referred to, the
secretary and the president are indiffer-
ent, or opposed to the matter. There is
not a word of truth in 1t. The president
has expressed his approval of the move
ment, not only by giving the bill his eX-
ecutive approval, but by word of mouth
in conversation with gentlemen inter-
ested in the opening of that highway to
progress and civilization. Col. Villas is
not a stranger to Dakota, and is
not ignorant of the vast inter-
ests at stake. He knows that the reser-
walton should be opened as well as any
resident of the territory. not excepting
those who live on the borders of the
Theoretically sealed paradise. He has
so much of his time occupied with mat
tiers of greater Importance that he has
thus far been unable to attend to the
wants of the people out there. He is
friendly to them. No one feels ag-
grieved at the statement that there are
matters of greater Importance before
the Interior department. The opening
of the Sioux reservation is
OF VAST MOMENT
to the people on the eastern and western
borders of that country; but there are
matters of national interest engaging
the attention of the Overworked secre-
tary of the interior. He will appoint COM
mssioners, according to the evident in
tentand purpose of the bill; and they will
be men who will attend to the matter
committed to their care. 1t is possible
that they will be gentlemen already
connected with the interior department.
One of them, certainly, will go rom
Washington to supervise the matter
The others may be Indian agents and
they may not. Neither the secretary
nor the president have gone so far, in
their consideration of the subject. as to
definitely settle that matter, and all is
conjecture as to what they will do. The
name of
GOV. ORDwAY
has been mentioned to Secretary Villas
as good man to place at the head of
the commission. The secretary knows
the eminent executive abilities of Mr..
Ordway, and would probably look with
favor upon the suggestion were it not
for the fact that the ex-governor is so
much engrOsSed with private business
affairs as to almost wholly preclude the
possibility of his acceptance of the duty
if it were imposed upon him. Even his
worst enemies in Dakota cOncede that
there could not be better appointment
for the work in hand. He would Ger
tainly make it go were he to put his
hand to the pillow. Several letters have
recently been received at the in
parties trying to hasten action
in the matter. One of them
breathes Impotence. Such letters pro-
duce no good effect. No amount of nag
ging can hasten executive action. 1t is
more than likely that nothing will be
done until after congress adjOurnS.
Those who have been here and had an
opportunity to see how each department
is hampered in its work by the daily
visits of senators and congressman, each
of them asking that their little business
affairs be made ''special' and placed in
advance of all other matters OH the reg
ular calendar of business, will under
stand, without extensive explanation,
how hard it is for aay executive officer
to make progress in administering the
laws during a session of congress. The
eOlOlS llOI OILY ldNc 10
BORE THE OFFICIALS
with legitimate business affairs, but
they are looking after the loaves and
fishes. Even some of the Republicans
still haunt the depar ments seeking
offices for their hungry constituents !;
and they of the household of faith are
hammering away all the time. even for
little mesSengerShips and watchmen's
places. The people can have but an
outline idea of how necessary it is for
department officials to make haste
slowly. The people of Dakota
may have their minds hereby
disabused of all supposition that any
disposition exists in this city to thwart,
defeat. or even delay the work of open
ing the Sioux reservation. Circum-
stances cOnspire to hamper the eXecu-
ton of the law; but it will be attended
to in time, and the consent of the
Indians will be obtained. All the
squaw men between Bismarck and
DeadwOOd cannot defeat the work of
the commission when undertaken, as il
will be. under positive instructions
from headquarters.