Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1889-08-23
.LEECH LAKE INDIANS SIGN
THE TREATY. !. =.


A special to tie Pioneer Press from
Leech Lake, dated August 20, gives
the following encouraging reports Of
the work of the commission 81. d
Long and tedious councils were held during
the three days succeeding Wednesday of last
! week, and all the grievances of the PilIagcrs
were given q thorough ventilation. The first
point they insist upon is the payment OF the
damages caused by the reservoirs. Much has
also been said upon the cession Of million acres
| under an old treaty for the use of the Menomi.
nees. for which these indians received about Z
cent and a half per acre. aud which land was
afterwards opened for settlement a. the Menomi.
| ,,ees refused to move upou the tract. They also
made strong appeal for q saw mill. and that
pines sufficient fos their needs be LEFT available
for their use on the reservation. The bOunda.
ries Of their reservation, past and present. were
by request read to them from the old treaties.
Many Interesting speeches have been made by
| the chiefs one ofwhom, In declaring his inten.
ton to sign; remarked that he only regretted
that the commissioners did not bring q big
check for the Indians. Another chief COM
planned that Ruth Flat Mouth, whom they call
the queen, has LOO much influence that she has
not only asked him to sign the treaty. but even
urges him to marry her. Several chiefs have
wanted TO go to Washington 10 make treaty. 30
that 1t had to be explained as at White Earth
that there was IL law forbidding the making Of
Indian treaties In that city. They have been
very anxious to obtain assurances OF the fulfill
rncnt Of The conditions of the act of congress,
saying they hoped the commissioners would not
,ise the wordy 'may be" or 'if.'' Several of the
chiefs have taken occasion to ask the commits.
sioners for certificates OF their chie3tanshlp.
hititing those held by their ancestors, some Of
which were given by Hon. LOWS Cass govern.
or OF the Northwest Territory. An effective
speech. III which he accepted the freely, WIS
made BY an Indian SO old that he could hardly
totter to the table In front OF the commissioners
lie Was old Chief Flat Mouths right hand brave
and the greatest warrio u Of the Chippewa nation
when it was driving the Sioux from the country
extending from the lakes to the Red River of
the North. The Indians have spent In consulta.
ton most Of the time not occupied by the Coun-
ellis with the commissioners, and 1t was evident
last week that the opposition was losing ground
slowly In spite Of letters received by the Indians
from the deputy United States marshal, who was
the strongest opponent at White Earth Of the
propositions made by the government in which
he urged them not to sign. 1t 1t said that he was
the representative of persons outside the reserya-
lions who are Interested In securing pine timber
on easy terms. The Indians have in council re-
Quested that the little disturbance which result.
ed in the arrest Of one OF the opposition be not
| regarded by the commissioners as sanctioned by
them as a band, and it ts improbable that
trouble would have arisen but for the interior
encs Of outside parties 1t was learned yesterday
that decided break would be made o-dao by
those III favor of signing, and after few speech
es one chief after another announced he was
ready to sign, and the signatures Of nearly all
the chiefs have been taken. besides over one
hundred Others SO that the success here of the
| negotiations Is now assured. 1t has been for the
commissioners a long aud wearisome effort to
obtain the consent of the Pillagess to the act Of
congress, espeeially:b by reason Of the insidu Gus
nature Of the opposition prompted by persons
| outside the reservation.