Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-18
AN INDIAN CONFERENCE.
The Sioux Chiefs Inform Secretary No
BILE Of Their Needs.

The Sioux Chief Inform Secretary No
BILE Of Their Needs.
wow-THH nAncH OF THE LATTER TOWARD CIV
r1rzATIoN THEY WANT HOME soHooIA AND
Psrs.STs roR TEE PAroosEs.
The leading men Of the great Sioux tribe OF
Indians were assembled in the Interior depart
ment today. They had come to have a con-
ference with Secretary Noble. The Indians,
dressed in suits of 'store clothes" were seated
together In the central part of the room while
opposite them were arranged the men who rep
resented to them "The Great Father" The
central figure Of the group Of white men was
Secretary Noble. At his right hand sat Gen.
Crook, the great Indian fighter and q MEM
Der Of the Sioux commission which
recently completed the negotiation of the
agreement by which the Indians cede to the
United States q large portion of their reserva-
ton. Ex-Gov. Foster of Ohio and Gen. VIM.
Warner of Missouri, the two other members Of
the commission, occupied seats on the left OF
the Secretary. In the immediate vicinity were
Senators Pettigrew and Moody of Dakota, Sem
at0rs Dawes Paddock and henderson. Senator
Teller was also present for short time. In
dian Commissioner Morgan, Assistant Com
matters were interested spectators.
GOV. FOSTERS OPENING REMARKS.
The conference was opened by e1-Gov. Fos-
ter, who said, and his remarks were interpreted
to the Indians, that the Sioux commission had
performed the duty assigned to it and had Sc
cured the signatures Of three-fourths of the
male Indians over eighteen years of age to the
agreement, as provided by law. They had also
listened to the suggestions and complaints Of
the Indians, but they had promised nothing
except that when there was evident justice in
such suggestions or complaints that they would
call the attention of Congress to the matter
with the view Of having these matters attended
to. He said that the members Of the commission
after their frequent interviews with the Indians
felt an interest in them and desire for their
welfare. He thought that the commission
would have failed in their mission if the In
dians had not had confidence in them and the
promise that their needs would be called to the
attention Of the proper authorities. With the
hope Of impressing the Secretary and the men,
beers Of Congress with the justice of these COM
plants, Gov. Foster said that the commission
had asked that these Indians be brought here.
He said that the Indians here represented are
progressive. They desire their children
to go to school and to reach the stage Of self
respect and self support. 'They are here, Mr..
Secretary" he added, turning to Secretary
Noble, to address you on their grievances and
suggestions" He then formally introduced
the Secretary, who arose and bowling to the In
dams told them that he was ready to hear what
they had to say.
CHIEF WHITE SWAN.
An expressive "Ugh," indicating satisfaction
but sounding very much like a grunt, ran
through the group of Indians and then
old White Swan of the Cheyenne river
agency stepped out Of tho ranks. He is said
to be one Of the Oldest men in the delegation.
a nal hair frav nod ;,>o faan xkoSI
was marked with the wrinkles of age. Like
nearly all the Indians he had frightened up
his costume Of store clothes by knotting red
silk handkerchief about his throat. As he
talked the Interpreter translated each sentence
into English. He spoke for the Indians ON
his reservation. and each Of the five delega-
tons present were given hearing.
WHAT TIE RED MEN ASK FOR.
As the Indians had agreed all the speakers
confined themselves to general matters, intend
ing to talk to the Indian commissioner about
number of details.
The attention of the Secretary was called to
the fact that the Indians wanted q correction
made in one of the old surveys of their land, so
as to restore a portion to them which they
dams instead of white men employed in posi- |
tons about the reservations as far as practical
BILE; that the contracts for furnishing hay, wood
and beef be also open to the Indians, and also
the contract for hauling the government sup
plies from the railroad alton to the reservations
and that while they were learning to become
farmers rations might be issued to them. They
asked for pay for ponies run of from their res
ervation by United States troops about the time
of the Custer war in 1876. TheY were of the
opinion that men sent out to instruct them in
ought to know how to speak their
language. They asked that the method Of is
suing rations and annuities be changed SO that
there would be greater promptness. Attention
was called to the custom Of beef contractors of
selling them meat on the hoof and furnishing
much pound, while the Indians had to bear
the loss occasioned by the effect Of the cold of
winter on the cattle.
THEY WANT INDIAN SCHOOLS AT HOME.
The speakers asked that large school build
ings be erected on their reservations, where
their children could be educated. They spoke
Of the expense OF sending their children to the
schools in the east and also the bad effect upon
their health owing to the change of climate.
AS White Swan quantity put it, instead Of
their children learning to read and write at
these eastern schools they seemed to learn to
die, because upon their return to their homes
they generally sickened and expired
AN INDIAN HUMoRIsr.
John Grass, who is regarded az one
Of tho brightest Indians in the Sioux
tribe, after concluding a rehearsal of
these suggestions and complaints occasioned
a hearty laugh by graphic MARIA
ton of the return Of the Indians to their homes
They would, he said, each have q satchel In his
hand and when they entered their homes the
and children would surround them and
at once look into their satchels to see what
presents they had brought home. The Indians |
he said, did not want to disappoint their women
and children and he suggested that each be
gwen about $50 to buy little things to take
home as presents.
Ex-Gov. Foster, when this naive suggestion
was made, turned to Secretary Noble and laugh
ingly remarked to him that there was a good
chance for him to mako some Christmas gifts
Some of the speakers asked that they might
be allowed to go home by way OF Carlisle and
Hampton in order that they might see their
children and friends in these schools. Several
Of the speakers asked that surveys be made of
the reserved portions of their reservation at
once az many were anxious to take allotments
OF lands.
THE KIND OF PLOUGH THE INDIAN WANTS.
One of the chiefs in talking about their needs
of agricultural implements said that he knew
how to hold a plough handle, but he had seen
ploughs on wheels, anu all that man had to
do was to sit down on this plough and drive
around all day. That was the kind of plough
the Indian wanted.
The Secretary and the members of the COM
mission laughed heartily over this request,
When the Indians had finished talking the
Secretary told them that he would consider
what they had said.
The conference then adjourned. Tomorrow
the Indians will probably call upon the Presi-
dent.