Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-03
At LOWER BRULE AGENCY.
The Sioux Commission Holds It's
First Council There.
TALKS BY CROOK AND WARNER.
Prospects Favorable That No Dim
culty VIII BE Experienced in
Getting the Requisite Nun
ber of Signatures.


berlain, Oak. July Especial Telegram to
The BEE. THE Sioux commission arrived
here this morning. There are about three
hundred and ten males of an age qualified TO
vote at this agency. Owing to the intense
heat, the council did not begin yesterday
until p. m. Major Anderson introduced
the commission, asking for them the same
consideration which they expected them
selves. He crlled attention to the bill which
was presented for their action, and said it
was practically what they asked for in
Washington. He SAID their vast reservation
now did them no good, because the stock or
implements with which to cultivate 1t the
Indians have not got, and that under the
the provisions of the present bill the articles
necessary to make them farmers would be
furnished
Governor Foster said: "We come to You
with an act OF congress and ask you to ratify
It. The Sioux nation has a large amount of
land, extending 400 miles along the Missouri
much more than you can ever use. The gov
ernment wishes to buy this surplus land and
to divide the balance into u separate reserva-
vation. In asking you to accept this bill we
want you to also accept the civilization of
the white man, to take land in severalty, to
become self-supportng citizens. We want
makes liberal provisions to that end. The
Great Spirit made both the white and red
men. That the white men are now so pros
porous is due to their civilization, which 1t
is the purpose of this bill to foster.
South Dakota will soon become state. The
Sioux reservation hes between the eastern
and western portions of the state. On the
east it is settled up the Missouri river, and
the city of Chamberlain lies in sight on the
west. The Black Hills country is being set
tied Up to your line. You must know that IN
some way these white people must get
through this barrier" He then explained
the provisions of the bill relating to the
prices to be paid for the land. He said:
Last year commission presented an act
of congress which YOU declined to ratify.
My Judgment is that by that bill bill You did
not get as much as your land is worth. BY
the present bill congress gives you more
than its value. 1t is our duty to tell you that
you must not expect congress to
be more liberal than it has been,
and that unless you accept this
proposition in some way, whether you
agree or not the people of Dakota will make
passage through your land. say this
friend because l see what is coming. Now,
understand that this law permits every one
of YOU over eighteen years to vote: 1t is
question for each one of you, and not for
your chiefs alone to consider and we hope
that by tomorrow you will be able to decide.
1 am glad to know that last ear the Brules
were favorable We hope that you will be
favorable now, as the bill is Il much better
one.n
Major Warner then carefully explained
the difference between the present bill aud
that of last year. He in clear and effect
i've manner pointed out the provisions with
reference to allotments of land. and
told them that each head of
family would get a2G acres Of farming
land. He then said: IF you sell this land
under the present bill all that any white man
can buy for himself and family is 100 acres,
and he must live on it five years and culti-
vatc part of it and then pay $l.25 per acre
live IN state where the whites live by
farming, and 100 acres of land is a big farm
for one man to own. You can see how much
better the Great Father does for you than Tor
the white man. In this Brule reservation
that is set aside for you and yonr children
forever there are 442 acres Of land for every
man, woman and child upon the reservation
1t is the wish of the Great Father that
your daughters may be educated to
teach your schools; that your sons
shall be your farmers, your blacksmths,
your wagonmakers, your shoemakers.
You can no more live on barren lands than
on the wind that blows. You can't cultivate
or pow the land with yonr fingers. You can
not build your house. The Great Father
knows you have more land than you need
md offers to buy your surplus and give for
II money with which to secure tho imple-
ments, teams and seed necessary TO improve
1t. We hope, my friends, that the day will
soon come when you shall enjoy all of the
benefits of the white men and civilization,
and we believe that if you accept this bill
the time will come much sooner than if you
reject it. 1 ask you to think of IL and act in
ouch way as will be for the greatest good
for yourselves and your families"
At the conclusion of Major Warmers re-
marks, General Crook made the shortest
speech thus far made by the commission, as
follows; ''My friends, we will issue five
Deeyes as soon as all the men get in to-
morrow, and we want all of you to get in
early, then you will get the peef early All
Of you who want TO sign can do SO at The
agents Office. That is ALL"
II is needless to add that these remarks
wero received with the greatest applause.
There will be another council this afternoon.
From conversation with different people
about the agency, it is believed the work OF
the commission will be finished here in few
days unless dissatisfaction in reference tc
the benefits 10 the Suntees should prove
more difficult TO manage than now seer.s
probable,