The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-01
It's Very Hard Job and the Gov
eminent Makes Many
Mistakes.
Sitting Bull Looked on. as Very
Cunning but Without
influence
A Good Story that il Told ON General
Bland of the Indian0 Rights
Association.

officers in Washington say that the lndi
ans are not wholly to blame for the presen
trouble on the Sioux reservation, says I
dispatch from the national capital to tn,
Minneapolis Journal. Many advance tn,
opinion that politics has great deal to d.
with it, while others lay some of the trouble
at the door of representatives of the Indian
Rights association. It is held in some quar-
ters that changing agents with each incom::
ing administration is demoralizing to the
red man, and there is evidently great deal
of truth in this. Agents are placed at the
head of some of the biggest agencies on the
Sioux reservations who know nothing at all
about the characteristics Of the Indian. In
almost every instance there has arisen
some kind of trouble. When Cleve-
land assumed the reins of government a
sweeping change was made at the more
important agencies. When he retired re-
publicans succeeded them. That the
change at the Pine Ridge agency on the
Sioux reservation was not beneficial is
plain, from the fact that the new agent was
not able to control the red men at that
point, and finally deserted his post. At the
present time Major Mclaughlin, of the
Standing Rock agency, is looked upon as
the most competent agent. He has been in
charge long enough to know the aborigines,
and, had it not been that crazy Indians
from other agencies visited Standing Rock,
Major Mclaughlin would not have had his
present trouble. Another source of trouble
to Major Mclaughlin was the visit of fe-
male member of the Indian Rights associa-
ton from the east. The Messiah craze
among the Indians began early last spring,
but little Importance was attached to 1t, as
no one had any idea that it would spread as
il has.
Old Sitting Bull is looked upon as cum
ming old villain, but without influence, save
in the adroit way that he has of making
the sEperstitious members of the tribe be-
lieye that he is possessed of superhuman
powers as medicine man. An official OF
the Indian bureau related a trick of Sitting
Bulls that proves his cunning. He de-
manded that certain band of bucks do
something that he asked of them. They
refused, and the willy Bull hurled threats at
them, declaring that he would have his re-
venge through his power as a medicine
man. The bucks tainted the old Bull, and
started UPON a trip to another part of the
reservation. They had not been on their
journey more than an hour when terrific
thunder storm was upon them. A bolt of
lightning killed two and the remaining
bucks were terribly frightened. When Sit
tAAk DUH tAc0I0 VA Uu49 Ao kIuut0A COA'
tentedly and declared the Great Spirit had
only done his bidding.
IT is Unknown fact that the govern
ment is always more liberal and great deal
more lenient in dealing with the savages
after rebellion is pat down. All this ia
dian Rights association always brings to
bear upon the government. In speaking of
this feature of the case the other day, an
attache of the Indian bureau said: 1.-THE
proper thing for the government to do now
would be to put Gen. Bland and his coterie
of Indian Rights association cranks out on
the reservation to settle the present diff
Guilty. They should be forced to stay there
without any protection until satisfied that
the real Indian is not the fancied and much
abused nobleman that they have claimed.''
story ON Gem Ban% When Ms ioiS gGGd
cuddy was in charge of the Pine Ridge
agency Gen. Bland came there with per-
nit from Secretary Teller, of the interior
department. McGillicuddy allowed him to
remain until he began to create trouble
among the Indians, and then he politely
Bland was indignant.
"T'u not 60, Sir, he blurted. Haven't
q permit from the secretary of the inte-
II don't care d-n if you have a per-
NIT from the president, you can't stay here
0Ay AOANOls ACUUAAeO UA0 dk0uts linen ne
put Bland off the reservation. The general
declared that he would have McGillicuddy
decapitated within twenty four hours after
be returned to Washington, and he started
for the national capital fairly boiling over
with rage. He visited Secretary Teller at
once. The secretary listened with a great
deal of patience 70 General BANDS tale of
woe. When he had completed it, Teller
turned to the general and dismissed the
subject in these words:
"Bland, I am of the opinion that McGilli-
cuddy took far better measure of you than
did,
McGillicuddy was not decapitated. but he
got even with Bland. The first report he
sent to Washington contained the follow
ing:
Put off the reservation since last report:
'One white man-horse thief
Gen. Bland-Indian rights crank
Zone white man-horse thief.''
General Bland never visited Pine Ridge
agency again while Major McGillicuddy