Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-07
AN INDIAN POWW0W
A Distinguished Conference at the
Interior Department Today.
GRIEVANCES OF THE RED MEN
Considerable FIorid Oratory by the Visiting
Delegates--secretsry Mobiles Plain and
Practical Exposition of the State of AnAirs-
His final Asllnonition.

Secretary Noble held a conference with the
Sioux Indians this morning at the Interior De-
partmcnt. The Office occupied by the assistant
attorney general was used las council chamber,
and while it is a good-sized room il was entirely
inadequate to accommodate all who pressed
for admission. Rows Of chairs were placed
in the center Of the room, which were occu-
pied by the Indians who reached the depart
ment shortly after 10 O'Clock. Facing the a.
ssmbled red men sat Secretary Noble behind .
low, long desk. Near him Secretary Proctor
was an interested listener to the proceedings.
Along the sides Of the room were the spectators.
mostly ladies. Among those present were
Indian Commissioner Morgan and Mrs. Nor
gan, Miss Dawes, Miss Kate Foote. Miss
Fletcher, Miss Slckels, Miss Grace Howard. De
Cuny, Senator Casey and others interested in
the Indians. The wife Of Secretary Noble and
Miss Halstead, the wife OF Secretary Proc
tor and Miss Proctor were also present.
THE CENTER OF INTEREST
The center of interest. however, was the
groupof men whose high cheek bones and
swarthy faces indicated their Indian blood
The Indians were evidently dressed for the &C.
casion. Not a blanket or feather or q blotch
OF paint was to be seen. They all
wore store clothes and as far an
presented a civilized appearance. The front
| row OF chairs was occupied by John Grass,
Young Man-Afraid and American Horse, and
when Secretary Noble came into the room he
rest of the delegation understood that in
80 doing their hands were grasped by the
Secretary. On the left of the Secretary was
| the table occupied by the representatives of
the press, and near him sat the stenographer,
Mr.. Edwards, of the census Office.
THE INTERPRETER CALLED FOR.
The Secretary indicated that he was ready to
begin the conference by calling for an inter-
prefer. Rev. G. 6. Cook, the Episcopal minis
ter at Pine Ridge, was called upon to perform
that duty. The Rev. Mr.. Cook IL a half
breed, born in the Sioux country, and has the
further advantage of having been fully
educated. He interpreted the poetic language
which some Of the speakers dropped into occa-
sionaily very effectively and the touches of
feature of some Of the speakers were translated
SO that the force OF the point made was not
lost.
SECRETARY MOBILES SPEECH.
In opening the conference Secretary Noble
spoke As follows: 'You were represented here
just after the agreement with Gen. Crook was
made. You made certain requests and COM
plants at that time. You received certain
promises from me. There has been trouble
You think proper as to the cause of
that trouble and to make any further
complaints you zee fit. The Secretary is here
TO tell you that he has kept his word. But if
friendship for the Sioux he is ready to do It.
He is your friend. The Great Father has told
him to be your friend and he says now that he
has been. He wants you to talk to him as a
friend and he will meet you in the same spirit. +"
ARRANGING For THE REPLIES.
The Secretary then asked II the Indians had
made any arrangements about speakers. He
said that he could not hear them all for want
Of time, but would listen to q few, and he de-
sired them to speak as briefly as possible. He
added that if there was no objection he would
FIRST hear from John Grass, Hollow Horn Bear,
American Horse, Two Strike, Hump and
Young-Man-Afraid.
Speaking for the delegation, John Rencontre.
half-breed. who is a delegate, replied that
as it was desired that each agency present
| should be represented by one or more speakers.
in response Secretary Noble said that he
would hear what John Grass and American
Horse had to say and when they had finished
then he would ask them what other speakers
There was no objection offered to this plan,
and John Grass stepped forward and began his
speech. Grass is the representative of
the progressive element among the Indians,
aud Is regarded intellectually as the leading
| man in the Sioux nation. He spoke in a quiet,
reserved manner. standing with his hands
clasped behind him. He spoke several SEN
fences and then II was interpreted.
JOHN GRASS SPEECH.
After the usual compliments to the Secretary
Grass began to speak at once OF the recent
troubles among the Indians, the origin of which
he did not know. They had come for the pur-
pose of comforting with the Secretary in
| regard to this matter. The Indians, he
SAID, did not desire to be driven back to
their wild life, but wished to consult with the
President 90 as to determine upon plans for
the future. They wished, he said, to speak of
certain matters talked over when the Indians
we're here last and the promises then made,
against the practice Of blaming all Indians for
what was the fault of few. The Indians be-
lieye that il they are honest in trying
TO put their children into schools and
IL they follow the teachings Of Christianity that
dams regarded these as important factors and
they also thought It desirable that
| the agents should be civilians rather
than military men. They desired a
sSnsnnanss Of the present n;a s system in
agents had opportunities to steal, but now the
\ good people in the east maintained such close
watch that it was difficult for them to continue
| such practices. The agents in late years, he
sNlot NeIe &oOo men.
| In speaking Of his own reservation, that Of
Standing Rock, the recent threatened trouble
| there had been put down by the Indian police.
They believed in the Indian police and he was
requested by his people to work for IN increase
Of fifty men.
| .Grass then shook hands with the Secretary
aud took his seat.
THE BUSINESS COMPLICATED.
American Horse protested that their business
was too complicated to be disposed OF In .
short time and said that it could not be at
! tended TO at home. He said that be had tried
| to learn the origin Of the late trouble and in
his search aud Investigation found himseh in
Washington. This was the result Of his search.
He then went on to speak Of the importance
Of this city a. treaty -rnaktng center, hut grad
| ually drifted into q discussion of the subject
! proper. He hrst entered protest against his
being Chased Q hostile and the Secretary
answered him that he was not 20 chased.
Au,erican Horse seld that the Indians at Pine
Ridge through the destruction Of their prop
| erty had been put back fifteen years, and he
said that the indians desired to have these
] lOssee made good. The government, he said,
| had made mistakes In its attempts to civilise
| the indians
rHRn LosaRs sHouID NJ MADn coon.
The speaisr then asked that the iossss suf-
! fseed BY the Indians in the late disturbsacs b.
nsds good by the government He spoke also
Of the boundary hne between ths Pine Ridge
and Rosebud ressrvatfons, which, he aid,
caussd good deal Of tyoubla. he
thought that line, which vas an imaginary