Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-02-10
The Visiting Sioux Chiefs En-
tertain the Secretary of the
Interior with Windy
Discourse.
American Horse Gets IN His
Work in Great Shape. He
Thinks the Agents Ought
to be INDIANS.
ANISDIAN POwwow.
The Sioux Chiefs Make Big Talk to secre-
tary aObles.

WAsHINGToS, Feb. THE confer
enCes between Secretary Noble and
the Sioux Indian delegation began
this morning at the interior depart
ment. The secretary of wa and Mrs.
Proctor and Mise Proctor were present,
and also the wife Of Secretary Nobles
aud Mrs Halstead. The conference
Was opened by Secretary Noble, who
said: "YOu were represented here Just
after the agreement with Gen. Crook
was made. You made certain requests
and complaints at that time and you
received certain promises from nue..
There has been trouble since then and
you have come aga q to say what you
think proper as TO the cause Of the
trouble. The secretary is here to tell
you that he he's kept his word, but IL
there is anything more he eau do
through friendship for the Sioux he is
ready 10 do it. He is your friend and
the Great Father told him to be your
friend. lie wants you to talk TO him
ss friends and be will meet you In the
same spirit" The secretary asked
II the Indians had m-de arrs nge-
ments about speakers. He could not
hear them all but would listen to
few and he desired them them to speak
britfi,'. He added that II no oojec-
tion was made he would hear from
John Gruss, Hollow Horn, Bear, Am
ericau Horse, Two Strike, Hump and
Young -Man-Afraid-of-H HIs-Horse.
In response Louis Renoltre said this
arrangement was not satisfactory, as Il
was desired that each agency should
be represented. The secretary replied
that be would hear John Grass and
than take counsel with them as to W ho
should follow.
John Grass then came forward.
Rev. c. s. Cook, Episcopal minister at
Pine Ridge, acted as interpreter.
Grass at once began to speak Of the
recent trouble among the Indians, the
origin Of which he did not know. They
bad come for the purpose Of eonferring
with the secretary In regard TO the
matter. The indians, he said, did not
desiIe to be driven back to their wild
life. but wished to consult with the
president, so a. to determine upon the
future. The Indians thought il de-
sIrable that agents should be civilians
rather than military men. In part
he said that formerly the Indian
agents opportunities to steal We're
great, but now 1t was difficult for them
to adopt such practices The agents OF
late years. be said, were good men. In
speaking Of his own reservation
(Sianking Rock he said the threatened
trouble had been put down by In
dian police. They believed In Indian
police and he requested an iDaresse Of
fifty men. Grass then shook hands
with tne secretary and took his seat.
American Horse was the next
speaker. He displayed considerable
natural ability and made a graceful
preface to his remarks, referring In
complimentary terms to the secretary
ana the ladies present. The govern
meni, he said, had made mistakes in
their attempt to civilize the Indians.
He proceeded TO enumerate these mis-
takes. Instead of posi- at agencies
being filled in by Indians, white men
crowded them out and took the places.
What his people wanted was a chance
to rise and I'LL positions Of trust and
consequence that were within thier
reason. He then spoke Of religious
matters and said there were three re-
ligious bodies on their reservations
who were trying to teach them to hve
better lives. and especially to bring
about religious r~arriaees. But they
did not want 10 marry certain persons.
The secretary inquired who bad
sought to compel them 10 marry.
American Horse replied that he re-
ferred most particularly 10 persons
who eloped. When the couple were
bro ught back the agent obliged them
10 be married
Young Man Afraid Of His Horses
related his services In the interest of
harmony during the lste trouble. He
brought his people into camp and had
turned In their arms.
"How mAny?" queried the secretary
and the orator was somewhat non
plussed. He knew the loie; ges small