The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1891-02-13
Noble Meet. the sioux.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.-The confer
ence between Secretary Noble and the
Sioux Indian delegation was held at
The interior department. Secretary of
war and Mrs. Proctor were present,
n also the wife Of Secretary Noble
ana Miss Halstead. The conference
was opened by Secretary Noble, who
said:
You were requested TO come here
just after the agreement with General
Crook was made. You wanted to make
certain complaints and requests at that
time, and you received certain prom
Uses from me. There has been trouble
since then and you have come again
to say what you think proper as to the
cause of the trouble and to make any
further complaints you see fit. The
secretary is here to tell you that he
has kept his word, but if there is any
thing more he can do through friend
ship for the Sioux he is willing to do
1t. De is your friend and the great
father has told him to be your friend.
He wants you to talk to him as a friend
and will meet you in the same spirit"
The Secretary then asked il the In
dams had made any arrangements
about Speakers. He could not heal
them all, but would listen to a few and
desired them to speak briefly. He adj
ded That if no objection vas made, he
would hear from John Grass, Hollow
Horn, Bear. American Horse, Two
Strike, Hump and Young-Man-Afraid-
of-His-H0rses.
In response, Louis Rencoltrc, said
this arrangement was satisfactory, as
1T was. desired that each agency should
be represented.
The secretary replied that he would
hear John Grass and American Horse,
and then take counsel with them as to
who should follow.
John Grass then came forward.
Rev. Mr.. Cook, the Episcopal minister
at Pine Ridge, acted as interpreter.
Grass at n began to speak of the
recent trouble among the Indians, the
origin of which he did not know.
They had come for the purpose OF con-
ferring with the secretary in regard to
the matter. The Indians, he said, did
not desire to be driven back to their
wild life, but wished to consult with
the president so as to determine upon
the future. The Indians thought it de-
sirable that agents should be civilians
rather than military. In the past, he
said, the Indian agents had opportuni-
ties to steal. but now it was difficultfor
them to adopt such practices. The
agents of late years. he said, were
good men. In speaking of his own
reservation standing Rocky, he said
the threatened trouble had been put
down by the Indian police.
They believed in Indian police and
he was requested to ask for an increase
of fifty men. Grass then shook hands
with the secretary and took his seat.
American Horse said the govern
ment had made mistakes in it's at
tempts to civilizs the Indians. He
proceeded to enumerate the mistakes.
Instead of positions at the agencies
being given to Indians, white men
crowded them out and took the places.
What his people wanted was a chance
to rise and fill the positions of rust
and consequence that were within their
reach. He then spoke OF religious
matters and said there were three re-
ligious bodies on their reservation who
were trying to teach them to live bet
ter lives and especially to bring about
religious marriages. But they did not
want to be compelled to marry certain
persons.