The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-02-08
Sioux indians Confer with Mobile.

WASHINGTON, Feb. "A conference be-
tween Secretary Noble and the Sioux In
dian delegation began this morning at the
interior department. The secretary of
war and Mrs. Proctor and Miss Proctor
were present and also the wife of Secre-
tary Noble and Miss Halstead. The con-
ference was opened by Secretary Noble,
who said:
you were represented here just after
the agreement with General Crook. who
made for you certain requests and com
plants at that time, and you received Ger
tain promises from me. There has been
trouble since then and you have come again
to say what you think proper at to the
cause Of trouble, and to make what further
complaints you see tit. The secretary is
here to tell you that he has kept his word,
but ii there is anything more he can do
through his friendship for the Sioux, he is
your friend and the Great Father has told
him to be your friends. He wants you to
talk to him as friends and he will meet you
in the same spirit''
The secretary then asked if the Indians
had made arrangements about speakers: he
could not hear them all, but he would listen
TO a few and he desired them to speak
briefly. He added if no objection was
made he would hear from John Grass, Hol-
low Horn, Bear, American Horse Two
Strike, Hump and Young Man-Afraid- of
His-Horse.
In response Louis Renoltre said this ar
rangement was not satisfactory, as it was
desired that each agency should be repre- .
scented.
The secretary replied that he would hear
John Grass ana American Horse, and then
take counsel with them as to who should
follow
Tobn frrocr +ban Gonna For,r.ra d. ~
5. Cook, the 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 had come for the purpose of
comforting 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 Indi-
ans thought IL desirable that the agents
should be civilians rather than military
In the past, he said, the Indian agents had
opportunities to steal, but now il was diff
cult for them to adopt such practices. The
agents OF late years, he said, were good
men. In speaking of his own reservation
tStanding Rock, the threatened trouble
had been put down by the Indian police
They believed IN the Indian police, and he
requested an increase of fifty men, Grass
then shook hands with the 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 and the ladies present The gov
eminent, he said, has made mistakes in
their attempts to civiliZe the Indians. He
proceeded to enumerate their mistakes. In
stead of positions at the agency being filed
by Indians, white men crowded them out
rn1O l..
wanted was chance to rise and fill posi-
lions of trust and consequence which were
within their reach. He then spoke OF re-
nglous matters and said there were three
religious bodies on their reservations. who
were trying to teach them 10 live better
lives, and especially bring about religious
marriages, but they did not want to be com
PEELED TO marry certain persons
The secretary inquired who had sought
to compel them to marry. American Horse
replied he referred more particularly to
persons who eloped. When the counle
were brought back the agent obliged them
TO be married.
Young Man-Afraid-of of His Horses related
MS services 10 the interest of harmony dur
ing the late trouble. He brought his people
into camp and had turned in their arms
How many" queried the secretary. and
the orator was somewhat nonplussed He
knew the total was small and did not caro-
to say. He hoped the government would
not only educate their children. but also
give them something to do when thew
finished at school
Two Strikes said he had made peace with
General Miles and was now going 10 do
what he could to maintain it.
Hump said about three hundred of his
people had been killed and there should he
some consideration shown the survivors.
he wanted their rations increased and con.
tinued.
Hollow Horn, Bear and Medicine Bull
talked briefly and then Secretary Noble
spoke to the Indians. He said: The In
dian must not be discouraged. He would
be supported SO long as he endeavored to
DO well. There were two sides to the ques-