The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-01-08
The Administrators Policy.

The Administrations Policy.
WASHINGTON, Jan. THE following cor
respondence made public today, explains
fully the position of the administration on
the Indian question:
WASHINGTON, Oct. 81, 1890.
Secretary of War:
SIR:-I forward for your information a
letter addressed to me by the Secretary of
the Interior, under date of Oct 80, accom-
panied with letters from the Commissioner
of Indian affairs and of certain Iudisn
agents, all relating to the apprehended
trouble with the Sioux Indians. This delu-
sion as to the coming of an Indian Mes
siah and the return of dead Indian war
rlors, for a crusade against the whites,
seems to have taken strong hold, not only
upon the Sioux, but upon some other tribes,
even as widely separated as Indian terri
tory. You will at once cause personal in
vestlgatlon to be made by
either division or department
commander into the actual condition of
things among the Sioux and direct him to
make an early report of his observations
and any recommendation he may have to
submit. In the meantime you will see that
all necessary precautions are taken to have
the troops in that vicinity prepared to CO.
operate in the execution of any orders that
may be adopted. Very respectfully,
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 1890.
Secretary of War.
SIR transmit herewith communica-
tons dated November eth, 10th and 18th,
from the secretary of the interior, accom-
panied by copies of letters from the com
missioner of Indian affairs and from agents
of the Indian bureau at Pine Ridge and
Cheyenne River agencies, all relating 60
the disturbed conditions of the Indians at
these stations and srelating to incidents in
which the authority and power of the
agents and Indian police have been violently
deted and set at naught. The situation
seems to me to be serious. The authority
and discipline OF the agents must be main
tanned and adequate and early steps taken
to prevent any outbreak that may put in
peril the lives and homes of settlers in the
adjacent states. You will therefore assume
the direction and responsibility for such
| steps as may be necessary to these ends.
You will see that the troops whose services
Will be in requisition in case of an out
break, are in readiness to take and remain
| in the field that in any movement to be
supported by a body of troops that the
number be sufficiently large to be impress
sive, and in case of resistance quickly and
! thoroughly efficient. l have directed the
secretary of the interior to advise his agent:
to use their influence to separate the well
disposed from the ill-disposed Indians, anC
while using their best endeavors to pre-.
serve discipline to avoid an outbreak unit
| the war department has made the neces
sary preparations.
| (Signed) BENJAMIN HARRISON.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.
To the Commissioner of Indian Affairs:
SIR-You will convey to the severa
agents among the Sioux the following order
which is hereby made:
| During the present Indian troubles YOU
are instructed that while you shall continue
all business and carry intoeffect the educa
tional and other purposes of your agency
| you will, as to all operations intended tt
suppress any outbreak by force, CO operate
with and obey the orders of the military
officers commanding in the reservation in
| your charge.
(Signed) JOHN w. NOBLE,
Secretary.
General Schofield sent the following tele
gram to Miles under yesterdays date
"You are hereby authorized under exist
ing orders by the President to assign Cap
tain Ewers, Fifth infantry; Captain Lee
| Ninth infantry; Captain Earnest Eighth
infantry, and Captain Pierce, First in
fantry, to the charge of the Indians of the
several Sioux and Cheyenne agencies, tc
exercise over them such military super
vision and control as in your judgment, is
necessary without interfering unneces
sarily with the administration of the
agents of the Indian bureau under the reg.
ulations and instructions received by them
from the interior department.