The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-08
TELL THEIR GRIEVANCES.
Secretary Noble Has Conference
With the Sioux Chiefs in
Washington.
Several Things Are Mentioned
That They Would Like to
Have Changed.
They Want Work. So They Sny-tslib Pro-
textati0nx Of Peaceful Intentions
Washington News.

| Washington News.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. THE conference be-
tween Secretary Noble and the Sioux Indian
delegation began this morning at the in
terror department. The secretary Of war
and Mrs. Proctor and Miss Proctor were
present and also the wife Of Secretary No
BILE and Miss Halstead. The conference was
opened by Secretary Noble, who said: "You
were represented here just after the agree
ment with General Crook was made. You
made certain requests and complaints at
that time and you received certain promises
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. The secretary is here to
tell you that he has kept his
word, but il there is anything more he can
do through friendship for the Sioux he is
ready to do it. He is your friend and the
Great Father told him to be your friend.
He wants you to talk to him rs 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 would listen to
few and he desired them to speak briefly.
He added that if 40 objection was made he
would hear from John Grass, Hollow Horn
Bear, American Horse, Two Strike. Hump
and Young Man. Afraid Of His-Hofse.
In response Louis Renoltre said this ar
rangement was not satisfactory, az 1t was
desired that each agency should be repre-
sented. 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. @.
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 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, 60 as to determine upon
the future. The Indians Thought
it desirable that agents should
be civilians rather than military men. In
part he said that formerly the lnaian
agents opportunities to steal were great,
but now it was difficult for them to adopt
such practices. The agents of late years.
| he said, were good men. In speaking of his
| own reservation standing Rock) he said
the threatened trouble had been put down
by Indian police. Ihey oeneveu M lna1an asail
police and he requested an increase Of nifty
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 graceful preface to his remarks,
referring in complimentary terms 10 tne
secretary and the ladies present;
The government, he said, had
made mistakes in their attempt
to civilize the Indians. He proceeded to
enumerate these mistakes. Instead OF po-
sitions at agencies being filled in by lndi-
ans, white men crowded them out ana TOOK
the places. What his people wanted was a
chance to rise and ill positions OF trust
and consequence that were within their
| reason He then smoke of religious mat
| ters and said there were three religious
bodies on their reservations who were Try.
ing to teuch them to live better lives, and
especially to bring about religions mar
riages. But they did not want to be COM
PEELED to marry certain persons. The sec.
retary inquired who had sought to compel
them to marry. American Horse replied
that he referred most particularly to per
sons who eloped. When the couple were
brought back the agent obliged them to be
married.
Young Man Afraid of His Horses related
his services in 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 care
to say. He hoped the government would
not only educate the children, but also give
them something to do when they finished at
school. Two Strike said he had made peace
with General Miles and was now going to
do what he could to maintain it. Hump
said about 800 of his people had been killed
and there should be some consideration
shown the survivors. He wanted rations in
creased and continued.
Hollow Horn. Bear and Medicine Bull
talked briefly, and then Secretary Noble
spoke to tho Indians. He said that the In
dian must not he discouraged. He would
be supported as long as he endeavored to do
we'll. There were two sides to the question
ofwhat is due from the Indian. Up to 1884
the Sioux had been given $42,o0o-
600 by the government The
and arrangements with the Sioux. Since
1884, when this money was paid. there had
been much more money paid according to
the treaty. The secretary then quoted sta
tistics as to issues to the Indians. The
schools the Indians want have been kept
up Mt all agencies. and industrial schools,
such as they want, havo also been re-estab-
lished at Pierce, and another
school viii! be put up at Flandreau.
Farmers have been kept at different
agencies to show the Sioux how to farm
land. 1t was II mere accident that 100000
should have been cut off the Sioux nppro--
priation Immediately after the agreements
with Gen. Crook. 1t would have been :,
same IT there had been no agreement.
These things should convince the Sioux
that the government had been trying to do
what was right for the Indians.
In conclusion the sec tretary advised the
Indians to think over the many things the
government had done for them: to look at
the promises made by General Crook. and
have confidence in what he said. The Sec
retary said he wanted the Indians to make
up their minds to do the best they could to
educate or to have edneated their children.
and never to let their young men dream
that they could ever get anything by force
from the United States.
The Democratic Caucus.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.-The caucus of dem.
ocratio members of the house, called TO-.
gether at the suggestion of Bland was
slimly attended, only sixty-one members
being present. The silver bill was the soils