St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-08
The Secretary Of the Interior
Entertains Picturesque
Indians.
American Horse Pays a Grace
full Compliment to Ladies
Present.
The Eight-Hour Bill Summar-
lily Side-Traeked in the
Senate.
Worlds Fair Managers Sal
aries Largely Reduced in
the House.

WASHINGTON, Feb. a7.-The confer
ence between Secretary Noble and the
Sioux Indian delegation was begun
this morning at the interior department.
The secretary of war and Mrs. Proctor
and Miss Proctor were present, and also
the wife of Secretary Noble and Miss
Halstead. Others prominent in the
work for the Indians were interested
spectators. 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 re-
ceived 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 that trouble
and to make any complaints you
see fit. The secretary IS here to tell you
that he has kept his word, but if 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 has
told him to be your friend. He wants
you to talk to him as a friend and he
will meet you in the same spirit" The
secretary then asked if the Indians had
made any arrangements about speakers.
He could not hear them all, but he
would listen TO few and he desired
them to
Speak Briefly.
He added that if no objection was
made he would hear from John Grass,
Hollow Horn, Bear, American Horse.
Two Strike, Hump and YoungMan
Afraid-o -HiS-Horses. In response,
Louis Rencoltre said that this ar
rangement was not satisfactory, as it
was desired that each agency should be
represented in the speakers. 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. G. 5. Cook, the Episcopal
minister at Pine Ridge, acting aS inter-
prefer. 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 con-
ferring with the secretary in regard to
did not desire to be driven
back to their wild life, but
wished to consult with the presi-
dent. SO as to determine upon the future.
The Indians thought it desirable that
the agents should be civilians rather
than military. In the past. he said, the
Indian agents had opportunities to steal,
but now it was difficult for them to
adopt such practices. The agents in
late years, he said, were good men. In
speaking of his own reservation, that
of Standing Rock. the threatened
trouble had been put down by the
Indian police. They believed in the
Indian police, and he was requested to
ask for an increase of fifty men. Grass
than shook hands with the secretary
and took his seat.
The Governments Mistake.
American Horse was the next
speaker. He displayed considerable
natural ability. and made graceful
preface to his remarks, referring in
plimentary terms to the secretary
and ladies present. The government,
he said, had made mistakes in its at
tempts to civiliZo the Indians. He pro-
ceeded to enumerate its mistakes. In
stead of the positions at the 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 fill the
positions of trust and consequence
that were within their reach. He then
spoke of religious matters and said
that there were three religious bodies
on their reservation who were trying to
teach them to live better lives, and, es-
pecially, to bring about religious mar
riages. But they did not want to be
compelled to marry certain persons.
The secretary inquired who had sought
to compel them to marry. American
Horse replied that he referred more par
ticularly to persons who eloped. When
the couple were brought back the
agent obliged them to be married.
The speaker then asked that the losses
suffered by the Indians in the late dis
turbance be made good by the govern
ment. He favored the removal of the
Carlisle school to the West. Young
Man-Afraid-of- -His-Horses related his
services in the interest of harmony dur
ing the late trouble. He had brought
his people into camp, and had turned in
their arms.
Sound Indian Sense.
''How many?" queried the secretary.
and the orator was somewhatnonplussed
He knew the total was small AMI lie did
not care to say. He hoped the govern
ment would not only educate the chill
dren, but would also give them some
thing to do when they finished at school.
Two Strikes said he had made peace
with Gen. 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 consid-
Grafton shown the survivors. He wanted
the rations increased and continued.
Hollow Horn Bear and Medicine
Bull talked briefly, and then Sec
rotary Noble spoke to the Indians. He
said: The Indian must not be diScOur-
aged. He would be supported as long
as he endeavored to do we'll. There were
two sides to the question of what is due
the Indian and what is due from the
Indian. Up to 1884 the Sioux have been
given $42, 100000 by the government.
The government acknowledges its treat
les and agreements with the Sioux.
Since 1884. when this money was paid,
there has been much more money paid,
according to the treaty. The secretary
then quoted statistics as to the issues to
Indians. The schools that the Indians
want have been kept up at all of the
agencies, and
Industrial Schools.
such as they want, have also been es-
tablished at Pierre. and another school
will be put up at Flandreau. Farmers
have been kept at the ditferect agencies
to oshow the Sioux how to farm the land.
1t was a mere accident that 100000
should have been cut off the Sioux ap-
preparation Immediately after the agree
ment with Gen. Crook. 1t would have
been the same if there had been no
agreement. These things should con-
vince the Sioux that the government
has been trying to do what was right