St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-10-17
10 The Editor Of the Globe.

Democratic friend is registered.
10 The Editor Of the Globe.
SiSSEToN AGENCY, S. D.. Oct. IA.
Permit me as a memberof the (so-caIled)
Sisseton and Wahpeton bands of Sioux.
and as one who was present at the re-
cent gathering at this place. to say to
your readers that the article which APP
peared i'll the Minneapolis Tribune, and
which has bcen going the rounds Of the
republican press, purpoTting to give an
Recount OF that gathering, is false in
every essential particular, and is al in
suit which We propose to resent at the
polls this fall.
The article referred to is so palpably
and extremely unfair and misleading,
so i1lled with miSStatementS and gross
eXaggeratiOns, that 1t is being used by
The Democrats as campaign document
and this, with the fact that Senator
Pettigrew has made us visit in the in
tereSt of the Republicans. and that he
OF his claQueurS or henchmen resorted to
most despicable and cruel deception
in the effort TO bring us together. will
have the effect of driving the few Re-
publicanS among the SfSSetonS over into
the ranks of the Democracy.
Taking advantage of his position as
United States senator, and as member
of the senate committee on Indian
affairs, the Pickerel statesman has
sought to "work" us for our votes. We
were called away from home and from
the busy harvest field to be present
at an important business meeting,
a meeting at which the senator
from South Dakota was to preside, and
at which some action was to be taken in
regard to the failure of the Republican
administration to pay us the money due
for the sale OF our reservation. Instead,
however, OF the business meeting which
we had been led to expect. and on
account of which we had left home and
our work and travelled long distances,
we found ourselves in the midst and
meshes of Republican fresh beef
rally. And, to make matters worse. the
Pickerel talked us nearly to death Oh
politics.
The inclosed copy of a letter which
was handed in at the meeting, but
which was not read. will give YOU some
dea of the nature of the business
That called US together. S. j. BROWN.
Il letter 10 Picker
SIsSEToN AGENCY, S. d., Oct. 5, 1892.
Hon. John A. Picker, Member of
Congress Dear Sir: The undersigned
Is member of the Sisseton and Wahpe-
ton bands of Sioux of SSSeton agency
is a citizen of the United States and
legal voter of Roberts county. South
Dakota. and as such would respectfully
ask to make the following statement:
By the first article of the agreement
of the 18th of December, 1889, said Sis
seton and Wahpeton bands (so-called)
sold to the United States certain lands.
In said article specified, being surplus
Ion 10 NTf l,f 4
by the second article of the same. in
consideration of such sale, the United
States agreed to pay stipulated com
penSation.
By the tWenty-seventb section of the
act of congress approved March 3 1891,
there was appropriated for the purpose
Of carrying out the provisions of said
agreement, and as compensation for
said lands, the sum of l,699, 800, which
sum, OF SO much thereof as was neces-
sary to pay for said lands at the rate of
$3.50 per acre. was to lie placed in the
treasury of the United States to our
credit, and the same, with interest
thereon at the rate of ) per cent per
annum, was TO be at ali times subject to
appropriation by congress or to applica-
ton by order OF the president for our
use and benefit.
Assuming that the sum named in said
necessary to pay for said lands, there
was
Hue for Interest
on same March 3, 1892, (one.year) the
sum of SS4, $50 and from March 3, 1892,
to June so. 1852. fractional fiscal year,
the further sum OF S27.62l. 75-maklng
In ali for interest due June so, 1892 the
sum of S112,6l1.15, or about $50 per
capita.
When we made the agreement above
referred to. we were led to believe that
it was made to be binding upon the gov
eminent as well as upon ourselves
that we would be treated as men and
not as children, that we would be dealt
with fairly and squarely and on bust
ness principles, and that said interest
money would be paid 10 us promptly
when due, and paid per carIte and cash.
But it appears that we were either mis-
led or mistaken, for with the possible
exception Of some $4,000, said to have
Deen set apart for use in defraying
the expenses of the agency here, nc
part Of said interest money has been
paid-not a dollar received in consider.
alton of the lands so sold. Relying upon
said interest money, having been led tC
believe the same would be paid i'll July
we have
Gene Into Debt
for the support and comforts of ou
families, ana for material for building
purposes, tor stock, wagons, agriculture
implements and for the general i'm
provement of our farms: but owing t.
the delay in the payment OF our jus
dues, we have been unable to meet on
obligations and have thereby very
materially and greatly impaired ou
credit and injuriously affected our bust
ness standing.
Being a self-supporting people ant
possessing all the rights. powers anc
privileges of American citizenship. anC
fully capable of exercising the same in
telligently, there is no longer any goOC
reason for dealing with US as wards o
the government, and l therefore appea
to you as our representative at Wash
ington to do all you can to have .ht
government officers deal with us a