The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-19
TO RIGHT A WRONG.
Conference to Be Held at Mile Laos
Wednesday,

The Mile Laos Indians, representa-
tives of the federal government, and
settlers interested, will meet in con-
ference Wednesday at Lawrence on
Mile Laos lake to see if they can not
settle the grievance which the Indians
have had against the government for
thirty-five years:
The government will be represented by
Chippewa Commissioner Oar Hall and Re-
moval Agent Charles Beaulieu. The entire
Indian band will attend the council, and
number of white settlers will speak for
themselves
This council was granted by the secretary
of the interior after long conferences held
between him and representatives of the tribe
who have recently returned from a two
months visit to Washington. The Indians
who made the trip were greatly pleased with
their interviews with Secretary Bliss and In
dian Commissioner Jones, and they are con-
fident that justice is at last to be done them.
The delegation was made up of Wah-we
yea-cumig (Round EARTH, head chief; Ain
dus-okaeshig (Everyday), sub,chief Me-ge-
see (The Eagle), subchief; Nay-gwon-ay-be
Qhe Feather), sub-chief, and Go-gee The
Diver). Gus H. Beaulieu of this city, ac-
companied the delegation as an adviser, and
William Richards was the official Interpreter
1.-The first official we conferred with in
Washington says Mr.. Beaulieu, was Mr.
Smith, the acting commissioner of Indian
affairs. We petitioned Inn that he would
order paid the annuities which have been
withheld from US for six years, in order to
force the Indians to remove from Mile Laos
reservation to White Earth. He issued an
order for the payment of the money, and
Maj. Allen, the White Earth agent, will
soon pay it to us-some $25, 900 in ali.
Our success in respect to the annuites
prepared US for fair treatment at the hands
of Secretary Bliss. We met him twice and
took up the old dispute about the Mile Laos
lands. The prepared statement of case
read to him, discussed and explained.
When Secretary Bliss left the city he turned
the matter over to Acting Secretary Ryan.
We had many meetings with Ryan, and he
finally sent for our delegation and had an
order issued to Commissioner Hall to go to
Mile Laos and hold council upon a date
that we should suggest. This order was
issued at the request of the Indians, in
order that the tribe might formally pass
upon several questions suggested by the
secretary as to the manner in which they
desired to have their allotments made at
Mile Laos.
This was the first intimation the Indians
received that the secretary had decided to
allot them lands the Mile Laos reserya-
ton. He has decided that the 4,S00 acres
ly allotted to the Indians. The secretary fur
Their suggested in order to reduce the lands
in dispute to a minimum that only the heads
of families should take allotments on what
was formerly the Mile Laos reservation, and
that all the rest of the tribe should receive
their allotment at White Earth. This sug
meets next Wednesday. There are over 200
heads of families and about 500 Mile Laos
Indians altogether. If the Indians consent
to give up their claims to the 81 900 acres
in the reservation outside of the 1880 that
Will be allotted them, they will ask the gov
eminent to Immediately reimburse them for
the pine lands which have been taken by
lumbermen and settlers.
I'm interview our delegation had with
Indian Commissioner Jones, we notified him
that we would put in a claim for damages
for the houses and cultivated lands which
had been taken from the Indians in the past
by the settlers who encroached on the reser-
walton in violation of the law. The Indians
believe that Mr.. Jones is the best Indian
and they are very confident of complete jus
tice."
The wrong the United States has inflicted
on the Mile Lacs Indians dates from the
wa Indians and the government in which GER
tain lands were ceded. This treaty contained
the following provision: THAT owing to the