The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-27
AN ELOQUENT OLD MAN
Chief Chariot Tells Commission
r His Opinion of Them.
A BIG POW WOW WAS HELD
Conference Between the Head Men of
the Confederated Tribes and the
Treaty Commissioners on
the Reservation.

Missoula, Sept. 26-The meager reports
that have been received here concerning
the conference between the head men Of
the Confederated Tribes and the treaty
commissioners on the F1athead reserva-
ton have not given much idea Of the de-
tails Of that important meeting. 1t was
known. as reported I'm the tandard at the
time, that the proposition of the treaty
commissioner for the opening of the res
e%rvation for settlement had been rejected
by the Indians, but further than that not
much was known. IL is now learned how
ever. that the meeting was one of the
most interesting ever held on the reservd-
ton. Its chief feature OF Importance was
the address delivered by Chief Chariot Of
the Bitter Root Indians I'm reply to the
commissioners. The old man was very ell
oquent, and those who heard his address,
even with the loss of effect that always
follows translation. say II was a remarka-
BILE effort. IL produced a marked effect
upon the Indians and IL must have afford
ed the old chief considerable satisfaction
to be able TO tell the commissioners what
he thought of them and to relieve his feel
ings of the wrath that has been accumu-
lating for these many years.
h proposition of the commissioners.
as II Is understood here. was that the In
1850 tN'' " NV 'SfAb h'N' 81
strip of their land % miles wide, running
east and west along the northern border
of the reservation. This would include
that part of the F1athead valley that lies
within the reserve, the Flathead lake and
the Mission valley as far down as Crow
~creek-about GO. 900 acres i'm all. For this
the commissioners agreed TO pay the In
dams 60 cents an acre. OF thiss sum the red
men were to receive ; cents per acre In
cash and the remaining 81 cents was To be
expended for them by the government in
improvements and stock. All of the In
dams know. of course, that the sum The
government has paid TO the Nez Perces.
the Crows and other tribes who have ced-
ed To their government their reservations.
They know that the average sum that has
been thus paid has been about So. 20 per
acre. and when they were offered the in
sum named above they were
justly indignant.
Chariot made the principal reply TO the
commissioners. lie said. I'm the first place,
that he and his people had no confidence
ia the commissioners He did not believe |
that the commissioners ever came from
Washington. He did not think that they
had any authority any way. He and his
had treated with commissioners /
too often, and they were through with
that business until some OF the promises
that had been made by the previous com
had been fulfilled. When he had
my treaty To make he wanted Ia go to
Washington and make II with somebody
hat would speak with authority and
keep his promise. lie referred elo-
luently to the sufferings of his people as
4 result of the broken romis made by
commissioners. and said that ne would
leal no more with them. He said. "You
.hink this land is good. So do /. You
II. | propose to keep It for my peo-
he, their children ana their children's
You want to give MS a COW
piece for our land. I am afraid that the
would hook me"
The old chief became very ironical as
he address progressed and ne paid his
aspects TO Professor Barge of the com
mission in strong language. He told how
ne professor and his commission had
rought all of the Indians together at the
Mission and then had not come TO meet
hem at all. To Professor Barge ne said:
| thought that l had cut your tongue
nj, but l see that another f. growing"
lie refused to treat with the professor at
II.
IL looks now as II the whole matter was
: Tar from any practical settlement as
yer. IL is of much Importance to the peo-
lie OF TINS section, and IL is TO be hoped
hat a commission will some day be
that will be more successful i'm
with the Indians. 1t may be that I
ne department is at fault for not giving
ne commissioners sufficient authority. {
there is something wrong some |
here. II the matter could be properly !
andled. there is no doubt that some sat {
factory arrangement could be made with I
ne chiefs and their people. They certain {
nave not been properly treated. 2