Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1900-02-02

G.. Milne, F. G. Davies, G. Evan
son, P. E. Anderson, Olaf Rue, H.
j. Styling, j. Nash, E. B. Thomp-
son, G. W. Hall, F. L. Kermott.
The memorial committee handed
in the following petitions, which
were unanimously adopted by the
meeting, and the secretary ordered
to forward same to our representa-
tives at Washington.
To the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives of the United Estates of
America:
The undersigned, residents and tax
payers of Ramsey, Nelson, Benson and
Eddy counties. of the state of North
Dakota, respectfully represent that
about two hundred thousand acres of
land of the Sioux Indian reservation,
situated on the southern shore of
Devils Lake, N. d., and adjoining said
counties, are unallotted, and that it
would be for the best interests of the
public and the said Indians to have
the said land thrown open to settle
ment;
We therefore respectfully petition
your honorable body to take such &C.
tlon as may accomplish that end.
The following to the secretary of
the interior:
To the Honorable Secretary of the In
terror, Washington, D. c.:
Sir,-The undersigned residents and
taxpayers Of Ramsey, Nelson, Benson
and Eddy counties, of the state of
North Dakota, respectfully represent
that about two hundred thousand
acres of the Sioux Indian reservation,
situated on the southern shore of
Devils Lake, N. D., and adjoining said
counties, are unallotted, and that it
would be for the best interests of the
public and the Indians to have the.
said land thrown open to settlement;
We therefore respectfully petition
you to have a special agent detailed by
the Department of the Interior to
negotiate an agreement with the said
Indians for the cession of their anal
lotted lands in said reservation.
On motion Of w III. Brennan,
the petitions we're ordered gener-
ally circulated, and after receiving
signatures, to be handed to the
secretary, who will forward them
to the proper persons.
The secretaries for the various
committees we're designated as the
persons to have supervision of the
work.
The secretary read a telegram
from Senator Hansbrouph express
sing regret at his unavoidable alb
sence, but voicing his strong ap-
proval of the objects of the meet
ing. He also pledged his active
support of any action taken by the
meeting tending to the opening of
the reservation to settlers.
Major Getchell being called on
stated that, in his opinion, the In
dams would have some objections
to leaving the reservation. He
thought perhaps they would not
oppose the opening of the unallot-
ted lands, and briefly drew atten-
} ton to the treaty made with these
Indians and the federal govern
ment some years ago, which allows
the sale Of the unallotted lands, if
agreeable to the Indians and ap-
proved by congress. He drew at
tention to section 5 of the Dawes
bill which, he said, covers this
matter and prescribes the course
to be taken when a change is anti
cipated.
Frank Palmer spoke briefly on
the course to be taken when a
move such as the present one was
to be taken. He drew attention to
the fact that when the Sisseton
reservation was thrown open to
settlement the unallotted portion
was taken up, but the Indian
schools, the agency and the Indian
police were left as before.
The committee on resolutions
reported at this time, and after
some amendments to make the
resolutions correspond with the
wording of the memorial, they
were adopted as follows:
Whereas,-North Dakota is univer-
sally recognized as the "bread basket
o: the world";
And whereas,-She has become fam
GUS for her No. l hard and other grades
Of wheat and other cereals;
And whereas,-There are on the Fort
Totten Indian reservation more than
100000 acres Of valuable agricultural
lands u%nallotted, which are at present
lying idle and of no use or benefit to
anybody whatever;
Now, therefore, be it res olved,-By
the representatives of Ramsey, Benson.
Nelson and Eddy counties, in mass
convention assembled at Devils Lake,
N d.