The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-06-08
IsD1Axs nDFusBzswIrH THAxks.

INDIANS REFUSE WITH THANKA
Prepssitioa to Lease Their lends
Tor Grasias P.rposes.
within the shade around the Indiass
.hurch At Fort Yates, Saturday SaicesNa
noon assembled the largest councli ot
red men perhaps for: years. II wa az
the close Of the annual payment OF IN
|aerest money, and the semi-montniy ~
me of rations was given out TO &C.
nnants OF the entire reservation lrUn a
the warerooms at the agency, insteao
|6f being cent to the various
.ies. as is ordinarily done, Tor olstrlou.
tion. where an the Indians were pre-
sumed to be present.
Indian Agent Bingenheitner ccupled
tha hirh central seat. Among those
who occupied seats in front were rev.
DR.: Reed and Mrs. Reed; Ut. L91.us
5. Warner and Mrs. Warner; Dr. Wm'
II. Ward Of New York city, MISS M. =.
Collins: Capt. Sargent and Wi1e' OF Tue
military post; G. M. Ziebach ana Wl1e'
Mrs. Thomas j. Reedy n
Miss Katie, Mrs. Primeau, MIS-. :. ~.
rreyellick and Harry +.
The object Of the council was to de-
.,ernoine what action the Indians would
take relative to leasing their and to
:,attlemen for grazing purposes: Inc
cattlemen were represented by II. r.
Hunter, general transportation agent
Tor the Dakotas Of the Chicago' MIL
waukee & st. Paul railroad.
Mai. Bingenheimer, in a short talk,
among other things, said: It's inc
privilege of each of you to express your
Individual opinion, as the land Is yours
and you can say what you Will 90 with
It. in order that it will do you n Inost
good" Mr.. Hunter followed, explain
ing more fully the cattlemens'
tion and the benefits accruing tnere-
from. "
Among the principal Indian speakers
we're John Grasse, head chief OF the
Sioux tribe; Thunder Hawk, head cnlef
of the Hunkapap tribe; Mad Bear,
mead chief Of the Lower Y~anktonians;
Two Bear, Weasel Bear and some hail.
dozen Junior chiefs. These. We're iol-
lowed by q score or more OF others,
,early. all of whom said they had coun
selled their followers and expressed
their sentiments as being opposed 70
any lease Of their lands, setting fortn
MANY reasons therefor, such as, w
believe It is the Great Fathers wish
that we learn to work: to make T
selves homes; provide for u fami-
,ies: become owners of stock and edu-
cate our children. We believe In this;
we are anxious to learn, yet we 90 NOT
realize the value Of money, ana tnis
afternoon, only one night after u IN
.erest money was paid us, we nave not
a nickel in our pockets. II we tease
our lands we are paid the money Tor
ouch lease, and it will go the same way
and do us but little good. Our young
men are soon to make homes for them
selves and become cattle owners; IN a
few years our reservation will not be
too large; we have just commenced TO
gather a few head Of cattle about US.
Where cattle have grazed continually
around one place for a few years, and
che seasons have been dry, the grass
gradually dies out and great fields or
weeds spring up. This would inevit-
ably follow should herds Of cattle be
run over the now idle grazing land
I'VE would ask our friends here
meaning Mr.. Hunter) II the cattleman.
whom he. represents, consider 1t q good
plan for them to make money, even by
paying us a lease for the land, why
should it not be a good investment for
ourselves to place our own cattle upon
IT," So
Members of the Standing Rock Re
:urned Students association, number
ing about 100. took an active interest in
the council, and were much in favor OF
such a lease, however, i'll a modified
form, stating that they thought 1t for
the best interests of the Indians, and
even submitting a typewriter propo-
sition, setting forth the terms and con-
litions upon which they would agree to
tease their land.
Out Of a group Of dusky braves, with
tong, swinging strides, came q tall,
Manifestations chief, One Bull. a son
Of the once-famous Sitting Bull, who
scored the Students for their active
part, saying: 1--WE have spent large
sums Of money to educate you, You
have received the benefit of such edu-
cation, and now come back TO us and
oppose our wishes. You were taught
to be doctors and clerks, and you come
back to us with empty hands. We
have no positions to offer you but to
become n of us again, and help us to
advance, as the Great Father would
have us do"
One speaker said: When we go to
the stores to buy anything, we ask the
price, and they tell us; IL we want IT,,
we pay them their price. When we buy
on credit and agree to pay at a certain
time, and fail to do SO, we cannot get
credit any more until hat is paid. So
It is with you when we make. a treaty
with you. When you want our land.
you ON to us and we let you have It.
You agreed to pay US at a certain time.
and you have not done so. This makes
us suspicious. and we are compelled to
decline with thanks your proffered
propositions, just as the traders decline
ours when we do not keep our word"
The agent, seeing there could be moth
Ing gained by continuing longer, spoke
through the iterpreter, saying:
II see you DO not desire to enter into
the proposition submitted, and. as you
wish to become cattlemen, go to your
homes and learn to become .cattlemen.''
This touched a responsive chord In al
most every heart, and amid clapping OF
hands and many broad smiles, within
q very few moments all silently wan
|dered away. It is reported tonight. II
the proposition submitted by the stu-
dents Is not accepted by the Milwau-
kee people that 500 parties will prob.