The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-08-22
WILL THE INDIANS GO?
Hard Task Before Mclaughlin and
MicheIet Mt Mile Laos.

LAWRENCE, MILE Laos LAKE, MINI.
THE Indian council. participated in by the
Mile Laos Lake Indians, Indian inspector
Mclaughlin and Agent Michelet OF the White
Earth Indian reservation. is now in progress.
The little town Of Lawrence, picturesQuely
located on the southeast shore Of Mile Laos
lake, presents a very romantic scene with
several hundred Indians congregated here
from points about the lake and from remote
locations The lake shore is lined with ca
noes, and smoking tepees are scattered about
and around the village.
Mclaughlin and Michelet have authority to
carry out the provisions of the act Of con-
gress which appropriates $4,000 to the Indians
if they consent to move to White Earth. The
preliminary to the council came Tuesday,
when Inspector Mclaughlin had a good fat
steer selected as a peace offering. He shot
the steer and turned it over to the red men,
who at once began great beef feast.
The council opened at $50 p. m. on Tues
day. and the act OF the last congress was in
terpreted to tho Indians. Agent Miohelet
made a long address to the Mile Laos Ojib-
was and encouraged them to settle on res
ervation where they would be looked after by
the government and could have farms of
their and farming Implements Schools
and all the advantages OF the white man, IN
stead Of living like Vagabonds. He used a
little incident with telling effect when he de-
scribed little dead Indian child that had
been carried over Mile Laos for burial, tell
ing the Indians that it made him sad when
he thought that that life might have been
saved had they lived where a good doctor
could be had.
Major McLaughlin then spoke through an
interpreter assuring the Indians that all the
government officials might say would be the
truth and any agreement entered into would
be carried out to the letter.
It was then that Wau-wee- ku-mich, the
chief of the tribe, arose to his feet and with
much eoquence rected the past treaties and
agreements with the Indians and told of the
broken promises and deceit and misrepresent-
atiCns of the white man. The chief spoke
with an inspiration horn of a clear knowledge
OF unjust treatment in years past. -Four times
had he met the government ot1clals III councl
when the Great Spirit had been called down
to witness that the officials spoke the truth
aud as many times the Indians had been mis-
led md cheated He closed with the state
ment that the Indians were losing ralth II
the word Of the white man.
Major Mclaughlin replied with great en-
phasis, fCankness and tact. He told the IN
dams that he realized they had been unJustlJ
treated in the past, but he not there tc
adjust past grievances and make right pas
wrongs Such was beyond his power But
he was there to deal fairly and honorablJ
with the Indians and to carry out the i'll
structions OF the government and try to MAKE
such arrangements as would make the In
dams lot and condition much better thar
they are at the present time.
When ne had finished Wau- vice. micf
arose and said that the major had spoken The
truth and that the Indians trusted him.
Following this there was nothing but goot
feeling and when the council adjourned there
was a. feeling that final settlement with tn
Mile Laos Indians was not a dream atte
all.
The government IS especially fortunate II
Its choice OF men to negotiate the agreement
Major Mclaughlin has had thirty years ex
perience IN diplomacy with the Indians ant
knows their ways and sentiments Will
Agent Michelet is honest and straightforward
in his relations with the Indians and ma
their confidence Major Mclaughlin has alb
solute power to bind the government to al
agreement, and he says that he will probabl
remain at Lawrence for two weeks or NOR
if there is any indication the Indians will
come to a. satisfactory understanding. H
will give the Indians plenty or time 10 &c
together IN council and talk the matter over
There are about LOCO Mile Laos Lake In
dams who would share in the apportionlnen
of the $40, 900. OF this number less than ~
reside at the lake. 1t is said that certai
persons are trying to induce the Indians t
insist on the government dividing the none
among those who reside at the lake, condi
tona on their moving, but the officials wi
insist that all the members Of the Mile Lac
Indian hand participate in the apportionmen
OF the appropriation made by congress.
It will require great tact and much pa
thence to make an agreement with the In
dams, and If the efforts of the present coun
Gil are unsuccessful it will be a long tim
before the government gets the indians t
move from their cherished home about beauti
fO] Mile I.acS lake