The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-11
SIOUX INDIANS NEW CHIEF.
What an Election Means and What
Government May DO.

Brooklyn Eagle.
Not since the days of the ghost dance
and the Messiah craze" has there been so
much excitement among the Sioux Indians;
a new chief is soon to be elected, or rather,
selected. And whether the new sachem of
the Sioux will be young Jack Red Cloud,
son of the old chief Maqpe-Luta (Red
Cloud, present head chief of the tribe or
a son of that arch enemy of the white man,
Sitting Bull, the great war chief of the
Sioux, leader of the Indians al the General
Custer massacre and originator of the ghost
dance who met his death during the up
rising connected with ghost dancing, or
the high position. is the question which is
causing the excitement among the 20,0o0
Sioux of different bands
Old Red Cloud himself, while still living,
is at deaths door, and while he may linger
for some weeks, he is an old man, broken
in health whose death is daily expected
For forty years he has been chief over the
Sioux and his influence has been mighty
but whether or not he can bring enough in
huence on the subchiefs TO secure his sons
election Is a question.
The Red Cloud family is not the hereditary
ruling family of the Sioux, but more than
forty years ago Maqpe-Luta, because of his
nOSilllty I'D the whites, MS 1SntlnS ABILITY,
generalship, bravery and diplomacy. be-
came chief, without election, all the light
ing men of the tribe practically deserving
the hereditary chieftain and coming to Red
Clouds standard. And the old man guarded
his position well, never permitting a rival,
until old age and death entered the ring
against him.
Nearly one year ago. finding himself
growing feeble Red Cloud called general
council of SubchiefS and asked for the APP
pointment OF his son, Jack Red Cloud, as
VICE chief or regent OF the tribe, during his
life. This was granted, and for the past
twelve months the young man has been
virtually the chief of the Sioux, but with
the death of his father the Indian custom
will require that he give up his position and
take his chances of election with the other
lesser chiefs. However, il is chiefly on ac-
count of his father that young Red Cloud
| will be elected should he be. He has never
| distinguished himself in any manner and is
| said not TO be great fayorite with the
other Indians
His chief opponent. Little Soldier Sitting
Bull, curiOusly enough is working the "Son
of his father" scheme and hopes to ride
| into the position through the value of his
| fathers name, once almost as potent as
| that of Red Cloud himself. In fact, Sitting
| Bull led large part of the fighting men of
| the tribe away from Red Cloud during the
| campaign which ended in the Custer mas
| sacre, and not for years afterward did the
| runaways return to their old chief and
| tribe. All the old members OF Sitting Bull S
| band naturally prefer to see the son of their
old commander occupying the first place in
| the tribe, hence young Sitting Bull does not
| lack for followers. although he himself has
done actually nothing to deserve the honor.
| Again, there is the possibility that when
| the Indian chiefs meet in conclave TO select
Red Clouds successor an entirely new
| man. not hitherto prominently mentioned
| may be selected This is possible and per-
MISSILE. as the Indian law gives the grand
council the right to name whom il pleases
| But again the government may step in and
| demand that no chief be selected. 1t is the
policy of the government to discourage all
| tribal relations among the Indians and to
| teach each buck to depend on himself
| entirely and to ignore all chiefs. The COM
| missioner of Indian affairs has for several
years discouraged the obedience which the
| warrior gives to his chief, whose word to
| him is law and the department will scarcely
permit the opportunity which the death oil
| Red Cloud will present to force the Sioux
| to remain without head chief. thus de-
| pending more and more on the Indian agent
| and eventually on themselves for guidance
/ to pass. Mai. John r. Brennan the present
| agent at Pine Ridge, holds the confidence
| of the Indians as probably no other Indian
| agent ever has, and if any influence which
can be exerted can prevent the Sioux from
| electing a new chief Major Brennan can
| However, the department has not yet de-
| clared against the coming election. Should
| il do so, il is a question whether or not
! Major Brennan, backed by the Indian police
| and his own personal influence, could pre-
! vent the subchiefs from meeting in secret