Omaha daily bee., 1905-03-20
LEUPP WILL CONTROL L.
New Commissioner Makes it Plain tha,
What He Says He Does
VIGOROUS POLICY WILL PREvAl
Geronimo. Pleads with the Presi-
dent for His Freedom, but
His Plea f. Una
vailinR.
From a stan Correspondent

for many years past. Francis r. Leupp,
the present Indian commissioner, is
'doer' and not a dreamer" He has
very pronounced opinions regarding the
solution Of present Indian problems and he
proposes to do much" looking to their
solution while he remains at the head of
Indian affairs of the government. He has
the entire confidence of the president, and
by reason of his years of association with
the chief executive, coming up from Mr..
Roosevelt's days in the assembly of New
York, Secretary Hitchcock of necessity has
also confidence in the Indian commits
sioner.
But Mr.. Leupp's position is anything
but envable. 1t is probably the hardest
department in the government service
and requires not only a judicial temper
ment but hrmness and backbone well.
Ever since the Inauguration, Mr.. Leupps
days have been harrassed by predatory
bands of Indians who have come to Wash
ington to see the Great Father and lay
before him their grievances. In some
cases Mr.. Leupp has sanctioned the presi-
dents presence of Indian delegations, but
in others he has put his foot squarely
down on their coming. With the delega-
tions that are in Washington officially
1t is easy to deal But with delegations
whose presence have not been sanctioned
troublesome questions have already arisen.
Mr.. Leupp has announced through the
representatives of his department at the
Indian reservations that he will receive
only those who are duly accredited as a
delegation from Indian tribes, and that If
other delegations of the same tribe or
allied tribes come to Washington it will
be at their own expense and they will not
be received officially.
Mr.. Bear Finally ObeyH.
Hollow-Horn Bear, who was selected by
Mr.. Leupp to ride in the inaugural pro-
cession as a representative of enc of the
six great Indian nations, was ordered to
rendezvous at Carlisle and report to the
agent at that school, Captain William H.
Mercer. Geronimo and the other chiefs
selected as best types of the older Indian
civilization, obediently reported to Cap
tain Mercer, but Hollow-Bear, a Yankton
Sioux, thought as Washington was his
objective point he would come to Washing
ton Immediately. This violation of an or
der Commissioner Leupp would not stand.
He ignored Hollow-Horn Bear entirely.
Preparations went on for the Inauguration
but Hollow-Horn Bear was not considered.
Enlmissaries from that famous old warrior
endeavored to plaoate Mr.. Leupp but he
was adamant. He said he knew a Hollow
ton The Hollow Horn Bear he knew was
at Carlisle with Geronimo and the others.
Finally Hollow-Horn Bear realizing that
the Great Father was displeased with the
breaking Of Commissioner Leupps order
went to Carlisle and Joined his brethren
and he rode in the parade
The fact that Hollow-Horn Bear of the
Yanktons had been distinguished above his
tribesmen induced delegation of Yankton
Sioux to come to Washington about the
time of the inauguration under the guidance
of David Sypher, half breed, and an ex-
ceedingly shrewd individual. These lndi-
ans representative of the reactionary party
of that tribe, believed that If they reached
Washington they, too, would be permitted
to ride in the presidential procession But
they came without permission. The agent
at the Yankton agency was told that If they
insisted upon coming 1t would be at their
own expense, but Sypher, who is a very
cunning man, and recognizing the gutta
percha character Of former Indian admin
istrations. thought he could bamboozle Mr..
Leupp into paying their expenses here and
giving them tickets home. But Mr. Leupp
is made Of sterner stuff He had told them
not to come and they came. When the
delegation applied at the White House to
see the president they found the door shut
in their faces. When they called upon the
secretary of the interior their cards were
returned to them, the secretary even refus-
ing to look upon their faces
Missionary Intercedes for Sioux.
An Episcopal missionary Rev. Mr.. Clark,
who has labored among the Yankton Sioux
for years, called upon Commissioner Leupp
to ntercede for the delegation headed by
Sypher. and finally induced the commits
sioner to see them.
but l will not talk business with them"
said Mr. Leupp. 'They came here without
authority. They were advised that If they
had any protests or were seeking informa-
ton all they had to do was to present
the same through the agent and 1t would
receive careful attention. The delegation
has chosen to ignore the Indian office and
therefore l refuse to treat with them"
Finally, however, Mr.. Leupp saw the dele
CATION and listened to their compliments
on his accession TO the commissonership.
But when the delegation started to talk
business they were stopped with a wave of
the hand.
II do not have two faces" said Mr..
Leupp, addressing sypher and his delega-
tion of malcontents. What 1 say l do.
The Indian must learn to obey the law
| ike tDe white mail IlS must SSdsS W NC
a baby and must become a man. Until he
becomes a man he must be looked after by
the government. This man." pointing 70
Sypher, has misled you He is not good
man to follow My advice to you is to go
| home and try to be men and not infants"
Later Rev. Mr.. Clark asked Mr.. Leupp II
| he would not present the delegation with
some tawdry medal OF the Inauguration so
| that they might take 1t home to the tribe
| with the information that II was given to
them by the representative of the great
| father.
mo, won't do that" said Mr.. Leupp,
because they would look upon It as a con-
| cession."
GerOnimO's Plea Unheeded.
Probably the most pathetic incident con-
| nected with the visit of the old chiefs to
| the national capitol was the plea which
Geronimo made to President Roosevelt that
| he and his followers, about $50 in number,
be permitted TO leave Fort Sill and go back
| TO their old hunting ground In Arizona.
The interview took place in the cabinet
room of the executive offices and in the
presence of Commissioner Leupp, Captain
| Mercer and one or two others and the in
terpreter Commissioner Leupp, in telling
the story OF the interview said that Geron-
imo's plea ran as follows
Great Father, | look upon you as my
n.