Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-11-27
CHEYENNE RIVER LEASES
Abuses Said 70 Exist on Great Sioux
Reserve Exposed.
INDIAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION INVESTIGATE
Agent Accused of Illegally Conduct
ing Votes and Otherwise violating
Treaty Agreements 20 Favor
the BIg CattIemen.

attracted the attention of the Indian
Rights association. s. NJ. Brosius "A spe-
cial agent Of the association, has made
an investigation. and makes a report to
The secretary, Matthew X. sniffen, as
follows:
aShsD acres which were set apart for
Ihelr separate use by the terms of the
been the avowed desire OF the govern
ment that the Indians should become self
CHegyennes ty Snd saGs The lands Of the
aasIted ior grazing purposes, the agree
~ dauinea soy congress above referred
TO the Indians OF 5000 stock cattle, which
were issued to members of the tribe. Many
% the Indians profited by the advice of
the government and carefully preserved the
cows issued to them, together with the
Of sef-support. This was the condition
at the time OF the advent of the present
Indians had been found to be unscrupulous,
oftentimes and left their baneful effects
Soon after the assumption of the duties
OF agent the present appointee seems TO
to outside cattle men, by fair or foul
means. and the accomplishment of such
PddTPpse ana me atsendant EVILS OF ms
to the best interests of the Indians, espe
cially ~ the matter Of becoming self.
Chicago Milwaukee & st. Paul Railway
rendering personal assistance. The tracks
OF the railroad company are favorably To-
to and III from of the res res Sn" Of which
traffio they have practical monopoly.
Leasing of the Cattle Trail.
The first efforts OF the combine to Sc
cure the lease OF the tribal lands was in
1890, when the Indians were called together
in general council and urged 90 lease what
Of country ON the northern side Of the
reservation now six miles In width and
SsFS east Tha TGSs in geneTa Of COUNCIL
fatty refused to lease, Not daunted, the
agent called the SIX Gnirs Ghef Spon
the spot TO act as COUNCILMAN, so that
there might be a majority, of so-calle lied
number of councilmen required being
twelve. These seven men without authority
involving the disposition of tribal lands
were importuned to agree to the Lease ease
P To- them BY nth the railroad oficiais, etc
While these seven Indians claim they DID
form the agent reported the ratified agree
ment of lease to the Indian bureau -,
toowlpg The IGIugfy u from the Tribe Il
is stated that proposals were sent from
the Indian office in WASHINGTON lhvllin t
bids for the privilege OF grazing the west
ern half of the reservation, which contains
in the aggregate 1896 acres. a council
stating that the lands had already been
leased and that the Indians could not help
themselves,
taken by the tribe in council; This repre-
sentative council soon decided not To lease
their lands, and realizing the need ca, Tor con-
tSs g % rHRent' WHITE bnli and yellow
drove across country some ninety miles to
Pierre and secured aid In writing letter
TO the Indian department protesting against
the agents action and requesting that an
investigation be made of the question.
Punishment of COnplainRnts.
II was several months before an inspector
was detailed to Investigate the, subject
and, IL possible, secure tho legal consent
OF the tribe to the lease but in the mean
tect these Indians was evidently panninG
how best he could secure the accomplish
eosrse Of While RI pB snd SeoR Ne Ss
prisonment and other means.
White Bulls personal narration OF wha
he suffered savors of darkest Russian rule
''The agent refused to write our wishe
to the commissioner of Indian affairs, 81
wrote from Pierre where had gone 70
that purpose. When came home and th
agent heard of what / had done he sen
the pelice for me and l was arrested AM
thrown in Jail without being told why
was so treated. The chief of police cam
and told me that the agent directed hir
to cut my hair and he did So: | was kel
in Jail three months. compelled to wor
at hard labor, digging bitches, cleanin
yards and grading roads for which | neve
received any pay. represented the indian
agent used me as an example to cow tn
rest of the tribe so they would not objeC
agent s G toid me e atter was reeased fror
prison that he put me i'm jail for tw
SS s fGF the Ssa
missioner Jones decided to have done"
Following the Imprisonment Ieat, 90 OF f, VIII
made by an Inspector In July, 1902 and hel
again the Indians are said TO have bee
residing In the western portion of the resel
yation were more strenuously opposed
than those who were settled upon the cas-
ern portion whose grazing grounds wonl
was set Tor voting upon the question :
leasing the western half, the members
that on account of the hour for votin
having been changed from ! o'clock in y
afternoon Of the day 70 the forenoon Of 4
torested in opposition to the lease had NJ
yet REACHED the council hence they ~, did n. NJ
being taken showed 159 favorable to lea
ms with l54 opposing t. ill.,, The ,e Lease en-
the decision of the tribe was recorded I
practically the same vote,
Leasing of the Eastern Half
In March, 1904 an effort was made
the government to lease the eastern sectiC
of the reservation, Containing 99S S96 acre
The portion or the tribe lying IN me Yves
ern section of the reservation were made
feel that they had been opposed in leash
the lands they. occupied, so in retaliati,
eastern part by fostering prejudice amor
them. Another scheme to insure succe
on the part of the agent who was there
see that the Indians had fair treatmc
seems 20 have been well planned a.
worked out. The residents of the WIFI
Horse district. In the eastern portion, we
naturally opposed to leasing their pastu
lands; 50 Il was announced the day befo
the vote upon the question OF leasing W
taken that the White Horse mcmbe
would he given their rations at home, for
miles distant from the agency, where th
We're gathered for the purpose Of Hoti
against the lease This order had the
feet Of inducing many OF these Indians
go to their homes, they were in need
the ration for daily food. The residents
the western portion, however, who favor
leasing the eastern lands were given
lions at the agency, their vote In run bel
recorded ia favor OF leasing The result
this vote was. In favor OF leasing, lai; I
posed to leasing o.; total vote polled, PA
rho secretary of the interior leased
the tribal lands and the untenced allott
lands OF the reservation, with no other
thority than that mentioned above. haNi
been secured from the Indians. The tres
Of 1855 aud agreement Of 1888 heNveen
government and these Indians pro ides:
Article l2-NO treaty far the cession
any portion or part of the reservau
herein described. which may be held
common. shall be of any validity or 70
~ against the said Indians, unless eXecu
. and signed by at least thTee-fpurths of
the adult male Indians occupying or int
au 81