Omaha daily bee., 1913-10-24

private corporation from which I'VE"
CHowelD bought the plant. I'm not ready
TO condemn the principle of public owner
ship, but before going further 1 would
want instruction and demonstration from
some one beside a self-sseking politician
enlisted only for a soft Job at fat pay.
z. PLURIBUs UNUM.
Distortins History for Movies.
OMAHA, Oct. 2s.-To ths Editor OF The
Bee: People have been informed through
the papers that General Nelson A. Miles,
Colonel William r. Cody. and other not
ables have taken part in a moving pio-
ture making plan. ostensibly to repro
duce" the Battle of wounded Knee"
I can understand why Buffalo Bill q
professional Snowman, would seek such
notoriety, but why a lieutenant general
OF the United States army should lend
the dignity of his presence TO a palpable
sham Ia more than 1 can fathom. I would
not detrsct IN the least from the fame
and glory that attaches to the name of
a soldier whose services have been so
eminent as those OF General Miles. 1t 10
gratifying TO note that he has not only
refrained from taking part In the
movies" but that he also condemns the
so-called battle OF wounded Knee.
To begin with. neither Nelson A. Miles
nor Bill Cody was present In person, nor
did either have any part In the so-called
battle of Wounded Knee, other than
General Miles was then in headquarters
at Pine Ridge Agency. whore he was In
command OF the army that was trying
to restore order on the Great Sioux In
dian Reservation. Further. tho fight
was more nearly a massacre than q bat
tile; II either Of the other regiments then
scouting through the region had inter.
ospted Big Foot and his band, who vera
making their way openly to the agency 10
order TO avoid a conflict, not a shot
would have been fired. But fate so or
dered that the Seventh covalry, under
Colonel Forsyth, encountered Big Foot
and his party. Now keep in mind that Big
Foot had with him his women and chill
dren as well as his braves. and the Sioux
do not take their families along when
they 20 10 war. Also keep in mind that
II was but a little over thirteen years
before that that the Seventh cavalry
had suffered the less Of its colonel and
three troops OF its organization in the
massacre on the Little Big Horn. Study
these facts, and with them the stories
that had permeated every Sioux lodge
as 20 what would likely occur IL the
Seventh ever again encountered the Sioux
In battle array. and you will have the
background for a moving picture display
when Forsyth paraded Big Foot's
braves for the purpose OF dIsASming them
each Indian felt that he was to be made
victim of the white mans vengeance
Captain Wallace. a personal friend OF
mine. fell under the blow from a war
club. and the slaughter began. Let US not
talk of treachery. nor delude ourselves
with any sort Of sophistry. When the
sun set on the last day OF December
1850. not one of Big Foots band lived,
save poor little zintka Lnneta. Little
Lost Bird indeed. The band Of the
Seventh could again play "0arryowen." "
General Miles active part in the affair
was to order Forsyth before a court
martial on q technical charge in conneo-
ton with the disposition OF his soldiers
before and during the slaughter.
Now, let US glance At another back
ground for a moving pieture: To the
cabin OF an aged Indian medicine man
and prophet come a group Of white men
and Indian police; II is long before day
light ON a winters morning. The Eroup
fingers until dawn approaches; then one
OF the Indian. policemen stations himself
where he can command the door OF the
cabin, and another knocks to arouse the
inmates. The AGED medicine man comes
TO the door TO inquire the occasion OF be-
inE so disturbed. He asks the man In
front OF him, but before an answer can
be given a shot Is fired. and sitting Bun
falls dead. with a bullet hole through his
heart.
Just why history should be distorted to
make moving picture film is as mush
beyond my oOmprehension as is the van
ity that will lead an honored soldier to
take part In such a psipAbls fake.
OLD FOGY.