The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1914-12-21
TO GO
BEFORE CONGRESS
Conference Held Here by Members of
Executive Committee Results in
Naming Of Delegates.
MAJOR M'LAUGHLIN WAS HERE
Oldest Man, in Point Of Service, of
Nations Indian Department Hon
ers Bemidji With Another Visit.

0rS bemdu With Another Visit.
In keeping with the plan of the
Minnesota Indian Chippewa council,
a delegation of its members will leave
January eighth for Washington
where they will appear before men,
bers of congress for the purpose of
advocating the passage of legislation
which they deem proper for the bene-
fit of redskins of this state. 4
This was decided at a meeting of
the councils executive committee
held here Saturday night and at
tended by Nat Head, of Red Lake;
Ed Rogers of Walker; Henry War
rem, of Bena; Ben Fairbanks of
White Earth, and several others.
The Councils Purpose.
The chief purpose for the estab-
lishment of the Council was to unite
the Minnesota Chippewas, thereby
bringing into one force the demands
that certain conditions now existing
in their control by the government
be changed; that they be given bet
ter opportunities; that they be given
a chance for broader self-govern-
ment, and that tribal funds be
handled with a different method than
is now the case. Two conferences of
the Indians have been held, both be-
ing very successful. ~..... - i
H. Go To Washington.
This legislative committee, which
will go to Washington next month,
will comprise Ed Rogers, county at
torney Of Cass county and former
chief of the Chippewas; Nat Head,
the prominent Red Lake Indian, and
the councils first secretary; Ben
Fairbanks, of White Earth; Henry
Warren, Of Bena, and one not de-.
cided upon. They will lay certain
matters before congress and ask that
they be righted, and will also ask
wider legislation on several propo-
sitions, which the Indians feel is
rightfully theirs.
Major Mclaughlin Here.
In attendance at the meeting cf
Saturday was Major James McLaugh-
lin, of Washington. The major was
here in connection with the approx
ing of certain bills which are to be
presented for payment Of expenses in
the scaling of the Mile Laos reserva-
tion timber, over which there is some
dispute as to the amount due the In
dians.
Major Mclaughlin, who has made
previous trips to Bemidji, is a man
7S years old and has been in the
service of the United States Indian
department for longer period than
any other employe, forty-four years.
When it is considered that this de-
partment has more than 5000 en-
ployes the record is all the more re-
markable He has been in the serv-
ice thirteen years longer than any
other: officer of the department and
is still attentive to all matters which
come under his jurisdiction, being
one of the most valuable men of the
large staff.
Agent at Fort Yates.
It was the police of Major Nc
Laughlin, during the time that he
was agent at Fort Yates in 1879,
who killed Sitting Bull, the great
Indian warrior of that time. Nc
Laughlin had ordered his men to cap
ture the chief, either dead or alive.
Several of the police were killed in
an encounter with braves of Sitting
Bull. but the famous warrior was
shot in battle which soon follow
ed, detachment of cavalry taking
prominent part. !,
The major takes much delight in
telling of his early experiences and
says that the period was the most en-
joyable of his entire life. He is the
o,,fhor ~ HMv Elriond tho Indian