The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-03-27
may present in this matter i am
Respectfully yours, .
(Signed) p. d. Norton.
tier. T am,
Wells Letter.

"6iiS IeSEGts .
Department Of the interior. United
| States Indian service, C~anuonball sta
ton, N. D., March 10, 1914. Hon. p
| Norton, Washington, D. C. Dear SIR:
Replying to the questions raised con
| corning conditions among Sioux IN
dams on Standing Rock reservation,
| with special reference to those living
in Cannonball district. I have to say:
| Whether Red Tomahawk Is a chief
or not, whether John Grass is, q cnae1
or not, they are of the most desirable
and intelligent Indians in the tribe,
and their reputation for truthfuiness
is much greater than the reputation
of the signers on the much discussed
letter from the Chiefs. That there
has been or is now any starvation on
the reservation has not been shown.
Every case of want made known either
directly to the agency employees in
charge or through the physician main
tanned by the Indian service, has been
promptly furnished either with rations
for the. asking or If applicant was
able bodied, he has been furnished
opportunity for labor at S1.25 per day.
The food supply of Indians this year
is neither better nor worse than dur-
ing previous years. 1t is normal. /
Their cattle are gone, the beef
trust cattle are here" It is here the
writer's show their simplicity. All the
signers, chiefs and witnesses. are resi-
dents Of Cannonball district. No beef
trust cattle or other cattle belonging
to white men are to be found or ever
have been ranging in this particular
district. The beef trust cattle ESQ
called)' have all ranged in the south
ern and southwestern portion OF the
reservations; none have been found at
any time in Cannonball district. The
beef trust cattle 1T not now and nev-
er have been in Cannonball district.
Their cattle are gone" Why? Let
me give the real reason. What Indian
cattle died in this district, was caused
from neglect and starvation, and not
as they never range in this dis
trict.
"The people have not one-half
bushel Of potatoes to a house." They
did not have them last fall and it is
mighty seldom they ever have them.
Some have to eat food from the
mice in the woods" sure they do, the
mice gather a certain bean and store
1t. the Indians like these beans, they
are esteemed a special deiicacy, and
they always eat food from the mice
in the woods" that is when they can
get it.
we must have that $40 land pay
ment at once" notice that this is a
continual everlasting request. So
as they get one, per capita pay
ment, from whatever source, they
Immediately plan how to get another
payment, of course without labor or
personal effort. This does not apply
to all Indians in this district, for some
OF them are doing we'll in supporting
themselves, and o do not hear them
asking for more $40 per capita
payment.
T. P. Ashley, who signs himself as
secretary of tribal council" is one
OF u most perfect expounders of
beautiful sunshine"
T. F. Ashley was formerly an
ordained priest Of the Episcopal
church. but vas unfrocked and turned
Out OF the church Of account Of loose
morals. He. says that people have
three acres of crops to a family and
they take care OF 1t. but nothing grew
TINS year" For the past four years
they have not planted one acre cror
per family, n what little you misht
find IN gardens CT crops was neglected
In the summer time be it UNDERSTOOD
Shry have more important business
than taking "a of crops" they aver
age six weeks to two months every
summer in various meetings and count
ellis and conversations. You have
seventeen signers as witnesses . aad
chiefs and also Mr.. Ashley, making
eighteen men altogether, crying
starvation and hurry up that $40 paw
ment. If these eighteen men can show
altogether ten acres of crops grown