The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-04-10
INDIANS IN COUNCIL
DELEGATES FROM NUMEROUS
RESERVATIONS CONSIDER
CLAIMS AGAINST THE
GOVERNMENT.

Sio" SASSht Sfpih AbVPit
s~entatives from 10 Indian reserva-
tons of Sioux and Cheyenne Indians
met here Thursday and Friday of
last week, April 3 and S, and formu-
lated and presented their claims to
the government for settlement of the
Black Hills claim.
This was a representative body.
indian Commissioner Cato Sells had
given notice of this meeting some
time in advance and five delegates
had been elected by popular vote of
the Indians on each reservation.
Forty-three delegates actually at
tended the council and represented
over $4,000 Indians in the Dakotas.
Wyoming, Montana and Oklahoma.
1t was a dignified. orderly and
businesslike body. The delegates
were from among the most intelli-
gent, progressive and at the same
time conservative classes of Indians
on the various reservations. The
professional agitators were conspic-
uous by their absence.
Clarence Three Stars, an educated
Pine Ridge Sioux. of Martin, was
elected president OF the council.
There Wer present a number Of SUI
perintendents from the various res
ervations. These officials took no
part In the deliberations except to
address the council one evening at
the request of the members of the
council. 1t was the desire of Com
missioner Sells that the Indians be
allowed to conduct their delibera-
tons without any interference either
from government officials or others
and the results of this council dem
onstrate that his confidence in the
ability of the Indians to carry on the
council properly was not misplaced.
Assistance and advice as to the
claims was given the council by
Dean Ashley who has been mission
airy among the Sioux for 45 years
and who was present when some of
the treaties we're signed by the In
dams.
The Sioux Indians have been try
ing for many years to get their claim
against the government considered,
but this Is the first time that a full
council of all the Indian tribes and
bands interested has met with duly
elected and accredited representa-
tives.
The claims were considered by
the council and formulated for pre-
sentation. The substance of the
claim Is that at the time the treaties
were signed with the various guards
in the 7O's, only a small percentage
of the Indians were really present
and took part In the deliberations
that many of those who signed the
treaties were not duly selected to
represent the Indians, that the treat.
les as reported to congress by the
, commissioners and as approved by
congress had not been fully explain
|, ed to the Indians and that the com
rensation given the Indians by con
gress for the vast territory cedeG
was only a small part of what the
Indians were promised.
There are living today a consider
able number of Indians and white
people who took part and heard
these treaties made, and the con
census of opinion seems to be thai
they have a valid claim.
Before anything can be done to
allow this claim ii is necessary fol-
congress to pass a law authorizing
the claim to be considered by the
court of claims. Such a bill has
passed the senate and is nov pending
before the house, but may not pass
at this session on account of the re-
l~uctance of congress to consider any
thing but war measures.
| Commissioner Sells has authorized
this council to send a delegation OF
three to Washington to report the
result Of their deliberations and pre-
sent their claims and every effort
will be made to secure the early
passage Of the bill and secure the ad.
judication of the claim.