Three Days And Nights

POTTAWATOMIE INDIANS SPENT IN DEBATE AT HARTFORD

OVER QUESTION OF THEIR RIGHT TO CHICAGO PROPERTY.

TALKED IN NATIVE TONGUE, BUT VISITORS WERE ALLOWED.

Hartford, Mich, May 8. - The Pokagon band of Pottawatomie Indians has just closed a three-day council, and now all the bucks of the band are enjoying the sleep of a tired debater. Over 200 braves of the tribe were in attendance and the council was continued without cessation day or night.

The matter up for consideration was the payment of the $270,000 by the Chicago syndicate which some time ago purchased the treaty rights of the Indians to the Chicago lake front property. The Indians first deeded away a power of attorney, for which they received a small compensation, the understanding being that the syndicate would immediately start suit for the recovery of the property. When the property was recovered, the aborigine were to get the rest.

The Indians have awaited in vain news of the beginning of the suit, and have now come to the conclusion that they simply deeded their power of attorney to a middle party, who sold it to the present owners of the property, thereby confirming the latter in their title.

For three days and two nights the Indian eloquence rose and fell. Every one of the 200 bucks made his speech, and many of them made several. According to ancient custom, debate was not limited, and nobody ever thought of raising the previous question. Occasionally some brave would slide out for a hurried lunch, but would soon return and silently resume his place about the council's chairman. No one slept, as this would have been a pronounced insult to the speaker.

No vote was taken at the conclusion of the council, and the matter was left where it was taken up. The diversity of opinion was so marked that any decision would have been practically impossible.

All the debates were carried on in the Indian tongue, and white people were perfectly welcome to listen in the outer circle. Although practically none of the visitors understood what was going on, they were many of them fascinated by the Indian eloquence and grace of gesture. No interruptions of approval or disagreement ever occurred, and each speaker finished and took his seat, only to be followed by the next in order.

It is probable that another council will follow as soon as the tribe's committee, now in Chicago, shall return. It is thought very improbable by the chiefs of the tribe that any agreement can be reached in the present state of affairs, the continued attitude of most of the bucks being an apparent willingness to be convinced that they are in the wrong, coupled with a stolid firmness in their present opinions.