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Show (4) This custom has perhaps caused observers to think they wore engaging in worship of a serinus nature. The harmful effects of the dance do not lie in the dance Itself, but in the fact that it is held at a season when a long period of absence frorathe farm is ruinous. As was said in the former better such an observance fits in very well with the roving life when all of the Indians' possessions may be taken to the dance ground and kept there as well as elsewhere; but, with the establishing of homes and the purchase of stock the dance becomes unpardonable from-an industrial standpoint. That there was white interference this season in fa'wr of the Indian's holding the dance is not denied by the citizens of the community; it is generally known. I sent Dr. Lloyd, who has some very good friends in the community of Hayden and had him spend a day in an effort to securev^the evidence which had been denied me, as to the names ofthe parties who ad7ised the -Indians to proceed with the dance and hang or shoot their Agent and any who came to interfere and who promised aid to the Indians carrying out the dance- The white people of the Hayden community acknowledge that such adw'ce was given the Indians, but they say it was aivon in a crowd and by disgruntled boot-leggers and Irresponsible parties r;h03e names they could not swear to. I am therefore, of the opA.ion that no successful prosecution |
