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Show . .V do what is best for you,if they know all the facts. How these two petitions have been prepared, each addressed to the Commissioner. One tells him that you want to use the land and the other tells him that you can spare portions of it, and want to lease those part3 to white men. I wish that you would all sign one or the other, according to what you think, so thajj I can Bend them to Washington^ and the Office will have your opinion written by your own thumb- markB. I want to hear- fron all of you, and I have a clerk hero who will take it all down and we will-send it to Washington. I want you all to oay what you think; but before you speak, would it not be better for these men to speak to you? They have come in here to see you about this matter, and they have the permission of the Office in Washington to talk to you about it. " Mr- Joseph R.Murdock: " I think it would be better for us to speak before they do, so that they may hear both. 3ides- Somebody wrote a letter last summer and signed Dick Wanrodes name to it. That letter said the Indians did not want to lease their graging ground to Mr. Murdock:. Dick Wanrodes did not write that letter, and he- went to Washington to tell them that he did not write that letter-." (The Indiana had been talking among themselves all the time- Mr. Murdock was speaking, for they did not wish to have him speak before they did. McCook was on his feet Interrupting and insisted on beginning his speech.) |