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[[preprinted]] 43 [[/preprinted]]
own petty offences.  Experience had shown that it was almost impossible to get the law to act as the tribe now stands and having tried to get sheriff & constables to move in arresting timber thieves, it was clear that if the people were ever to have civilization in their midst, they must come under the organization of ^[[symbol]] L [[/symbol]] en precient. I talked with you about this in Washington last spring, told you that the Omahas living in Bush Co. had petitioned for a precient government and that those living in Dakota Co. had done the same, and asked you to help them to get it.  The whole matter was for the sole purpose of giving the Omahas legal government, and had nothing political in it what ever.  On my return here last August I asked if the petition had been forwarded to the Commissioner learning it had not I gave it to Dr. Wilkinson to present because he having been Agent of the Omahas could answer the Commissioner as to the purpose & needs of the people.  Now by a strange and most unfortunate combination of events this petition seems to have fallen into political troubles & served political purposes.  I greatly regret that this should be so and that the Omahas should lose this [[help?]] and that the Winnegabos be denied their [[precei?]] certainly ought to have had.

I write this that you may fully understand my [[?]]that this Omaha petition had no connection with this [[?]] Winnegabo, nor with parties or politics.

Very truly yours [[signature]] Alice C. Fletcher [[/signature]].