Viewing page 43 of 86

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

is done will be done by you so when you think I am not moving along right and in the proper way don't hesitate to get up and announce yourself and then we can see from the audience as to how we should go on from there. Without objection the chair will move along as he sees fit and in confidence that you will work the thing out properly. 

     S. C. DeMERS: If it will please the chair and the assembly, I should like to introduce my good friend Mr. Leo Kennerly of Montana. 

     LEO KENNERLY: Mr. Chairman and Fellow American Indians, I just wish to make a very brief statement. I will be willing to serve on any committee the chair wishes to place me.

     MR. DeMERS: I request that he be placed on the Resolutions Committee. 

     MR. DWIGHT: Mr. Kennerly will be placed on the Resolutions Committee.

    MR. KIRK: Mr. Chairman, this gentleman here wants you to clarify the word "group" as used by you in saying that it is up to the group to decide controversial questions.

    MR. DOUGHMAH: You said that anything that the chair will undertake to do will be approved by this group. This is just a point of information.

    MR. DWIGHT: In that connection I was referring to this group here. Each individual composes the group here which is the convention.

    MR. SHORT: I find that a lot of the full-bloods have not grasped the meaning of this. I think it would be well for the chair, if there are any other members here who could explain to the full-bloods, I think it would be well for the Chair to ask them to explain these things. Some of them think it will affect their local organization among their people. I think you should ask some individual here who could clear it up in their minds. 
  
    MR. DWIGHT: I think that is a very good suggestion, and I am satisfied that this is a good time to do that. I think a good way to do that would be for the full-bloods to ask some questions about it. At this time I believe I will ask Jesse Rowlodge here if he will tell what the purpose of this meeting is as he has gained information so far.

   JESSE ROWLODGE: Mr. Chairman, in response to your request I will undertake to make a brief explanation of the general purpose of this convention as a full-blood might understand it, especially with a limited knowledge of any similar proposal. I represent the Cheyenne and Arapahoes from Oklahoma and have for a number of years. They usually give me the power-of-attorney as their representative. In this particular purpose I am representing them at this convention. The matter stands, as it always has, they have confidence in me, especially with regard to their rights. They want the Government to watch their interest and see to it that their land rights and property rights and other interests will be protected. As the present Chairman will tell 

                             -17-