The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1884-07-19
The indian Territory.


States knows more of the condition
of our Indian population than Mr..
Haywor;h, the Government Super
intendent Of Indian education. He
was for years one Of our leading
Indian agents, and he has for the
past twelve years lived right among
the varions tribes both North and
South. He is known among the
Indians az their chief friend and
adviser, md more than any other
American has influence over them.
Mr.. Hayworth is a Aeshy, healthy
looking gentleman Of medium
height, with a pleasant face cover
ed with red whiskers; and the In
dians call him Father Redwh.skers,
using, of course, their word instead
OF ours for the name. He is an
Ohio man by birth and comes from
Wilmington in the southern part
of tho state. In talking with MIN
tonight | asked him a number of
questions relating to the Indians.
Said he: The Indian popula-
ton of the United States numbers
263, 600. This does not include
the Indians of Alaska, who number
about 80, 900. These Indians are
scattered. About IS, 600 of them
are in the Indian Territory. where
we find five civilized nations.
These are the Cherokees, Creeks,
Choctaws, C~hickasaws and Semin-
oles. They number about 90, 1000
in all. and they have a civilization
pretty well advanced. Each tribe
has a government of its own, mod
eled somewhat on the government
of the United States. There is an
upper and lower house Of the Leg
islature--a Senate and House OF
Representatives Both are elected
by the people. The Senate they
call the house Of kings, and the
House Of Representatives is the
house of warriors. This congress
makes the laws tor their govern
ment, and the only restrictions on
these laws is they be within the
laws of the Congress of the United
States. There is also an executive
branch of the government to carry
ont these laws, judges and courts
to pass upon them, and sheriffs and
constables to impose the punish
ment prescribed in them. They
punish by death certain criminals,
but they shoot rather than hang
the offenders"
What crimes are punishable
by death 2" said l.
Murder, horse stealing and
rape" was the reply. "The first
and last for the first offence.
Horse stealing is punishable for the
first offence by Imprisonment, the
second by whipping, and the third
by death"
GLOW do these tribes dress 2"
said l.
Just the same as the white
man," replied Mr.. Hayworth.
"Some of them are traders, some
farmers and stock raisers, and
some are engaged in the various
trades. They are mechanics, shoe
makers, blacksmiths and carpenters.
Some of the business is done bv
whites; but a white man who
wishes to do business in the Indian
Territory must first get a license
from the Government at Washing
ton and from the Indian Nation.
The Indians arc somewhat careful
whom they admit, and they charge
the traders either a certain percent
age on their sales or a license fee.
The Greeks charge two hundred
dollars tor each white business
house. Native Indians, however,
pay nothing, as do also whites who
have any Indian blood in their
veins. If a white man marries an
Indian he can live in the Territory
but he has nothing to do with its
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