Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-10-28
HON. JOEL B. MAYHs.

EDITOR CHIEFTAIN:-Hon. Joel
b. Mayes, the present candidate
for chief on the Downing ticket,
was born, October End, 1888, in the
old nation east of the Mississippi
river. He moved to the present
Cherokee nation, in 1887, and has
been a resident ever since, il being
fifty years next March, since his
arrival. He is the son of the late
Samuel Mayes, who was well
known among the Cherokees for
his aggressive and enterprising
spirit a farmer, and his general
hospil- -ity. His mother was an
Adair, daughter Of "Black, +" Wat
Adair, and sister to John Thomp-
son Adair, who now lives in Flint
district, this nation. Mr.. Mayes
received his education in the
primary schools, and at the Male
seminary, graduating there in the
spring Of 1855 or '56, among one of
four members of the second class
who first entered the seminary.
After graduating he taught school
two years, then located west of
Grand river in Cooweescoowee
district, and began stock raising
which he followed until the war
broke out in 1861. At the close of
the war he removed to his old
homestead where he has been liv-
ing ever since, improving a large
farm and accumulating some prop
erty. Immediately after the war
he was appointed clerk Of Coowee-
scoowee district. Under the old law
the chief appointed them. This
Office he held for several years
with credit TO himself and satisfac-
ton to the people. He%as then
elected circuit judge for the "north-
ern" circuit twice. The first time
to fill the unexpired term Of Judge
Rowe. He was afterwards elected
to fill the same office, four years,
the regular term. He then served
two years as clerk of the citizen
ship commission. After this he
was elected chief CLERK Of council.
While in this Office he was elected
associate justice of the supreme
court. After this he was elected
chief justice of the supreme court,
which he held until the term of
Office expired. In recent
political convention he was nomi.
mated by the party to which he
belongs, for chief of this nation.
The wisdom of that party in so
doing is unquestionable; no better
leader does this nation demand at
present. Fitted by age, experience
in different public offices, and by
mutual endowments, and ability,
the satisfaction he will surely
give, as executive of this nation,
| might be pardoned for saying, is
guaranteed already. He is one of
a few of those men whom Office has
sought, and it cannot be truthfully
said of him that in all his public
life from the beginning to the pres
ent he sought the offices which he
has so successfully filed. So in
his nomination for chief, it was
with considerable reluctance on his
part that he consented to make the
race. Not that he was afraid of
being beaten, for in the political
arena no man knows who will be
winner Of the race, but that he
realized the duties and grave re-
sponsibilities Of successfully filling
the office if elected. Now that he
is nominated let the citizens of this
nation further show their conf
dence in him by electing him as
their chief. Men should be elected
for the public trust who have past
records untarnished and unstained
by dishonorable acts. We want
public men who have a deep sense
Of the importance and RESPONSE
bility of filling the different Offices.
Men who are patriotic enough not
TO sacrifice the interests of their
people for the accomplishment Of
avaricious ends. The Cherokee
people ask for and demand a
change in the political manage
ment Of this country. There are
questions Of natioual importance
that threaten our existence as a
nation. These questions have not !
been properly dealt with in the
past. OF course the chief can do |
no more than instruct the council |
what is best to do, but it takes a
man of wisdom TO guard with pro-
tecting care the interests Of the |
Cherokee people. The RESPONSE
bility Of filling the executive
office Of this government is so great
that IL demands a man With un-
questioned craftsmanship, broad |
views, and clear conceptions as TO
his actual duties, and the way Of
dischnrging them. 1t re-
mains for the people 10 decide by |
the past records OF the two candi-
dates Tor chief who ia the one best J