St. Landry democrat., 1888-02-04
OKLAHOMA,
The Springer Bill Exciting Much Interest
in the Indian Territary.

The Springer Bill Exciting Much Interes
in the Indian Territory.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.-The Springer bill
| to open up the Indian Territory is stirring
up the Indians and their representatives
and they are pouring into Washington at /:
great rate. delegation from the Usage.
was hereoa few days ago, but they returned
home, presumably for reinforcement anC
for more definite instructions from theil
people The Choctaws are present in full
force. as are also the Chickasaws, the Sem
lno1es and the Creeks. The latter tribe is
SAID to be willing to the settlement of Ok
lahoma upon certain conditions, and a pa
per which was in part adopted three years
ago, setting forth the terms, is now on file
IN the Indian Department, and will proba
oily be called forth in few days by resOlu-
ton.
AS the story goes, the Creeks consented
TO part with Oklahoma at the time the last
treaty was made, on the condition that it
should be used by the Government as a
reservation for friendly tribes. Three
years ago, however, the agitation in favor
OF opening Oklahoma to settlement became
so pronounced that the Creeks began to
fear the passage of a bill by Congress look
ing in that direction. These Indians, there
fore, concluded that something was better
than nothing, and the representatives of
the tribe in Washington at that time de-
clded TO arrange matters for the crisis. A
document was then drawn up looking to-
ward settlement, the idea of the Creeks
beng to get pay for their share of the
land upon the basis Of the difference be-
tween 30 cents per acre, the price origin
ally paid them in consideration of their
being held for occupancy by friendly
tribes, and S1.25, Or some other fair price,
charged the actual white settlers who
might be admitted in case the country
should be thrown open. This document
was legally drawn up and signed by the
Creek representatives in Washington. and
vas submitted IN turn to the Indian Com
missioner, the Secretary of the Interior
and the President. They each approved it
and it was filed to await ratification by the
Creek Council. The final action of Con-
gress enacted no law, but the document
was presented to the Creek Coan-
Gil at the following session. 1t
passed one body cf the Council,
but through the connivance of cat
tlemen, who were interested in the Indian
leases, and consequently opposed to the
opening of Oklahoma, it failed in the other.
The document, however, is still on file in
the department here, and those who have
heard OF its existence deem it sufficiently
significant to warrant it's reproduction at
this time. 1t is believed to express the
sentiment of the Creeks generally as IA
vorable to an early disposition of the lands
for settlement, despite the fact that under
the terms of the original treaty they were to
be reserved for other Indians. If the Creeks
can be induced to consent to sale and set
tlement, it is believed the other Nations of
the Territory will follow, and that the diff
culties now in the way will be removed
without further delay or trouble.
The document in question will be called
for by resolution OF the House, and it may
play an important part in the pending
legislation. The cattlemen of the Territory
are sand to be behind some Of the Indians
here, urging them to oppose to the bitter
end any invasion of the Territory and all
legislation concerning it, On the other
hand, delegations of business men from the
border cities of Kansas are coming to fa-
Vor the opening of the Territory, and dele
gates from the Board of Trade of Wichita
are already mere, and especially active.