Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-10-24
POWER.
He is Able to Coerce tho Cherokee
Nation
INTO OPENING THE OUTLET.
Visit of the Commissioners to the Sac and
Fox Tribe-The Iowas willing
Other Tribesmen Des-
perate.

SAC AND Fox AGENCY. 1. T., Oct ga
The visit of the Cherokee Commiss ion to
the Iowa and Kickapoo agencies is full of
developments vital to the Cherokees, as
not only the Strip, but even the entire
tract of the Cherokees may be involved
through the present negotiations. The
Iowas Kickapoos, Shawnees, Cheyennes
and Arapahoes have no title to the lands
they now occupy and the Government
may throw open to settlement these lands,
giving the Indians the alternative of TAX
ing their present reservations in severalty
or being removed.
During the recent visit of the Commits
sion to the Iowas, these Indians were
made to understand this and they ex-
pressed preference for removal to giving
up their tribal relations. The Kickapoos
and Cheyennes are of the same mind.
By article Is of the treaty of 1885 with
the Cherokees, these tribes can be re-
moved to the 100000 acres now occupied
by the Cherokees. The provisions of this
article were not analy I'd until recently by
Commissioner Wilson and may lead to
sensational results. 1t states that any
Indians friendly to the Cherokees and
adjacent tribes may be settled on unoc-
cupied lands east of tbs ninety sixth de-
gree within the Cherokee country on such
terms as may be agreed upon by any such
tribes and the Cherokees, subject to the
approval of the President of the United
States.
Should any such tribe or band of Indi-
ans settling in that country abandon
their tribal organization, they shall be in
cor porated into and ever after remain a
part of The Cherokee Nation, on equal
terms in every respect with the native
citizens. Should they preserve their trib-
al organ !zation they can be set apart on
100 acres of land each.
A further provision is that such tribes
can not be settled east of tbs ninety-sixth
degree in the Cherokee country without
first, the consent of the Cherokee Council,
unless the President of the United States
after full hearing of the objections Of
fered by the Council to such settlement,
shall determine that the objections are in
sufficient, in which Casa he may authorize
the settlement of such tribe east of the
ninety sixth degree of longitude.
Thus the power of settling tribes on the
home tract of the Cherokees practically
rests with the President of the United
States, it being in his power TO override all
objections. He has authority to settle the
Iowas or other tribes even in the sight of
Tahlequah itself.
The Cherokees are bringing it on them
selves. The Government feels that to
permit thousands of acres to lie unused in
the Indian Territory while there are
thousands of settlers without homes is not
just or humane. More land is needed, and
il the Cherokees persist in their claim to
the Strip they will compel the Govern
menr to settle ali the lands now occupied
by lowas, KicIapoos, etc, and give them
places in the Cherokee land as per treaty.
1t requires the consent of the tribes to
be removed to do this. The Iowas are
willing. Several of them on being inter-
viewed through an interpreter said they
would gladly take mp their abode with the
Cherokees. Commissioners Fairchild and
Wilson are sounding the tribes on this
point in their present visit and it is be-
leved to be the main object of the present
negotiations.
The Commissioners have reached the
Sacramento and Fox agency where a
grand powwow Of Indians will be held.
The Commiss toner's may not offer them a
price for their land, but merely present
the question of lands in severalty. These
TRIES hold their present reservations
by a treaty which the United States made
in 1872 and can not be forced to SELL There
are $4,000 acres in the reservation and
but 500 individuals. The land lying along
the North Canadian is of the richest kind,
but the Commissioners are will ing to offer
81 % for the remainder, which would give
over 81 900 to each man, woman and child.
The Commissioners afterward will leave
for the Kickapoo reservation. The tribe
is said to be greatly excited over the COM
ing. A party of soldiers accompanying the
Commissioners are believed to have been
sent to overawe some of the desperate
men of the tribe