Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-06-27


10 proceed; The primary con.
ventions met on the 1st day Of
June and as I am informed ali Sc
lectcd delegates, and one (Vinita)
sent two sets. A part OF the vot-
ers Of Ketchum's precinct, dissat-
isfed either with the manner in
which IL was conducted or its re-
suits, called another meeting OF
the precinct June 5 and appointed
an entire new delegation, of which
was one, ignoring rs matter of
course the meeting Of the let Of
June. The question Of what dele
cations were right was for the gen.
eral convention 10 settle.
On June Sth, seven delegations
from the Eve precincts met; atem-
porary organization was had. A
premature motion by Mr.. Davis,
from Ketchum, was voted down
and a motion calling for creden-
tials. although agreed TO, was fol-
lowed so closely by angry discus
sion and n motion by Mr.. Brown
ing to adjourn indefinitely, that
confusion ensued and ended only
when the entire delegation from
Horse creek aud four of the FIVE
delegates from Kotchums, selected
juno 1, separated themselves from
the convention. a majority OF the
delegates remained under the tenn
porary organization already had,
the acts Of which have been pub.
lished. The Kctchum delegation
Of the June 9th convention, being
citizens Of the country, and voters
Of the precinct, unquestionably had
the right Of appeal, which right
they were exercising and no more,
when they proposed to contest the
seats of the June list delegation.
The assumption of Secretary
Bell that we should have bOen ex-
PEELED unheard, is g:atuitous ard
altogether unwarranted and to uso
his own words, by "every princi-
pie Of justice and equity; every
moral obligation Of man TO man;
to the spirit of our constitution and
according to every precept and
principle of Christianity this
contesting delegation from Kctch-
ums were entitled to a hearing.
The pretence that the Vinita
contestants were denied hearing
is altogether without foundation;
in fact, so much so that not one of
them set up any claim whatever
after a call for credentials was
made.
Mr.. Davis, Of the contested del
egation, presented his credentials
but withdrew the paper before ac-
ton could be had and the delega-
ton of the June 5 convention, held
at "Gus BulIington's blacksmith
shop" from Ketchum's precinct.
were accorded seats in the general
convention Of the Downing party
west Of Grand river, in Delaware
district, on the Sth day of June,
1889, pursuant to a call made BY
J. NJ. Bell, who in the call Of May
23rd signed himself captain"
but modified it in the call for June
| and 8. so that he appears only rs
prominent member" OF the
Downing party.
Were j. NJ. Bell and B. S. Lam
drum really captains" of the
Downing party when they promul-
gated their famous Vinita de
cres," Monday, May Goth, 1889,
surrcptitiously naming a day for
a convention and naming them
selves every man who should par
ticipate in il. or were they as j.
NJ. Bell, chairman of this "hand-
made" convention of May 23rd,
only "prominent Members" seek
ing an ungreased pole up which TO
climb to office and place 2 Now,
Mr.. Editor, since my right to
voice in the public management of
the affairs Of this country has been
questioned, | will ask by what
right does J. NJ. Bell ask honors
and Office at the hands of the
Downing partyY is 1t for services
rendered OF for wrongs inflicted
In the year 1871 Col. J. NJ. Bell,
then an honored and influential
member of the Downing party, for
reasons best known to himself,
turned his back upon his friends |
and gave aid and comfort to the !
Ross party in the election that
year for chief, by running what he
could not but know was a hopeless
race and could result only in de-
votes from Lewis Downing,
.he then candidate Of the party he
now seeks 10 control. Estranged
since that time from his old
uncared for by his new,
.he man has been as dead, poliii-
,ally, as If lac were under tho sod
and the daisies growing over him.
to the bar Of public
opinion, am.
JOHNSON FALLEN,
One of the delegates appointed
by the Downing voters, by prima-
~ meeting held at Gus BuiiingtOn's
shop, June 8. 1899.
June 81, 1889.