Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-30
BIGGER THAN CATTLE KINGS
The Cherokee Strip Live Stock Med
Get Hint.
JUNE A GOOD TIME TO vAcATh
Secretary Noble Addresses a Long Let.
ter 10 Governor Eairchiid, Chair
man orthe Cherokee Com.
mission. 3

The Nation Greater Than Corporations
WASHINGTON, Oct. 29.-Secretary Noble
has addressed long letter to Governor FairA
child, chairman of the Cherokee commission,
In which he defines certain positions that the
department will maintain in negotiating with
the Cherokees for the purchase Of Indian
lands in the Cherokee outlet. The secretary
refers TO the illegitimate influence of the
Cherokee Strip Live Stock association in
attempting to thwart the beueficent purposes
Of the government. The secretary reaches
the conclusion that the syndicate proposes to
outbd the United States for these lands, and
to enter the arena as citizens contcndins
with the national government. He insists
that the cattle syndicate falls within the law
prohibiting citizens from making leases with
Indians; that the leases of the Cherokee out
let are unlawful and Illegal; that the presi-
dent has authority to declare invalid the
agreement or lease for grazing purposes
made contrary to the provisions of tho law
which provide that u purchase, lease or
grant of Indian lands, to be valid must oc
made by treaty, pursuant to the constitution
and thaS tho president has authority to re.
move unauthorized persons from the reserva-
tion whenever their presence ts believed to
be detrimental to the peace and welfare OF
the Indians.
The secretary shows that the syndicate
proposes to lease the land at q rental of $780,
WV NSdI tuc 1TSb llNt years, viUU,uUU IOf
the next five years and $4,000 for the last
five years.
The government proposition shows that
the Cherokees will get from the United
States at least 81, 600, 900 after deducting the
payments already made.
THE cattle syndicate" F" ho says "is pre-
sumably one of the ordinary kind of which
hundreds have heretofore existed and disap-
peared with the loss of their assets No re-
sponsiblity attaches to the individuals COM
posing the corporation and If it did, they are
persons whose fortunes, however great they
may be to-day, are liable to the fluctuations
attendant upon such ventures The prices
offered as rental are deemed by all ac-
quainted with the subject as extravagant
from first to last. The government Of the
United States Is seeking land only for the
good of the people, to furnish new homes for
vast number of citizens who wish by their
labor to redeem 1T from Wilderness roumed
over by scattered herds" The secretary, in
conclusion, says:
The proposition of the United States is not
only fair, but munltcent while the title to
the use of the land, even by the Cherokees (
is precarious. The cattle syndicate has no
authority to make q lease such as proposed,
and by Its evident intention to rival and de-
feat the government on which 1T depends 1T
forfeits all claim to inGulgent consideration
and can and ought to be expelled from the
outlet. The secretary therefore announces,
IN order that 1t may be communicated with.
out delay to the Cherokee Nation, that in his
opinion those who purpose to make leases do
so with the knowledge that such leases
are unauthorized and may at any
time within the discretion of the
United States government be set aside;
that their interference with the negotiations
of the United States gives occasion for the
government TO consider the propriety of lay
ing its hand upon these citizens acting in de-
fance of law and against public interest and
to restrain them from proceeding further in
this direction.
1t is deemed necessary that such lessees
should be compelled to leave said outlet with
their property on or before the 1st of June
next it being deemed proper not TO fix tho
time earlier, that they may escape without
injury or suffering to cattle and herds.
1t is deemed TO be to the best interests of
the Cherokee people to receive at the hands
of the government the fund, the interest on
which will give them steady, reliable and
abundant amount for Improvement and ad-
vancement in place Of the future payments
of transient consideration, no claim being
TO authority to take these lanns, but that no
right is uereby waived.
If the Cherokees do not wish to sell they
are at liberty to keep their lands under the
broad burdens, resting thereon in favor of
the United States, unless the United States
sees fit hereafter to assert its right by su-
perior title, and that the Cherokees shall re-
ceive under any circumstances the same in
diligence and generous treatment they have
heretofore and 30 long enjoyed.