The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-10-30
THE CHEROKEE STRIP
Cattlemen Bidding Against the
United States.
WARNING TO THE INDIANS.
III the Red aEen Do Sot sell the xans
They cznnss Lease Ts-TheIr
Title Defective.

WARRINGTON, Oct. ea.--Secrstary Noble
h2s addressed \ i1ng letter 20 General Far
child. chairman Of The Charokee comlE.is-
SION, n which be defines certain positions
tae department viii maintain in negotiating
With the Cherokees for the purchase Of In
aian lands IN the Cherokee outsex. The
secretary refers 70 the Legitimate influence
q the Cherokee Strip LfYeStock Associ-
alton IN attempting 10 thwsrt the benefi-
cent purposes Of the government The
secretary reaches the conclusion that the
syudicate's parpose Is to outhid the United
States for these lands and 70 enter the
arena as citizens conteRding with the
national government
The Secretary insists that tie cattle syn
ditate falls within the law prohibiting citi-
zei1s from making leases with Indians:
that The leases Of the Cherokee outlet are
unlawful and Illegal; that the president
has authority 10 declare invalid an agree
HI'snt or lease for grazing purposes made
contrary 10 the provisions OF iaw which
provide that purchase, lease or grant os
Indian lands 20 be valid must be 3 treaty
pursuant to the constitution, and that the
president has authority 20 remove un-
authorized persons from reservations when
ever their presence Is believed 70 Be detfi-
mental to the peace and welfare of the
Indians.
The secretary shows that the syndicate
purposes TO lease the land at a rental of
$4,000 year Tor the first FIVE years, 500
co for the next fiFe years and So 900 for
The last i've years. The government prop
ositicn shows that the Cherokees will get
from the United states at least s., COZ 600
after ieduesing payments already made
The cattle syndicate, he says. Is presum-
ably one OF the ordinary kind. Of which
hundreds have heretofore existed and dis
appeared with loss OF their assets. No
responsibility attaches to the individuals
COMPOSING the corporation, and il II did
taey are persons whose fortunes, however
great they may be today, are liable TO fsac-
tuations attendant upon such ventures
The prices offered as rental are deemed
by all acquainted with the subject as ex-
trayagant from first 10 last. The govern
ment oi the United States is seeking the
land only for the good Of the people, to
furnish new homes for a vast namher OF
citizens who will by their labor redeem il
from wilderness or plains roamed over by
scattered herds.
The secretary in conclusion says the
proposition of the United States + not only
fair but nunihcent. while the eitle 10 the
land even by the Cherokees is precarious:
that the cattle syndicate has no Authority
70 make leases such as proposed. an d BY
It's evident intention to rival and
defeat the government on which Il depends,
has forfeited all claim to induictnt consid-
GRAFTON, and can and ought 20 Be- expelled
from the outlet. The secretary therefore
announces, ia order that il may be com
municated without delay 10 the Cherokee
nation. that in his opinion those who pro-
pose 10 make the leases do so with a
knowledge that such leases are unauthor-
lied and may at any time within the dis
cretlon Of the United states government be
set aside; that their interference with the
negotiations of the United States gives oc-
casion for the government to consider the
propriety Of laying its hands upon these
citizens acting in defiance OF law
sud against the public interest and to
restrain them from proceeding further in
this direction. II is deemed necessary that
such leesees should be compelled to pave
said outlet with their property on or before
the Ist of June next, it being deemed
proper not 10 Tx the time earlier that
they may escape without injury or suffer
ing TO their cattle and herds. II is deemed
10 be the best interest OF the Cherokee peo-
pie 10 receive az the hands of the govern
uent fund. the interest on which viii
give them a steady reliable and abundant
amount for improvement and advance
nent, in place Of future payments By
a transient corporation. no claim being
made to authority 10 take these lands. bat
that no right is hereby waived. II the
Cnerokees do not wish 10 sell they are at
liberty 70 keep their lands, under the broad
burdens resting thereon ia favor of the
United States. unless the United States
sees III hereafter TO assert its right by
superior title and that the Cherokees shall
receive, under any circumstances, the same
indulgence aud generous treatment they
have heretofore and so long enjoyed
KANSAS Cry, Oct "a special to the
Tsaes from Tahiequah says Chief Nays
viii advise the Cherokee council to accept
the governments offer. Others Join in the
recommendation. and the prospects are
row that the Cherokee commission sill
n eet with success