Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-09-12


through your case at Washington.
/ took the papers, examined them
carefully, and came 10 tho oOnclu-
sion that you had a righteous and
just case, and that fit was in my
power TO kelp you any I would do
so. II was as FIRST supposed that
comparatively small amount of
money only would be needed to
bring the case to a termination.
/ promised Mr.. Turner that /
would let him hrve $4,000, which
he thought would be ample TO pay
his expenses. You can readily
see how we were AL disappointed
when state to you that before we
came 10 the end of the case I had
20 advance altogether the sum of
s2, 2,954.21. II will be impossible
for me to tell you in short letter
Of the difficulties which had TO be
overcome. Additional assistance
had 10 be employed no Washing
ton. The Cherokees we're well
otganized and well represented
there, and those who took their
side Of the case placed every pos.
sible obstacle in the way of your
success, and we had not only TO
spend a great deal Of time but
great deal of money before we
could place your matter properly
before the authorities aud finally
get from them the decision which
placed you in possession of your
rights, OF which you had long been
deprived. / can speak personally
Of Mr. Turner's great work done
in your behalf, and Of the trials
and tribulations and actual suffer
ing passed through for YOU in or
der to bring your case 20 a sue
ocssful end. Six times since Feb
ruary, 1888, have l been in Wash
ington 10 confer with Mr.. Turner,
and to do what | could to enable
you to get your rights. On each
of these occasions / found him
working diligently Tor you and
making great sacrifices in order
to enable him TO remain there aud
represent you. 1t has not been
uncommon for me 20 find him
without a dollar in his pocket and
with no one in Washington to turn
to for aid. l have known him to
refuse offers Of employment. which
would have paid him we'll, in or
der to enable him TO remain in
Washington and fight your case
there. All this tCo, when his
family here in St. Louis were in
actual want and almost suffering
for the necessities Of life, because
Mr.. Turner could not leave your
case and seek employment in any
manner without injuring your
chances of success, rs il required
the most constant and strict atten-
ton and wa,chiulr IS in order to
defeat plans which we're constant
Is being formed to defeat you. ]
have in my possession numerous
letters written to me by him from
Washington in which he states over
and over again, that were il not
for the poor freedmen in the In
dian Territory, who were being
imposed upon by the Cherokees =
be would long sines-have aban.
doneq te,S case, but he says he
ls3rted out 90 see that you got
your rights, and want 10 say that
you ought TO consider yourselves
greatly indebted TO him for hold
ing on, until the end. | know of
no man who would have made the
sacrifices which he has, and know
Of no one who could have shown
the peculiar ability which he did
in bringing the case 10 % success
ful termination as he has done.
IT there are any other parties who
claim o portion of his well earned
fecy0u ought TO use every means Ia
your power 20 defeat such iraldu-
lent claim. I have been interest
ed in the case now abou. nineteen
months, during al Of which time
I have read the papers bearing up
on the case, ] have been in Wash.
ington, as I have said before, six
times, have seen numerous people
who have heard about the case.
have talked with everybody who
was ata'l interested in it,and never
have ] heard tho name Of anyone
mentioned as your representative
in Washington except Mr. Turn
er's. / have talked with senator's
and representatives, who knew an
about the case, and they them
selves told me IL was Mr.. Turner
who had done all the work. AsI
Mr. Turner viii tell YOU, his en-.
tire bin tor services and expenses /
IN the six years for which he /
worked for you, amounts to about !
s2S 10000, of this congress has |
compelled the Chorokees TO pay |
Sl5,0OO.OO and Itrusty you win sec I
20 il that Mr.. Turner is promptly /
paid the balance and that it il /
paid % him and b no one else. |
During the time he has represent |
ed yOu, Mr.. Turner and his family /
have actually suffered in order 10 I
enable him to continne TO fight /
your case. ! trRst that in a spirit /
Of fairness and justice you will see
that he receives his due reward, |
for you know the good book tells /
US that "the laborer IS worthy Of |
his hire"
l have heard much Of yon from |
Mr.. Turner and from others. III
am much interested in you, in |
your progress and in your welfare, |
and il wonld have been a genuine |
pleasure for me to have met you |
IN person, and | hope at some day |
may see the people whom | have
.o IL. l..t . -. .I.4. ttt