Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-08-16
QUIET ELECTION.
Fears of Trouble at the Chickasaw
Election Groundless.
Both Whites and Full Bloods Armed
Double Polling Piaces-The whites Gem
orally Overawed-Byrd's Election
to he Contested.


Tishomingo, Tishomingo County, just
arrived, report quiet elections at those
places.
Indian Agent Bennett was present at
Oakland and had representatives at the
other polling places. Under his in
Btructions two polls were opened, one
for the adopted citizens and the other
for the full bloods
The judges of the DISTINGUISHED polls
were sworn in according to law and
test case will be made as to the legality
OF their vote before the Indian court III
denied hearing by this tribunal the
matter will be taken to the Federal
courts and possibly before the Interior
Department at Washington.
AS predicted the Byrd or National
ticket received majority Of the Indian
votes at these two polls and unless the
disfranchised votes count their entire
ticket will be elected.
The presence Of the Indian agent and
the establishing of an additional polling
place beyond doubt prevented blood
shed. The disfranchised were present
in full force armed with Winchesters
with the avowed intention Of voting.
At Oakland the poll was opened early
in the morning by the full blood party
and the first squaw man who attempted
to vote was denied the privilege. Other
sauaw men made the same attempt and
met with the same experience. The
souaw men, about 100 in number, then
held meeting and were addressed by
Indian Agent Bennett, who advised
peaceful measures and instructed them
to put up poll Of their own. He told
them that he would recognize their
judges of election so far as certifying to
the returns. They acted upon his ad-
vice and erected poll at which all the
white men voted.
Meanwhile Governor Byrd's militia,
the Indian police and the United States
marshals stood guard and no disturb
ance of any kind occurred.
The vote at the squaw mems polls ex-
ceeded the Indian vote. Sam Paul is
sure to be Governor If the squaw mems
votes are counted. Most of the Indians
voted for Byrd, but few cast their bal
lots for Paul.
At Tishomingo also separate polls
were erected. The Indian vote in fish
omingo County is larger than the white
vote.
The plans of the sluaw men now are
to contest the election and carry the re-
turns to the Indian court This court
will thus be called upon to decide the
election, and If the decision be adverse
to the disfranchised element the latter
will then appeal to the United State:
Federal Court. If the Indian court ad
Judges the sauaw men to be aliens. theI
they must be United States citizens ant
as such they can appeal to the Fedora
court. The latter will then decide al
to whether they are United States cit
liens or not and thus finally decide thu
question.
ROW NARROWLY AVERTED.
WILDWOOD !. T., Aug. IA rumo
just arrived after travelling fifty miles
from Stonewall reports that row wa
narrowly averted at that place and hos
tilities were only prevented by the su
perior forces at the command OF Gov
ernor Byrd, who so overawed the dis
franchised whites that after some dis
play of arms they prudently withdrew.
Stonewall was the largest votinI
place and was the center Of interest Il
the election. Both the candidates TO
Governor, Sam Paul and William Byrd
were at the polls all day. Each had
large number Of men at his back
Paul's supporters were the disfranchise
whites, while the full bloods and mos
of the half breeds were for Byrd. III
latter also had ia militia under his pay
Everybody was heavily armed an
when the polls opened matters locke
serious. Governor Byrd brought tn
militia about the polls, forming q circl
about it. The first squaw man was II
fused the privilege OF voting and retired
The whites gathered their forces and fo
a time it looked as II they meant battle
but Byrd with his militia stood firm
and the whites, seeing they would
worsted in a fight left and Byrd an
his militia ran things to suit themselve
and even prevented Indians from votin
whom they knew were for Paul.
The result of the vote was: 100 Il
Byrd, 6 for Paul, and Is for Burris, il
dependent The whites were great
riled over their treatment and thei
may be trouble yet
Enough is known to assure Byrd
election and the success Of the so-calle
Indian party, but their election is boun
10 be contested.