Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-08-21
TIE CONVENTIONS HELD.
Full Particulars Of the Proceed
inGs.

! now over, and many men OF Goth
sides, though sick at heart over
the result, are determined to
"grin and bea, II" They viii
have little OF nothing to say uatil
election day and then they viii 81
lently step a9 TO the polls and de-
clare, by their votes, that Mayes.
who claims 20 be chosen by the
people, = the first man in the
Downing party and Benge who
claims to be chosen by the Lord,
the greatest National in the Chero-
kee nation But neither party, it
now seems, win get the support of
all its members. Both conven-
tons had a red hot time and from
the word ''go" il was a settled fact
that many would bolt. Those of
the National party who are dis
satisfied say that It was clearly the
wish Of the people that Bushy-
head receive the nomination, and
that Benge won by chicanery;
while in the Downing party
Mayes IS charged with breaking
the compact and getting his nomi-
nation by making the captains cen
sus takers and by working in his
relatives.
The Downing convention was
held in an out Of the way
place fifteen miles from Table
quah and about a mile from the
orphan asylum and Tahlequah
road. Monday afternoon the ma
jOrity of the captains and .heir al
ternates were present and an or
ganization perfected. As soon as
the body was organized. Head
Captain Samuel Smith delivered
his annual address-and right
there is where the trouble began.
Capt. Smith told of the first or
ganization of the Downing party:
told of the compact entered into
by Wm. P. Adair and Lewis
Downing, i. e. that a fullblood
should be nominated for chief and
a half breed for second chief.
Four years ago he said that al
other compact had been made;
that a half breed should
Be nominated principal chief then
but a full blood should be n0mi-
mated the next time. Under this
Joel B. Nayes was
nominated and elected, and now
The time had come 10 nominate
fEll-blo0d. Bat he had been told
that Mr. Mayes and his followers
would break the compact and
nominate the present chief again.
I{e added further that he could
sat agree TO such thing, but
would oppose 1t from beginning to
md This speech Of The captains
treated no little stir. At first the
denied the existence Of
such a compact; the next step vas
o adjourn till the next day in or
Ter to have the night to talk over
matters. The next day Al 20
,'clock a. n, the matter was re-
Iumed. In the meanwhile Il 4
number OF full-bloods we're found 4
hat would oppose the compact. +
nd after a days discussion, the
was repudiated. This
icing done, the compact men drew
,f, and the nominations proceed
d. Mayes was nominated prin-
ipal chief with Sam Smith as .s-
istant. Smith, however, declined
nd Judge David Rowe was chos-
n in his place. Hon. c. Y. Rog-
r, Of Ciaremore. was nominated
ldge for the northern circuit and
Slick" Littlejohn for the middle
ircuit. The business was fin
she'd Wednesday after dinner and
Il pitched out" for home. not
-aiting for congratulations and
pecches. Both the victors and
be vanqu shed, were dissatisfied.
he Mayes part Of the party ac-
used the compact men of trying
D split the party and tie Smith
zen accused Mayes Of winning
Is nomination By working his re-
itions and by making the cap
iins census takers
In order that people may know
neither ihis accusation is true or
OF the list Of districts aud their
eiegaies are eivon. Tr fhe-o are
nv mistakes in i.c foregoing.