Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-02-27
v1NrrA's MASS MEETING.
The People Favor . Sale Provided
Certain Requests are Granted.

! Certain Requests are crenbeo.
There can no longer be AM
doubt as to the wish of the people
in regard to selling the strip, il
the gathering at this place is I
fair sample of the people all owe
the nation.
Saturday morning people began
to pouE into town so that by moo
the streets were fairly crowded
with men who came to the conven-
ton. Both districts were well
represented, while a few from 9th,
er parts of the country were on
hand. At I O'Clock the meeting
was called to order and Nj. G.
w. Hill was called to preside,
while Ridge Paschal and John
Beck were made secretaries. No
regular list Of speakers were made
out, but those men spoke who
we're called upon by the people.
Councillor VIM. Jackson was called
upon to declare the purpose Of the
meeting and speak upon the sub
ject. Mr.. Jackson's speech +,
thOughable, was not altogether q
success, because it was not alto
gether on the subject. No man
could have stated the object Of the
meeting more ably, but after that
he drifted back to the deadlock
between the senate and council /,
bringing up a subject that had best
be let alone. He gave his hearers
to understand that the chief and
council was wholly right, while the
senate was not. AS to the senate
bill known as the "Bell substi-
tute,T he said there was nothing
good or fair in it. As to whether
he favored the sale or not he stat
ed plainly, but let his hearers in
fer that as q councillor he would
be governed by the viii of the
people. Bell was called upon,
but before he could take the floor,
a man said to be named Hen
bricks and living on Tom Buff
fington's place rose from the audi
ence 70 make a few remarks. He
said that if the Cherokees were
willing to take three dollars per
acre for the strip, he was author
lied to pay that price for it, that it
would be settled up by farmers
he had the money to
pay for it. However. this indi-
vidual was prevailed upon to sit
down and give place to Col. Bell.
Mr.. Bell very naturally replied
to Mr.. Jackson, and very plainly
too. he objected TO the council
bill because it did nothing and
nothing, was nothing.
As for the senate bill. he said the
Cherokee people would not agree
to any negotiations thst did not
include all those propositions in
cluded in the bill. He was the
first man to give an opinion in IA
vor of negotiating under these con-
ditions: Get IS tair a price as
possible, but insist upon the alb
rogatiOn of article fifteen, treaty
Of 1866, election of intruders. ad-
of Cherokees before Unit
ID States courts, etc. He said
.hese were worth more than the
and. He had rather see the strip
70 for sl.00 and get those conces-
sions than sell for 5000 an acre
them.
Paschal next spoke, taking oc-
.asion to hit Bell and Jackson for
ighting their old council battles
over again;but he hit both of lem
harder and longer than they hit
zach other. He lauded to the
'kies those United Btates senators
who said the land was worth from
i've to ten dollars per acre; but.
m leaving the floor, he left the
that he could see no |
necessity for dispOsing ofthe land. |
After that Shelton, Stephens and
Beck held the floor, each favoring
Mr.. Stephens had
prepared himself and told in a
,lain, fOrcible manner, the condi- !
ion Of the country, its outlook
md the advantage that would
'ome with judici Gus negotiations.
A committee consisting of Capt.
Veins, H. II. Trott, DIR. Fortner,