Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-05-28
THE SITUATION SUMMED UP,
The Platforms Much Alike but the
People Differently Mixed.

careful examination ma nut III
Tie difference on the points mosl
essential to our people. The Lib.
erals start out with lot OF where
ases condemning the present adj
ministration for extravaganza and
carelessness, and cursing II for ap.
pointing relatives TO Office; also
having an unnecessary number o.
secretaries. With this we can find
no fault. But nominating a man
to head a reform ticket who has
shown himself on record TO be in
the same line--we fail to see the
consistency. Those charges were
brought against Bushyhead four
years ago 0y some Of the very men
who were the most Jealous in se-
curing his nomination in a reform
move. Boys, are you honest, OF
are you wanting office only 2 Or,
has your conduct been so you could
not get Office in the old parties 2
Ii looks as il we would have a
lively canvass during this summer.
| hoped the liberal movement
would show to the Cherokee peo-
pie that they desired to work for
the common interest Of our citizens
regardless OF special fayors, and
as much as possible do away with
those who have aided in bringing
us to what we are. We are bound
to have a change Of medicine to
cure such a chron mic case OF striving
for ins and outs. AS to Mayes, he
is public property; when he does
wrong hit him as a patriot and
with patriotic motives. Are you
not aware that the old scab will be
raised from "Bushy (" this summer
which will show the S22, 800, the
S72S,000 Indebtedness to the
United States to-day and twice re-
jected by his old party; also kick ed
out of the chiefs office by Hooly
and Ma, es before he would sur
render2 ? Also, if elected would
have "Quiliky" back to get more
II IL per cent. collections on the
strip; also charged with only
wanting sl25, 900, for lease of the
strip, lending aid and influence in
that direction against the interest
Of his people and probably many
other things. Hooly explained
how he paid the nation out of debt
four years ago at Vinita, when
Bushyhead accused him of not
turning over to the Cherokee ma
tion the strip taxes, Where does
the merit come in We are anx-
ious to know. We have hit Mayes
heretofore. The people should
know who they are to vote for.
As to Benge, he might fool us
but we have our opinion Of his
party, which paid out s5,514 at
last session Of council for extra
clerk hire and fire makers Ia
shame. lfit was not for Benge's 5
surroundings | fear he would ever
have been left in the corn field, as
probably that honorable position
would suit him best. He belongs
to a family that looks only for per-
sonal interest. This is the great
incentive, as shown from past po-
litical history. Aud such weak
platform on the sale of the strip
the paramount question on this
canvass. "Get thee out. " Some
thing dark in that clause; laying
trap for someone to get into
the purse probably.
Neither party has adopted meas.
ures to relieve the common tax
payer from his unequal burden
All are willing to oppress the poor,
ignorant people and not lead them
into the light of equal taxation
and justice. eve know it is right
but fear the people can net be con-
vinced in time to win in the pres
ent election. !" Are you not think
ing this, office seekers ? Is it not
your duty to inform the people
who are to-day slaves, of the injus-
tice done them under present
mode of raising revenue? If we
don't wish to withdraw our inves-
ted fund let us draw the interest
thereon and pay it out per capita
and raise n revenue by direct tax.
This would relieve the poor man
from such unfair taxation and
would leave him a bonus after
paying his tax; it would also make
the wealthy pay in proportion to
his required protection. Is this
not honest2 The party who does
not possess manhood enough to
openly defend the interest of the
common people certainly does not
merit their confidence or support
and should be required to take a
position in a Salt river steamer
next August. We need not be
alarmed but what our government
will run and be more respected
and stronger The amount go
ing to each poor person will over
pay his tax, the remainder he
keeps, thus making money for the
poorer class. BY this plan the
man with the big farms and lots
Of them, and other property, arc
the ones who will pay your tax
Indian, we are talking for you and
want you to stop and count awhile
before you vote. Let Us 90 for
what is right, party or no party
We see but little chance for relief
in either of the three parties as
they now appear. We only find
in them what has heretofore been
in the different declarations; the
people leading them are different
ly mixed is the only material
change. If we have to take choice
from the three candidates in the
field we should consider their
honesty, integrity. patriotism and
favorable surroundings after being