The Fort Worth gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-189?, 1891-05-14
TERRITORY WHITES.
THE BETTER CLASSES BEGIN TO
REALIZE THEY MUST GO.
DO They Know They Can Get Homes in
Texas fer Almost Nothing and Have
the Protection of Good Laws9


Editor Gazette.
Much excitement has been caused by
the published order of Secretary of
the Interior Noble to the effect that
the intruders in the ChickaSaw nation
must be removed. Under the laws Of
the Chickasaw nation enacted by the ma
tiOnal legislature, Il tax OF 81 per annum
! is levied upon al white persons, adopted
citizens excepted. This tax is called a per-
nit fee, and when paid entities the white
person to the privilege of one years resi-
deuce in the ChicdkSaw nation. BY the
terms OF the act levying this per capita tax,
the permit collector is not allowed to col
lect this tax from the white man. but must
collect from the Indian landlords. who rent
to the white man, and the white man. of
course. is expected to recOmpenSe his land
lord. However, this provision OF the ACT
has been totally disregarded, and the per-
NIT collector has been issuing the permits
to any one who paid him the fee. When a
white man fails or refuses to pay this tax
he is at once regarded as an intruder, and
his name reported to the chief executive of
! the ChickaSaw nation. Over 10000 names
have been so reported. These persons VIII
be the first 10 be removed. The Indian po-
! lice or militia will be called upon to remove
7 the intruders. In the event Of their failure
or inability. the United States viii inmedi-
ataly render them military aid. as under the
treaty OF 1866 they are bound to do
The permit collectors have received Or
ders from the executive department not 10
issue any permits after May l. This action
on the part of the Indians is REGARDED as
the second step toward getting the white
man out of the TERRITORY. Persons holding
permits will be allowed 10 remain until the
permit expires, then they too must must go
in like manner as the intruders. IL is q
general opinion that the action Of the
United States government in aiding the In
dams il removing the white people, is the
initiative step toward the allotment Of In
dian lands in severalty in homestead lots,
and buying the surplus and opening the
country for settlement by the whites.
Much speculation is INDUCED in as to
what Will become OF the improvements
placed upon the leased land by the whites.
This is hard question TO answer. It is as
serted upon legal authority that il is in the
power OF tine Indian Nation as the owners
of the soil 10 declare all OF the lands public
domain and confiscate the improvements
placed upon the land by the white man,
whose only interest in the land is q lease
from an Indian citizen. 1t is only 2 question
of q short time when all the white people
will have to leave the Indian country, and
many of the intelligent class who can see
what is inevitable, are preparing for what
ever may take place, and many people are
already leaving and others are preparing TO
follow. The removal of the whites will be
a very difficult matter. There are many
very desperate characters in the territory
who have placed improvements upon lands
they have leased from Indian citizens, and
will make a desperate effort before they
Will consent TO leave and take the chances
upon losing their property.
According to an actual count there are
oply,62, 90 Indians in the Territory and
over forty thousand white people. 1t ap-
pears to some of these whites that the
United States is working great hardship
upon them in requiring them to leave the
Territory, but the most intelligent and rea-
soning class can plainly see that is the only
way in which they can induce the Indians
~ treat with them toward the pur-
Chase Of their lands. When these lands are
purchased it is thought the country viii be
opened for settlement as soon as the neces-