Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-08-13
ALLOTMENT IDEAS.
Wa Must do Something or the
United States will.

Ecuo. Isn. Trn., Aug, 10Th, ls9l
EDITOR OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the +
election is over / suppose you VIII +
have a little more space TO devote I
to questions other than political. /
Though the Allotment question /
might be considered a political
one | will nevertheless venture a
few thoughts in relation to IL. In
asmuch as the question has been
brought fairly and ably before the
people by your valuable paper
during the campaign just closed, /
desire TO see il still further pre-
sented and discussed as In my
opinion we will all have to agree
sooner or later and ailot this coun-
tv for self protection. would
supnest that the allotment move
,nent be am organized one, with
president and other necessary
officers. so as to insure united ana
AGGRESSIVE action at once. a petl-
ton might be circulated asking
congress TO assist US in the matter.
/ The settlement OF the intruder
question should be attended to
first: a joint commission is the
most popular plan | have yet
heard If we do not do this con-
gress will clothe the Territory y.
/ 8 courts with jurisdiction and the
citizen question be settled in them,
,,t,ich latter course is TO be greatly
feared as we would aot stand much
show of being duly recognized.
But if we do not take hold and do
something the United States WILL
do il for us. and it is needless 70
saw thy the Indian will "get left.
Now the wise policy would be
always to take the initiative 10 amy
movement that is SO far reaching
and portentious as the one II
fully endorse the position
= taken in regard to the outlet II
} last weeks CHIEFrAIN. lhave con
} suited some Of the best lawyers u
' the country and they all say th'
= title Il i'm the Cherokees. Now 40,
e opinion is that if we wer
n allowed to allot among ourselye
5 only a part Of the Strip 1T woul
k heat selling. Say 50 acres to IN
t head and sell the balance to th
p United States government 10
It white settlement. Congress woul
d undoubtedly agree to an arrange
o ment of this kind and 1t woul
d forever settle the question OF ia
r Strip lands.
e ior one would be wiling
take my pro rata share OF land q
1t west of 96 degrees and move thei
Of II / could get a good title to 1T, io
ie / am free to confess that J am tire
of the great uncertainty OF holdif
\ land i'm common. The country n,
/ been whitfield down, down, unit
Il il is getting mighty small, an
40 4 what we have left is in great ia
q Ger of eoing too. They tell US th
! council cannot sell our land, but
III tell YOU they can, because duril
- mv lifetime they have sold q
n Neutral strip in Kansas, and Z
be Usage country and the land th
ar The Otoes. Missourias, Nez Perez
~ Tonkawavs. Pancas and Pawne
are occupying. No one can di
l. nute this and all these lands ha
i gone from US and the money d
n. been spent, the most OF II Tor
ns fraving the expenses OF our lt
Nv but very rotten government N
a. who in the face of all this, W
,ot saw that council can not sell Ian
'of / for one do not want my rigi
in and those of my family exposed
sv. the action of council, because ti
III are not safe. ] do not mean
ose reflect upon our members Oh col
s,l eli for / believe they are g
-er. men but it is too much power
ans place i'm their hands The G
arcssmen in the states have
ess such power over their constitute
hat as our councillors and senat
ion have. for our very homes are
= their hands, and the great, gre
ult- United States government sta
,nf -eadv to raiily every land sale
mol our council can be induced
.a- make. And in addition 10 all