The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-12-30
DELEGATE HARVEY ON INDIAN
TERRITORY MATTERS.
A VERY BAD STATE OF AFFAIRS.
HO Charges That All Attempted LegIs-
lation Intended to Better the COndi-
tion of Affairs Is Thwarted by
the Cattlemen and other In
teroSted Parties From
Kansas and Missouri

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.-Renewed in
terest in the question of admitting
Oklahoma and Indian territory to
statehood has been aroused by speeches
recently made in the senate upon Mr..
Vests resolution relating to the status
of the five civilized tribes in the Indian
territory, by Vest, Perkins, Platt and
others. There is a sentiment growing
in congress that the attempts to intro
duce law and order among the hetereo-
geneOus elements of civilization, semi
barbarism and barbarism pure and
simple in the Indian territory, have
been more or less failure, and that
the only solution is to take the two
territories together into the union as
new state. The judicial system of
the Indian territory has been subjected
to scathing criticism in the senate in
the debates on Mr.. Vests resolution.
Delegate Harvey is very outspoken
in his sentiments. He says any at
tempt to secure legislation for the two
territories is opposed by land or cattle
combines. He cites particularly the
case of the Indians at Quapaw agency.
These bands, with the exception Of
the Quapaws, are, he says, in as high
u state Of civilization as any citizens
of the United States, They want
their lands allotted and the surplus
sold. They have long since turned
their backs upon their tribal laws.
No provision is made for their govern
ment Their schools and churches
are sustained by private subscrip-
tions, and they get along as best they
can. AS soon as an attempt is made
in congress to enact legislation that
will benefit these people and give
them a legal status of some sort in
their relations with this government,
the cry OF. fraud is raised and body
of lobbyists comes on to Washington
to protest. TheGe protests are made
under the representation that the In
dams are imposed upon and will be
caused to suffer the greatest wrongs If
the proposed legislation is passed. In
reality back Of these protests and OBJ
iections lies the selfish interests of
combinations of white men, who pre-
fer to deal with the Indians in their
present status to dealing with an or
ganized municipality as part of the
recognized judicial system of the
United States government.
II feel as though l ought to advise
these Indians" Mr.. Harvey said in
conversation with reporter, "to go
back to their Indian customs and laws
rather than depend any longer upon
the probability of yress enacting
judicious legislation tor their govern
ment"
Speaking OF the Indian territory,
he says there are sections where man
can commit forgery With impunity,
stand on the street corner afterward
and ask, "What are you going to do
about it2" or he can tear down fences,
or even houses, SO long as he does not
set fire to them, and be perfectly Sc
cure against prosecution. The Indian
territory is the catch-basin for all the
criminals along the border. When q
man steals horse in Kansas it is q
race between him and the sheriff to
reach the shelter which the territory
affords.
The Oklahoma delegate says oppo-
sition to the project of allotting the
Indian lands in Quapaw agency comes
largely from towns in Kansas, Mis-
souri, and other adjoining states, which
under the present condition of affairs
enjoy the benefit and profit of supply
ing the Indians with their necessities
Trading communities who fear that
when the Indian lands are thrown
open to settlement other towns will
spring up and eclipse them, the courts
will be taken away from them and To-
Gated in the distEcts where crime is
committed, and they will suffer in
other respects by the change, AL
this has its bearings and accounts fol-
much Of the opposition that is made tc
any proposed legislation.