The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1893-12-29
A CRYING SHAME.
Gov. Fishback Writes To the President on
Indian Territory Outlawry.

Gov. Fishback Writes to the President on
Indian Territory Outlawry.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Dec 26.-Gov. Fish
back, of Arkansas, has addressed the
following open letter to President
Cleveland:
Dear Sir: The developments incident to the
recent train robbery and murder at Oltphant in
this state renders 1t proper, it seems to me,
that call your attention to the dangeross re-
lation which the Indian territory west of us
occupies to the states of the union. and es-
pc tally to the adjacent states OF Arkansas,
Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma territory.
Upon the person Of one Of the captured rob
bers was found q map of the route they had
taken from the Indian territory. 175 miles 10
the scene OF the robbery, and also mp Of the
country around Chattanooga, Tenn, showing
that another robbery was contemplated at OF
near that city.
It also appears that the captured leaders are
noted characters in fke business and inveigled
some very respectable citizens along the border
into this robbery.
have good reason to suspect that q very
large percentage of the bank and train rob
berries which take place west OF the Alleghenies
and east Of the Rocky mountains are organized
or originate in the Indian territory. Let me
also add that the refuge which this sparsely
settled rendezvous Of outlaws affords to Grim.
inals is o constant temptation to crime in all
the country around
During the past twelve months there have
issued from the states Of Arkansas and Texas
and Oklahoma territory sixty-one acquisitions
upon the Indian territory authorities for fugl
tives; while We have occasion to believe that as
many more are hiding among tn cir comraaei
in crime in this asylum Of criminals
Those criminals who find refuge in this ter
ritory are rapidly converting the Indian coun
try into q school OF crime
Q They are demoralizing the Indians, and are
especially stirring up the young Indians tc
deeds Of blood and theft Young Henry Starr
for example, although less than 20 ears OF age
and of fine capacity, has been charged with al
under sentence of death for murder. The
records of Paris and Fort Smith reveal start
ling story in this direction yet they do not tel
One tenth of the whole story.
Prior to the late civil war I resided in the
city OF Fort Smith on the border Of this terri
tory. The merchants of the place did sos. .0Jl
worth of business in that country every year
Their clerks would make periodical collections
travelling openly and known to have large sum:
OF money with them, yet nobody was evel
molested-travel was safer than in the states
Now, according to the estimates of one Of the
newspapers, published year or Two since II
Muscogee the number OF murders reached the
appalling figure of 2J0 in one year that were
not cognizable In the federal courts The fed
eral jail at Fort Smith is, at all seasons, nearly
full OF prisoners, and the federal court holds
sessions continually throughout nearly every
month of the year
This state of semi haos and the farce Of gov
ernment which exists in this. territory. render
ing it a constant menace to the peace and order
of all the states of the Mississippi valley. sug
gests t:e very serious question whether the
time has not arrived for the federal govern
ment to assert its right Of eminent domain
over this part of the national domain and tC
change its political relations with the United
States
can think of no valid reason upon which tt
base the opinion that our Indians rights, either
OF person or OF property, are any more sacred
than those of the white man. which it is con
ceded must give way to the public good
In this case. not only the public good, bu
public safety, as well as the highest Interests
of the Indian himself demands the suggested
change. Very respectfully,
w M EIsHRACK. G. vernon of Arkansas