Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-09

only be made contemporaneous with state
hood. There are no asylums for the insane
and the blind and no institutions for char
liable or philanthropic purposes. There are
no proper places for the confinement of
Criminals and no relief from the multitude
nous public burdens which should be prop
erly borne by the state.
In the spring of 1894 two, and possibly
three, Indian reservations, comprising 7,225
square miles, will be thrown open to settle
ment, and an enormous influx of people will
be added to the already more than sufficient
number OF people necessary to demand
statehood, not as a gift, but as right. The
Chickasaw nation of the Five Tribes, owing
to its proximity and surrounding influences.
is more closely allied to the combined state
hood movement in Oklahoma than any of
the other civilized tribes. The Osages are
more nearly linked with the action of the
Five Tribes, the Choctaws, the Cherokees.
the Creeks, Chickasaws and Seminoles,
which desire separate statehood. According
to Oklahomans. all should be included In
the one state Of Oklahoma.
The Question of Tribal Relations.
While statehood advocates claim that the
boundaries Of the new state should include
the Creeks, Osages, Seminoles, Choctaws
and Cherokees. who occupy the entire east
ern part Of the territory. 1t Is a question II
the tribal relations of all these Indians
could be extinguished Immediately. These
tribes rank high in civilization, but their
contentious spirit has developed with their
intelligence Thus far they have been fully
able to cope with the federal government in
every species of intrigue and every condition
Of politics. They are able to meet the re-
Quirements Of statehood government, and
the question of its application rests solely
with Congress- Thus far they have been
able to defeat such legislation on its every
attempt, and their astuteness, as well as
their other methods of influence, have not
diminished in power.
The IndividualixatfOn Of Land.
Recently, however, the Chickasaws have
experienced a change Of heart with regard
to statehood. They favor what they call
the NATURALIZATION Of land" that is, that
the entire acreage of the nation be equally
divided among them and patents be issued
to all at once. At recent statehood con-
vention at Purcell fifteen representatives
Of the nation pledged themselves to work
for joint statehood. AS matter OF fact.
however. the majority Of the citizens of the
various nations do not favor statehood. as
they say they do not wish to be made q
tail to Oklahoma's kite 1t is claimed on the
other hand that the citizens Of the five ma
tons would largely outvote Oklahoma At
a statehood convention held by the Cher
okees not long since at Muskogee joint
statehood with Oklahoma was defeated by
only one vote.
The citizens of the five tribes when they
realize that it Is not the intention of Okla
homa to advocate the taking away Of their
lands, but, on the other hand. to make them
UNNECESSARILY richer, by the individualiza-
ton of their lands. at the same time in
creasing their value by giving them the pro-
lection of good and economical state gov
eminent. will certainly acQuiesce and con-
sent to join in the statehood movement.
But they are not yet convinced that state
hood means greater wealth and prosperity
for them. and until they are they will OPP
pose 1t.
The territory of Oklahoma is prepared. in
point of population, area and every other
requisite to enter into statehood. and IL
the nations of the five tribes are added
thereto 1t will make one of the most pro-
gressive and one Of the richest states OF
the Union.