The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-01

and are wholly dependent upon private
liberaHty aud enterprise for the main.
tenance of what few sanitary and other
imperative public regulations they Ie-
quire. Their growth and public order,
health and comfort, require that they
have municipal organization. They are
badly handicapped III the race OF progress
by existing conditions.
"The laws of the five nations affecting
the United States residents therein are
designed to be oppressive and discourag-
ing to progress. Under their operation
civilization is badly retarded. TIE act OF
the Chickasaw' legislature requiring
licensed traders to pay tax OF per cent
on every dollars worth OF merchandise
purchased is extortionate in the highest
degree, and would be prohibitory in effect
if enforced.
"We denounce as worthy of the dark
ages the bill passed by the lower house of
last congress, making it il felony punish
able by Il fine Of 81 900 and one years i'm
prisonment in the peniteutiary for n
United States citiZsu to reside within the
territory OF the five tribes without the
consent Of the tribal government, obtained
by the payment of a permit tax The
penalty attached to this remarkable act
was explained by the eastern member
urging its passage as necessary, because OF
the poverty OF the men who could not Oay
a tax TO IL government in which they have
10 representation, thus imposing penalty
Oh poverty.
"We denounce the permit fee system as
tax on the labor which has made the
lands of the Indian valuable and enabled
him to enjoy in idleness the fruits Of white
industry, aud we balieye that the tribal
councils should repeal their penal laws.
We call upon the congress OF the United
States to allow the legislation above re-
ferred to to go no further.
1--WE hold that the developments, re-
sources and capabilities of the Indian Ter
ritory are of SO high an order and so di-
versihed. that under statehood it would
with remarkable rapidity take first rank
among transmississippi states. As a pro-
ducar OF coal, timber. cattle, cotton, corn,
frnit and small grain it now holds proud
position, and its development has just be-
gun. 1t is capable of maintaining as large
population AS an equal area of any state
in the federation.
las an evidence of the enlightenment
and progress of our people, We cite the
fact that thirty-four newspapers, weekly
aud daily. are printed in the i've civilized
tribes. We have no asylum for our insane,
no institutions OF charity and phiian-
thrOpy, no penitentiaries for the confne-
ment of criminals, no relief from the null
titodinous public burdens which should
properly be borne by the state.
''Eor these and other reasons of less
vital Importance to our country, we
earnestly pray the relief to be found only
through government of the people, by
the people and for the people"
There Were at least 800 delegates pres
ent, and perfect harmony prevailed.
Single statehood was the watch word, and
that as soon as practicable. The following
telegram was received from Governor
Renfrow:
Il regret exceedingly that public busi-
ness so demands my attention as to render
il impossible for me to accept your kind
invitation to attend the statehood conven
tion. | am in full sympathy, however,
with the proposition of single statehood,
and hope sincerely that the convention
will be harmonious and unanimous upon
the subject"
The executive committee organized by
electing a. j. Seay chairman, and Frank
Greer secretary. BY resolution, repre-
sen.atiyes from the five tribes were invit-
ed to meet in Oklahoma City at the Grand
Avenue hotel, on October 10Th, at 4
O'Clock p. m., to become members of the
executive committee. the temporary
organization to continue until that meet
ing, So as to permit these delegates to take
part in the permanent organization.