Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-12-28
A CRYING SHAME.
Gov. Fishbaek Writes to the President on
Indian TERRITORY NntIaWrH.

OuttaWrys
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 Oliphant in
thls state renders it proper, it seems to me-
that call your attention TO the dangerdes re-
iaton 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 map Of The route they had
taken from the Indian territory, I75 miles TO
the scene of the robbery, and also map OF the
country around Chattanooga, Tenn showing
tnat another robbery was contemplated at or
near that city.
1t also appears that the captured leaders are
noted characters in the business and inveigled
some very respectable citizens along the border
into this robbery
have good reason to suspect that very
large percentage of the bank and train rob-
berries which take place west of the Alleghenies
and east of the Rock mount tains 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
the country around
During the past twelve months there have
issued from the states of Arkansas and Texas
and Oklahoma territory sixty-one requisit ions
t1ves while we have occasion to believe that
many more are hiding among th cir comrades
In crime in this asylum of criminals
Those criminals who find refuge in this ter
ritory arc rapidly converting the Indian coun-
try into a school OF crime
They are demoralizing the Indians, and are
especially stirring up the young Indians to
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
most every crime in the catalogue and is now
under sentence of death for murder The
records of Paris and Fort Smith reveal a start
ling story in this direction yet they do not tell
one ten tn 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 SJ0J 900
worth of business in that country every year
Their clerks would make periodical collections
travelling openly and known to have large sums
or money with them yet nobody was ever
molested-travel safer than in the states
Now, according to the estimates of one of the
newspapers, published year or two since in
appalling figure of 250 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 seni- haos and the farce of gov
ernment which exists in this territory, render
ing 1t q constant menace TO the peace and order
of all the states of the Mississippi valley sug-
geSts very serious ques ton 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 to
change its political relations with the United
States
can think of no valid reason upon which to
base the opinion that our Indians rights, either
o. 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, but
public safety. as well as he highest interests
of the Indian himself. demands the sugges ed
change. Verv respectfully,
W. NJ FISHBACK, G. vernon of Arkansas