The Russellville Democrat., 1893-07-27
WHO ARE INTRUDERS ]?
The Celebrated Watis Case to b. Taken up
 in the Cherokee Nation
AND SETTLED.
It Has Been Bono of Consenfion Tor Twenty Y~ars-It Will Effect 2
 Large Glass.

FoRr GIBSON, I. T., July 22.
 I Special The celebrated Watts case, which for so many years has been Il thorn in tho flesh with the Cherokee Nation, is being investi- gated at Tahleqnab, [. T., by Col. Clinton Duncan, special inspector from the interior department at Washington, D. c. In view of the fact that all actual intruders are to be put out of the nation according to the act of congress providing for < ,.ne sale of the land commonly known as tle Cherokee Strip, if has become necessary that il be first settled beyond the shadow of 3 doubt who are the intruders. and to this end a new hearing has been granted the Wattses. Several years ago this case in con nection with several others were in vestigated by special examiner from the interior department by the name of Parker, and after having taken all evidence in the case de. cided in favor of Mir. Watts. But a suspi ,ion that all was not straight caused his papers to undergo q thorough and rigid examination, which resulted in his decision being revoked by the commissioner of Indian affairs. Later these papers were submitted 10 Assistant At torney General Shields for final decision, but he never reached an opiaion, or at least no decision was ever rendered by that office. This case mas been before the Cherokee authorities, the court of claims and different authorities of both Cher okee and United States government for twenty years, and to-day 1t stands In the same position before Special Agent Duncan it did at that time. Since the first advent of the Wattses into the Cherokee Nation as intruders the family has grown from eight or ten to the enormous number of over 5000 and are known a. the Cherokee Citizenship Associa- ton. This association is repre- sented by men from Arkansss, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, and even in some of the extreme Eastern states, and decisionil favor of the Wattses means admission to hun dreds of people who have never seen an Indian, to say nothing of their having Indian blood coursing in their veins. At recent meeting of the Cherokee Citizenship Associa tion, at Wagoner, L T., there was over two hundred delegates present, while most of these were easily recog nized as farmers and working people, those who figured conspicuously in the meeting were men who, SO far as cunning and deep intricate scheming are eoncerned-as their past record proves-are far in advance of the Cherokee authorities, and in spite of the continued efforts of the nation to have them removed have for years been tilling the soil and fencing large pastures, in every way enjoy ing all the rights of a native torn Cherokee, defying their every effort to prevent it. This condition of affairs should not be allowed longer to exist. If these people are en- titled to citizenship it should be proven so clearly that there will be no controversy, while on the other hand if they are intruders, as the Cberokees claim them to be, they should be moved from the boundaries of the nation and not allowed to longer rob this people before their very eyes while they stand and look on pow erless to help themselves. It is in deed a timely move that the United States have at last concluded to take up this matter and settle it once fer all.
 The board of intruder appraisers are now in Tahlequah on business with the executive department, and 1t Is fairly understood that they will not begin operations till the investi- gation of Special Agent Duncan is. completed. This delay is caused by the necessity to first learn who are intruders before they begin making their appraisement
 The Tahlequah s.Courier" of this date in speaking of the investigation says: "The Cherokee authorities have no fears about the result of the investigation if it is fairly and inn partially done. Col. Duncan ap- pears to be man of honest and honorable intentions, and to do jus tice is all that we ask. "