Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-05-17
WANT THE MONEY.
THEY WANT IT NOW TO SPEND


Tahlcquah, |. H., May iG- Especially r.
There h much Indignation here among
the Cherokecs over the way the seventy
allotmpnts 10 the Cherokee strip are be
ing handled by the interior department
aud the reported acts OF crookedness ON
the part of Chief Harris, Robert Owen
and other members of the Cherokee tribe
now in Washington. James Duncan, the
Cherokee ludian appointed by the prcsi-
dent Ia make allotments, and through
whom II is said the towngte scheme "
10 be- worked, denies that there Is scltque
70 manipulate the Strip IN the interest
of abe railroads and townAtc spectators,
He says that his appointment came regu-
lar, aud that his backing for the position
was of unquesiioned character Duncan
Is n young man OF college education aud
is well equipped for the place so far as
competency goes hut II h generally
known here that the appointment was
made NJ the instance OF Robert H. Owen,
national Democratic committeeman for
the Indian Territory, owen gained his
principal notoricty In connection with
certain exposures made in the payment of
the ChoctRw nation money, OF which
owen was paymupter. The thcrukves
hate owen like they would n rattlesnake,
Notwithstanding the fact that he II u
Cherokee Indian himself, When owen
first came here ir0n virginia about
hut held Office aud was looked up 10.
In less than five years he accumulated n
| fortune and over since then has been
forced to hang about the rugged edge of
| the government, huvinE practically been
sat down upon by his people. owen re-.
Allies his unpopularity, hut he was
-hrewd enough 30 come TO latlequAi
al tlls recent special session Of the leris-
| lnture aud induce various Cherokers
| who have clnilnH on the Strip 20 plncc
them In his hands with power Of atior-
ney To represent such claimants before
| the Interior department. when tie strip
matter came up for adjudication. About
10 per cent Of these clnins were real,
the remainder being purely Imaginary
owen knew this but explained 10y shy'
ing that upon a plea OF equity he knew
thnt the Indian department would pass
unou them fuyorubly, regardless Of the
Inv. plariug the limit Of such claimants
al seventy persons This, In connection
with the Instructions just issued Ia Dun
can 10 all0 TO such pcrsons only rs are
recommended by the nation, ~ considered
here AS simply being a furthcranre Of
Ovens scheme to secure number 81
allotnients for persons not justly enli-
tled 10 same The plan probably reach
IS out still further by making an attempt
10 have Duncan locate these claimants
upon lands selected by HIM which Dun
can has perfect right TO do. " he ~
| tyisbeg Al ANY rate. The suspicious Of
Tie CherOkees have been thoroughly
aroused. and there viii be trouble ahead
| when thr nation names the men who arc
10 compose the seventy persons entitled
Ia nllofueuts, to Keep down the town
sitn scheme the Cherokees wiz raise
a howl against Owen on behalf uf Hose
Cherokces Justly entitled 10 eighty acres
eacli Ia the Strip. They argue that u
Owens Milan succeeds II will create such
Indignation IN the ranks Of prospective
settlprs that the chances of every worthy
Cherokee claimant. including iusly-
hend'v claim, viii be seriously jeopardz-
ed.
allotment question, The inilnns are
craving initiniirhl aud Suspicious over
| The long delay 0cca-loned Ia getting the
s.. 200 900 pledged for the STRIP, Before
| Leaving. the Cherokee delegates gave out
| he impregsiou that the money would be
Forthcoming ai once, On the strength
~ this merchants everywhere bought
heavily, aud there being no money yet
| N slight. their creditors are pushing them
| and unless relief comics soon. many iirms
wil no bankrupt The delegation Is also
heinR severely cennlred for not rushing
ne business aud getting the money be-
fore merchants wish unlimited credit
robble up Nil the money BY selling goods
At e1orliiant prices
When Chief Harris returns home he
will fnd pretty mess 10 rtraighten out
by explaining half dozen Or more pie--
lions 10 be- propounded by lbs consiitu-
ents. The principal one viii be why ex-
I,onRr9isman Peel was employed ~
attorney for the nation. when i II known
thar Peel spent a month AZ Tnhlepuah
Recently iu HE interest Of tile santa Fe
railway. Another viii BE- why the bust.
ness Of the delegation WIS not disposed
OF before the cnitlcmeu entered thc Strip
for another YEARS free grazing
Secret cat0Owah meetings hre being
held by the full-hl0ods mud resolutions
| demanding the Immediate return % The
| delegation with the money are being
passs.d daily. 81 the mountain districts.
| The Downing s5ariy, q which Chief Hnr-
~ 4 ieadcr has split Ia twain on ar
eonnt Of the chiefs association with
Owen AID Bell at Washington. and the
deseriions from It's ranksito the Nation.
| aiigts ore particularly uVticeahlr, aud q
| daily occurrence. Unlesf The chief shall
nrose tucrssful ~ creating peace out
| ~ chaos. there will be red hot times Ia
ne final payment Of the Strip money,
I