The Forrest City times., 1893-12-29
ARKANSAS STATE NEWS.
cov. Fishback Protests to Cleveland.

cov Fishback Protests to Cleveland.
 The following letter was mailed by Gov. Fishback the other day to Presi- dent Cleveland:
 Tbe developments incident to the recent train .obberv and murder at Olyphant. in this state .ondered it proper it seems to me that call rorr attention to the dangerous relation which The Indian territory west of us occupies to the ,,tes of the Union, and especially to the ad- ;oininp states of Arkansas, Kansas. Texas and ,be territory of Oklahoma. Upon the person of one of the captured robbers was found a map of The route they had taken from the Indian ter. -itorv 175 miles to the scene of the rob herv and also map of the country around cbattanooga. Tenn. showing that another rob berv was contemplated at or near that city It also appears that the captured leaders are noted characters in this business and inyeicled some very respectable citizens along the bor- der into this robbery have good reasons to susnect that a very N-ge percentage of the hank and train robberies which take place west of the Alleghanies and east of the Rocky mountains are organized or originated in the Indian territory. During the past twelve months there has been issued from the states of Arkansas, Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma sixty.one acquisitions upon the Indian terri tory autohrities for fugitives. while we have reason to believe that as many more are in hiding among thelr comrades Ill crime In this asylum Of criminals.
 These criminals who find refuge in this ter. ritory are rapidly converting the Indian coun- try into q school Of crime. They are demoral- izing the Indians. and are especially stirring the young Indians to deeds Of theft and blood Young Henry starr. for example although less than 2O years of age and with a fine capac- ity has been charged with almost every crime ia thc catalogue. and IS now under sen tence of death for murder. According to an year or two since in Muscogee, the number Of murders reached the appalling figure of 200 in one year that were not cognizable in the federal courts The federal jail at Fort Smith Is at all seasons nearly full Of prisoners from the territory and the federal court holds sessions continuing through nearly every month in the year. This state of semi-chaos and the farces of govern ment which exist in the territory. rendering it a constant menace to the peace and order of all the states of the Mississippi valley sug- gests the very serious question whether the time has not arrived for the federal govern ment to assert it's right of eminent dominion 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 an Indians rights either Of person or ot property, are any more sacred than that of the white man which il is con cede1 must give way to the public good. In this case not only public good, but public safe ty well as the highest interests of the Indian himself demands the suggested change.
 ATTRACTS ATTENTION.
 The letter has attracted great attention Chairman holman of the house committee on Indian affairs says that bill is now pending in committee to give the federal courts in the territory greater authority than they now pos sess.
 Representative MeCrea. of Arkansas. says the letter states the case about right. He thinks the present condition Of things in the territory makes congressional action neces- gary.
 There is no question but Arkansas is greatly interested in the matter. All the hard charac ters arrested ill the territory are taken To Fort Smith for trial. and upon conviction the tele graph heralds the fact that so many murder CTS horse-thieyCs. etc, were convicted at Fort Smith, Ark. The average eastern reader rare y takes into consideration that they are In dian territory rascals and so in his mind he credits them to Arkansas, and says It must be tough community down there.
 The St. Louis Globe Democrat commenting on the letter says:
 There is considerable force in the assertion of Gov. Fishback of Arkansas that the Indian territory is being rapidly converted into school of crime: and some means should be de- vised % prevent lawbreakers from making tt a base'of operations for all kinds of ofIenses."
 The Chronicle of the same city says:
 There is what they call in Arkansas good horse sense in Gov. Fishbacks letter to Presi- dent Cleveland concerning the menace to the peace and good order of the surrounding states caused by the present condition. social and governmental. of the Indian territory. IL Is hoped that Gov Fishback's sensible words will receive that consideration from congress 10 which they are entitled"