Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-01-05
INDIAN TERRITORY
Governor Fishback Says 1t Is a
Resort Of Criminals
LETTER TO The PRESIDENT.
Many of the Recent Bank ana ram
Robberles Are Said to Have OflR-
mated There--Time the Gov
ernment Asserted Its Right
of Eminent Domain.

/ OF EtnlE6nI DSifN'''
Governor Fishback, OF Arkansas, mas al
dressed the following open letter 70 Presi-
| dent Cleveland:
To The PyesidenL Dear Sir: Develop
mcnis incident 10 the recent trGin rcot-y
and murder at Oliphant. in this e'a'e rem.
GERS it proper, it seems TO me, i0.. can
your attention to the dangerous relation
which the Indian Territory, west OF US, oc-
cunies TO the States of the Union, AMI es'
peoIaIIy to the adjacent States OF Arkansas,
Kansas. Texas and Oklahoma Territory
Upon the person of one of the captured
robbers was found the map OF the route they
had taken from the Indian Territory, I'D
miles TO the scene OF the robbery and also
man of the country around Chattanooga,
Tenn. showing that another robbery was
contemplated at or near that city.
1t also appears that the captured leaders
are noted characters in this business aud In
veigled some very respectable citizens along
the border into this robbery. / have good
Ieasons 10 suspect that very large percent
ace OF the bank and train robberies which
take place west Of the Alleghenies and east
of the Rocky mountains are organized or or
i.inated in the Indian Territory. Let me add
also that the refuge this sparsely settled ren-
devious of outlaws affords 10 criminals ts
constant temptation to crime in all the coun-
| try around.
During the past twelve months there have
4
issued from the States OF Arkansas, Texas,
Kansas and Oklahoma Territory sixty-one
rsquisitons upon the Indian Territory au-
thorites for fugitiyes, while we have reason
TO believe that IA many more are hiding
among their comrades in crime In this asy-
INN of criminals. Those criminals who find
refuge In this Territory are rapidly convert
ing the Indian country into school OF
crime.
They are demoraIzing the Indians and a:e
especially stirring up the young Indians 10
deeds of blood and theft. Young Henry
Starr. for example. although less than twenty
wears old and Of fine capacities, has been
charged with almost every crime in the cata'
Iogue aud is now under sentences OF death
Tor murder. The records Of the federal
courts of Paris and For Suith reveal start
ling story in this direction, yet they do NOT
tell one tenth Of ihe whole story.
Prior 10 the late civil war ! resided IN the
city of Fort Smith, on the border Of this Ter
ritorv The merchants of the place did Eait
a million dollars worth OF busbless in that
country every year. Their checks would
make periodical collections, travelling openly
and known to have large sums Of money
with them, yet nobody was ever molested.
Travel was safer than in the States.
Now. according to the estimates OF one OF
the newspapers, published year or two
since in Muskegee, the number OF murders
reached the appalling figure OF 200 In one
wear that were not cogn'zable in the federal
courts The federal jail at Fort Smith Is at
all seasons nearly full OF prisoners from this
Territory. and the federal court holds sessions
continuing through nearly every month OF
the wear. This state OF sem-chaos and the
ferces of government which exist in this
Territory. rendering it constant menace 10
the neace and order OF all the States OF the
Mississippi Valley, suggests the very serious
question whether the time has not arrived
for tbs federal government to assert its right
Of eminent domain over this part OF the ma
tional domain and to change Its political re-
latiops with the United Staies. / can think
of no valid reason upon which TO base the
opinion that an Indians rights, either oi per-
son or property, are any more sacred tnan
those of the white man, which it is conceded
must give way to the public coed.
In this case not only the public good hut
public safety, as well as the highest Interests
I ofthe Indian himself demand the suggested
change. Very respectfully,
W.M. FIsaaAcK. Governor OF Arkansas.