The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-01-04
HOME OF OUTLAWS
Governor Of Arkansas Ferociously
lndcts the Indian Territory.
A LETTER TO CLEVELAND
nent Domain to Bring Order Out
of Semi Chaos.

MEMPHIS, Jan. 1.-Governor FIshback,
of Arkansas, has addressed the follow
ing open letter to President Cleveland:
To the President-Dear Sir: The
developments incident to the recent
train robbery and murder at Olyphant
In this state renders it proper, 1t seems
to me, that l call your attention to the
dangerous relation which the Indian
Territory west of US occupies to the
states of the Union, and especially to
the adjacent states of Arkansas, Kan
sas, Texas and Oklahoma Territory.
Upon the person of one of the captured
robbers was found the map of the route
they had taken from Indian Territory,
IT'S miles to the scene of the robbery,
and also map of the country around
Chattanooga, Tenn, showing that an
other robbery was contemplated at or
near that city. 1t also appears that the
captured leaders are noted characters
In this business, and inveigled some
very respectable citizens along the
border into the robbery. I have good
reason to suspect that very large per-
centage of the bank and train robberies
which take place west of the Alleghe-
nies and east of the Rocky mountains
are organized or originate in the Indian
Territory. Let me also add that the
refuge which this sparsely settled
mails is constant temptation to crime
in all the country around.
During the past twelve months there
have issued from the states of Arkan-
sas, Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma Terri
tory 81 requis'tions upon the Indian
Territory authorities for fugitives;
while we have reason to believe that
as many more are hiding among their
comrades in crime in this asylum of
criminals. Those criminals who fnd
refuge in this territory are rapidly con-
verting the Indian country into school
of crime. They are demoralizlng the
Indians and are especially stirring up
the young Indians to deeds of blood and
theft Young Henry Starr, for example,
although less than 90 years of age and
of fine capacities, has been charged
with almost every crime in the cata-
logue, and is now under sentence of
death for murder. The records of the
federal courts of Paris and Fort Smith
reveal a startling story in this direc-
tion, yet they do not tell one-tenth of
the whole story.
Prior to the late civil war I resided
in the city of Fort Smith on the border
of this territory. The merchants of the
place did S500,00O worth of business in
that country every year. Their clerks
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, accord
ing to the estimates of one of the news
papers published year or two since in
Muskogee, 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 this territory and
| the federal court holds sessions con
! tiuuing throughout nearly every month
} of the year. This state of semi-chaos
: and the farces of government which
exist in this territory, rendering 1t q
constant menace to the peace and order
: Of all the states of the Mississippi val
t ley, suggests the very serious question
z whether the time has not arrived fol
\ the federal government to assert it:
5 right of eminent domain over this par
E of the national domain and to change
r its political relations with the United
$ States. ] can think of no valid reason
upon which to base the opinion that al
Indians rights, either of person or o
property, are any more sacred thai
i those of the white man, which is con
ceded must give wayto the public good
u In this case not only the public good
u but public safety, as well as the bes
Y interests of the Indian himself, deman
. the suggested change. Very respect
u fully, w. M. FIsHBAcK,
J. Governor of Arkansas.