The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-05-22

cogee, IN the Creek nation, on the line
Of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas rail.
way, which goes through the heart OF
the Indian country.
There are several important problems
10 be solved In the Indian territory.
Prominent among these is that of the
intrusion of non-citizens upon the
tribal domains This is especially true
OF the Cherokee and CAackasaw nations
In the former Mr.. Wisdom estimates
the intruders at 5, 900. divided into two
classes. The first are those who en-
tered before August II. 1886. and have
made valuable Improvements; the
second are those who entered
after that date, claim citizenship
through alleged Cherokee blood, and
accordingly refuse to take out permits
or comply with the residence law. 1t
is of the latter class that the Cherokees
mostly complain. Under an act of con-
gress passed about year ago board
Of appraisers is dealing with the first
elass When the Cherokee strip was
purchased one of the agreements was
that the United States government
should remove the intruders In order
| that this might be done without in
| justice it became necessary to put a
value on all improvements made in
good faith by the intruders. These the
| Cherokee nation must pay for; but, as
An Offset, fair value for the use and
occupation of the lands is deducted
from the improvements, and these lat
ter become the property of the nation.
This seems to be as good way as could
be expected for disposing OF this Ques
! ton.
But it Is the second-class Of intruders
that creates the most difficulty. 1t is
numerous, well organized and deter.
mined to stay. In some cases the claim
to Cherokee blood is honestly made.
and Mr.. Wisdom thinks their exclusion
would be unjust; but this is not true,
he believes. of the majority of claims
ants and the Cherokee nation, in re-
sisting their Incorporation into the
tribe, is simply acting on its ad.
mitted rights for the preserva-
ton of its autonomy. A decis-
ion of the United States supreme
court has recognized the exclusive right
of the Cherokee nation to determine
who are its citizens. Many of the
intruders have had a hearing on this
question, and their cases have been de.
cided adversely; vet they have refused
to go. alleging that the trial was I'M
fair. mem bers of the court being inter.
ested in the result Thus it is seen
that there is constant source OF trou-
l. e, - ~; Il
refuse to abide by the decision against
them, and the Indian police force is
not strong enough to remove them,
while the organiza ton is so powerful
that the Cherokee nation cannot get
rid of them, at least IN any peaceful
way.
In the Chickasaw nation the case
against the intruders is still stronger.
Gov. Jonas Wolf estimates their mum.
bers at about 5000, and they are so
powerful in one county, that they call
it ''the free state of Pickens," and treat
his authority with contempt. Unlike
the Cherokee intruders, just spoken of,
they do not make claim TO citizenship
by blood, but are herding cattle in
the name of natives, and nominally
under leases, but fraudulently, accord
ing to the agent Gov Wolf has APP
pealed to the government through the
latter for military force to eject these
intruders, on account of their strength
and avowed determination to remain.
The agent SAYS that "she whole situa.
ton is a messwork of fraud and cum
ming evasion of the law that will re-
quire heroic treatment"
Another question is presented by the
status of the freedmen among the
Chickasaws and Cherokees The for.
ner do not allow the negroes to vote,
hold Office, or enjoy the school funds
Since, according to Mr.. Wisdom, they
exceed in number the native popula.
ton, their condition demands atten-
ton. Many of them were slaves of the
Chiclsasaws, were born upon Chickasav
soil, and speak the language fuently.
But the natives naturally DO not want
the negroes TO share in the triba.
funds and resources, apart from the
danger of having them control the
government. The Cherokees also dc |
not acknowledge the freedmen as cits /
zens except under certain treaty stipr /
lations. Commissioner Wallace made /
an enrolment OF upward OF three /
thousand freedmen, but the Cherokee I
authorities did not regard his enroll /
uent az correct Mr.. Wisdom says
,nac they must be either trea,cd al
Cherekees or as citizens of the United /,
States having some tribal rights. and /
that they should not be left without /
recourse to the courts
The question of the administration i
of justice in the Indian territory is one
of much Importance. The United /
States court transscts business Of a 1
civil nature and holds two terms a !
year. The federal district courts at .
Paris in Texas and Fort Smith in
Arkansas have jurisdiction over of.
lenses punishable by death or inn
prisonment at hard labor. Mr.. Wis
dom thinks that congress should in
crease the jurisdiction of the Indian
territory court, and appoint more
judges, if necessary, in order to carry
out such system That is a point,
however, which has caused much dis
cussioD. with varying opinions. in con.
gress-
MAYOR M'HLFs sa's cLoTBEs.
Prem the c nciauati Enquirer