The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-10-25
THEY SEE IT NOW
MEN WHO HAVE OPPOSED STATE
HOOD ARE COMING ROUND
Secretary Smiths Plan for Settling
the Territorial Outlaw Business
Renfrow's Report FayOring Con-
solidation of the Two-IIadeqaa nate
Forces at Authorities Disposal.

WASHINGTON, Oct 24-The Indian Office
has received another telegram from Agent
Wisdom at Muskogee relative 10 the
troubles experienced from lawless men in
that section. He said:
"The Cook gang OF outlaws in force is
encamped near Gibson station, eight miles
from here, oil the Missouri, Kansas and
Texas railroad. 1t is believed that another
hold up is anticipated. My police force,
such as | got gathered. is not equal to the
emergency and Marshal Crump at Fort
Smith, Ark. writes that lie has not the
money to keep marshals in the field for
Campaign. Affairs here are in a desperate
condition. Business is suspended, the
people are generally intimidated and pri
vate individuals are robbed every day and
night. l renew my commentator and
earnestly insist that the government,
through the proper channel, take the
matter in hand and protect its courts and
the citizens of the United States who are
lawfully residents in the territory. Lii
censed traders are especially suffering and
they are here under suspense. This state
of seige must b. broken and something
done TO save life and property"
This telegram was referred to Secretary
Smith, who called the attention of the
secretary of war to his request of yester-
day, that troops be sent to the Indian Ter
ritory and suggested the urgency of
early action of the government.
Secretary Smith was asked today what
he should recommend to prevent perma-
nently the lawlessness and reign of terror
that now exists in the Indian Territory.
"Abrogate the treaties; abolish the tri-
bal relations, establish a territorial gov
ernment aud extend the jurisdiction of the
United States over the whole territory"
he replied promptly.
The secretary expressed the opinion
that the local self government of the civil
lied tribes was failure thus far. Their
legislatures make laws, but there seems to
be no way of enforcing them. Men who
had all along been opposed to the course he
suggested now saw there was no other
way out of the difficulty. He would
see that the Indians were pro-
tected in all of their property rights,
but he would have the United States con-
troll sufficiently to rid the territory of the
outlaws. If a territorial government were
established, judges would be sent there to
administer the laws and the governor who
was appointed could see that they were
enforced.
The report of Governor Renfrow, Of
Oklahoma, advises the consolidation of the
TWO territories. saying the whites would
then predominant This being called to
the Secretary'S attention, he said that the
white people in the Indian Territory now
largely predominated, but they had no
voice in the affairs of the government. 1t
was true that in this white population
there Were many persons who were now
causing trouble, but if the United States
had complete territorial jurisdiction over
the country, they could drive them GU.
and the better element would prevail.
The secretary said the intru1ers now in
the Cherokee country should be driven
out. The department., he added, would
not interfere further in the Sila2 Lewis
case from the Choctaw country, anu that
IL is probable Lewis Will be shot.