Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1895-03-28
INDIAN POLICY FIXED.
ADMINISTRATION PLANS FOR
THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
The Work otthe Enlarged Dawes
Commission Fully Determined
Upon Red Men to Be Entrusted
With Full Control of Lands as
Soon as Competent.
Kansas city star.

question has been definitely form.
ulated. Some features of it have
been indicated by actions and de-
cisions of the interior department
of recent months, but the crystal
lization of government purpose in.
to definite policy has necessarily
been dependent upon the results
of the various alternative endeav-
ors that have tentatively and ag-
gressively been made. 1t is pos
sible now accurately to present
that matured policy in satisfactory
detail.
The future attitude of the gov
ernment with respect to the five
civilized tribes will be found to
conform closely to the policy
agreed upon. Its details are of pc
culiar interest to Oklahoma and
filed with vital significance to the
Indians themselves. 1t will be
fortunate, indeed, for them if they
take observant note of the oppor.
tunity now presented to them and
profit by it. Never again may be
extended to these people such
helpful endeavors to advance them
to citizenship and at the same time
securely guard their material inter.
ests. This administration will
not rob the Indians TO enrich the
settler, but its guardianship cam
not extend beyond its own tenure.
The Indians, moreover, will have,
during the next two years, the
consciousness that in dealing with
the administration they are deal
ing with friends sincerely desirous
of their lasting welfare, and not
with careless guardians bent only
on wasting their wards estates.
THE DAWES COMMISSIONS WORK
When the Dawes commission
shall presently return 20 the ter
ritory and resume its labors, its
members will be increased by two.
The new members will be Frank
Armstrong and ex-Congressman
Montgomery of Kentucky. The
one has given a good portion OF
his life to Indian affairs, and has
always been accounted one Of the
most steadfast friends of the In.
dians. The others congressional
service has not been of character
especially to acquaint him with
the subject he will be brought to
consider but he is an able man
and a Just one. There have been
rumors of other charges in the per
sonnel of the commission than the
one affected by the increased men,
bership, but whatever the degree
of authority that may attend their
repetition, it is settled that the two
named will be the new members
And whatever the personnel of the
commission, in its negotiations
with the Indians it will unques-
tionably conduct them in accord
ance with the policy of the govern
ment.
First-The Indian tribes may
lay aside the fear that they will be
coerced into statehood, either as
a separate state or as portion OF
| Oklahoma. The Oklahomans too,
who have labored here so Jealous
ly and capably, although unsuc-
cessiully, for statehood, will con.
serve their energies if they direct
them to the erection of a state
within the present Oklahoma ter
ritorial boundaries, unless they
are content to wait until such time
as the Indians may be prepared
for statehood and willing to merge
their territory with the sister one.
Second-The Indians will not
be required or even advised to
abandon their local forms of gov.
ernment or to sell all of their
lands. 1t will be the policy
of the government rather,
in the instances where il
will conduce most to their benefit,
to have them retain ownership OF
all the lands that they can profit.
ably utilize. But Increasingly the
Indians will be urged to make
partition in severalty with right oil
alienation only as to their mem.
bers who by education or business
ability have, as individuals, reach
ed a stage fitting them for the pru.
dent conduct of their affairs, the
others not TO have such rights al
present. The former will be en-
titled to do with their lands as
they please occupying toward them
that inalienable relation ofowner-
ship which attaches to a land
owning citizen elsewhere in the
! United States. AS to the others
their holdings are to be inalien-
able until such time as the Indian
bureau shall las to each individual
decide as to his business fitness
and pending his complete eman-
cipation from governmental guar.
dianship, the sale OF such parts OF
his possessions as may be neces-
sary for the profitable utilization
Of supervision. These policies
will henceiorth sleadfastly be
urged upon the attention and ac.
ceptance Of the FIVE tribes
SALES OF LANDS DIRECT PROPOSED.
hird-The tribes will be urged,
in their tribal capacity, to sell
tracts OF commercial lands direct
TO settlers. All OF them have hold
ings vastly in excess of what
would be required for divisional
purposes, and they will be adyis
ed to sell the surplus possessions.
The methods Of the past are to be
abandoned in the event of the sue.
ceesful oneration of the nolicv de.