Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1895-01-10
The rive oivilissd Tribes

| Indians decline to make any agree
ment to divide their lands or to
change their tribal for territorial
government. There are $50, coo
white citizens in the Territory,
without any government, and co.
600 white children without schools
and no government TO establish
any. Murders and robberies are
Of daily occurrence and not one in
fifty OF the criminals is arrested,
and not one in a hundred is pun
ished. The carnival of crime is
disgrace to the age and country.
The intermarried white people
have obtain ed possession of most
of the valuable and productive
land and property and the indians
who really own the country are
deprived of their inheritance and
are living in poverty. The Indian
governments are an utter failure so
far as protecting life and the rights
of the common Indian IL concern
ed. In their report the commits
sion, composed of Messrs. Dawes,
Kidd and McKennon, make no
recommendations, but content with
a statement Of the conditions ex-
listing there.
A bill has been introduced in the
house by Mr.. Maddux to organ
ize the three United States courts
in the territory, and giving them
full jurisdiction, irrespective Of
race, and abolishing the jurisdic-
ton of lhe United States courts at
Fort Smith, Ark, and Paris, Tex.
Those best advised in the matter
say the passage of this bill will
suppress iawlessness and restore
order. Felonies arc only cog
nizable and tried in the Arkansas
and Texas courts, and experience
has demonstrated that they are in
capable of dealing with crime at
such distance from where the of.
fSnses are committed, and that
there is no propriety or use in
maintaining these foreign juris-
dictions, except as it affords en-
ployment for lawyers at those
points and gives patronage to ho-
tells and saloons. These selfish
motives ought not to be allowed
to control this question to the in
jury of all classes of people in the
territory and a large increase OF
expense to the - United States.
Besides it is cruel injustice to the
Indians, who are taken to Fort
Smith and Paris, where they are
brought into immediate contact
with intoxicants and all other
vices. The United States made a
law to exclude liquor from the In
dian country aud spends large
sums to punish its introduction
among the Indians, and yet carries
hundreds of women to where it is
sold and brings them in contact
with it under the most unfavorable
circumstances. The Maddux bill
ought to become a law without
amendment.
But this would cure only one of
the three evils. 1t would not re-
store the land to the Indians to
whom it belongs. To do this a
bill is before the committee on In
dian affairs of the senate to divide
all the land among the Indians,
putting enough for a good, home in
such condition that it cannot be
sold by him or for debt during
his lifetime. This bill would give
the Indian back his land, and pro-
tect him from the white sharpers
who have robbed him. 1t, or
something like it ought to pass.
Senator Berry in the senate and
Mr.. Little in the house have in.
troduced bill to divide the land
among the Indians and organize
territorial government in the usual
form. This is the only measure
proposed which affords a remedy
for all except those which affiict
the people of that unfortunate
country. II would give the In
dian back his property; it would
establish home courts. which
would restore peace and prote ct
life; it would give power
to the people to establish
schools and educate their children.
Senator Berry and Mr.. Little live
on the border OF this territory, and
probably know i.s needs better
than any member of either house
unless it be Senator Jones, and
though it would remove the court
from Fort Smith-which is in Mr..
Little's district, and near Senator
Ber.y's home-they are willing
to make the sacrifice to relieve
these people of their sufferings
and do the Indian justice. II is
so seldom members of either house
can see the public good, and serve
the country at the sacrifice Of local
interests, that we feel they are de-
serving OF honorable mention.
The Post is not prepared at this
time TO say what ought to be done,
but some legislation should be
done at an early date to put an end
to this anomalous and disgraceful
condition of affairs. Washington
Post.