Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-27
Opposed to Giving Up Their Tribal
Relations.
DO NOT WANT LAND IN. SEVERALTY
Non-Citizen Residents Want /;
State ormed.
DESIRES OF THE WHITES

EuFAULA, /. T., June 27.-The internal
tional council of the five civilized tribes met
here yesterday, with w. A. Duncan of the
Cherokee nation in the chair. A. l.. Posey
of the Creek delegation was appointed Sec
rotary, and the council took up the PROPOSE
ton of the Dawes commission.
Chief Harris of the Cherokee nation, Gov.
Brown of the Seminoles. Esparpeho of the
Creek ration. r. H. McLish of the Chicka-
saws and J. c. Fulsom of the Choctaws
spoke against any change whatever in the
tribal rela tions or land tenure of the tribes,
pronounced themselves against any change
proposed by the Dawes commission and
pledged themselves and their people to
fight the threatened encroachment upon
their present system to the last notch.
committee was appointed to draft reso-
iutichs expressing the sentiment of the
council.
The Dawes commission is not represented
here, all its members. save Capt. McKin-
non, being out of the territory. There Is a
large number of persons in attendance here,
consisting principally of Indians and news
paper men.
The members of the commission believe
they Will, in time, be able TO convince the
Indians that 1t will be for their good to
give up tribal relations and permit the
government to have jurisdiction over this
vast area of country.
occupy this country has indepea lent gov
eminent. all efforts at the organization of
a central council having failed.
The Five Nations.
The population of the Ave civilized tribes,
as shown by the census taken five years
ago. was 17S,037. divided as follows: In
dians of the five tribes living with their
own people, 1914; other Indians, including
many families of the five tribes who were
found in other tribes than then own, i, 561 ;
total Indians, J00J5; Indian citizens re-
groes and others of Indian descent, Is, 1886;
Chinese, ID; whites, including some claim
ants of Indian citizenship, 1O9,393. This
nondescript population was found divided
among the nations follows: Cherokee,
5000; Chckasaw. 5T329; Choctaw, AZ, sos;
Creek, 1892; Seminole, 2,7O3. Since this
census was taken the white population has
been increased very materially, while there
has been considerable diminution in the
number of real Indians.
The term civilized as applied to the
five tribes ic simply to distinguish them
from tn wild. rowing bands of Indians. A
large number Of them, in fact, a majority
are half and quarter breeds. and in general
appearance re like white men. They OPP
pose every step which pre- misses an innova-
ton in th.ir laws and customs, and II is
doubtful If the Dawes commission will be
able to formulate any plan which will lead
to the early division of their lands in sew
crafty.
Indian Government,
Most of these Indians still the Indian
language and they have written his
tory. The Cherokees alone have an alpha
bet in which their books and laws are
printed Each tribe calls itself nation
which is governed by governor, or pril-
cipal chief. and legislature. which is cleo
tive, and which goes by different names.
They maintain their own schools and have
churches and charities in profuson Their
school books are In English their
numerous newspapers. They annually
in receipt Of large sums from the United
States as interest on trust funds. accuInu-
lated from the sale of lands to which they
had treaty titles
Industries aud Progress.
Farming is carried on by the five tribes
In slipshod fashion. This Is not to be
wondered at when one takes into consid-
GRAFTON the fact that the lands are fertile
and are to be had as freely as air.
Practically no advancement has been
made in manufacturing and 1t is confined
to u few cotton gins, saw mill or two
basket making by the squaws, blankets
and maple sugar. Quite large number of
walnut gun stocks have been manufac-
trred and sold to European countries for
use in the armies.
The citizens of the five civilized tribes
are not subject to taxation the expenses
of their government and schools being Ge-
rived from interest on trust funds held by
tHe government as the proceeds OF the
sales of lands and fees collected from Ii
censes and permits of traders. The trust
fund now amounts to $SOOOOU0 exclusive
of the purchase price of the Cherokee strip,
which belongs to the Cherokees alone.
In the way of educational institutions the
Cherokee nation is far in advance of the
other tribes.
In the five nations there are 1856 church
organizations, with 422 church buildings.
The different Methodist denominations
have $40 church organizations and $50
churches. The Baptists come next. with
Isl ORGANIZATIONS and 10 buildings. There
are 16 Catholic parishes and s churches.
The question of statehood Is the one
which most interests the non-citizen ele
ment In the Indian country. These people
want a new territory named Indianola con-
structed out of the country now occupied
by the five tribes The new territory of
1ndianola will embrace the best country in
America lying west of the Mississippi, and
when the Indian influence which now pre-
dominates is overcome it will develop into
one OF the richest and resourceful states in
the Union.
Its climate is unsurpassed, the Temporal
ture varying from IL to 80 degrees, and the
resources of its soil are varied the major
portion being alluyial and of great fertility.
Territory Desired.
1t covers area larger than TIE state of
North Carolina, and its mineral resources
are greater than those of any state east of
the Rocky mountains, although scarcely a
beginning has been made In their develop
ment. Oak forests, about thirty miles in
width, run through the territory from Tex
as to Kansas, and include large groves of
enormous trees.
After the Indians have been given their
allotments of 100 acres each there will be
large surplus left over, and they will be
the most valuable lands in the public do
main. If they may be so classed. Their
market value today would range from $40
to $40 PED acre 1t Is estimated that the
Per capita distribution of surplus money
among the members of the several tribes
will be about one hundred million dollars
The many bands Of outlaws who infest
this country will never be driven out until
the surplus lands are settled upon by whites
When that is done the business of train
robbing and outlawry will cease to be a
paving vocation in this territory and the