The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1895-05-14
FREEMAN, THE MONARCH.
seemingly Bases It's Tyranny onthe suppu
sition that None can Dispute iiis
Rights.

seemingly Iiasss II,s Tyranny outhe suppu
sition that None can Dispute uis
Rights
Following is an excerpt from the
brief dlcd in the injunction suit Of
Frank Prudom, high sheriff VS. II. B
Freeman ct al, 10y j. w Wisby and
Dick Gentry, attorneys for the plaint-
iH.
who opposes this Improvement?
just one man, the defendant, Freeman.
lie imagiucs his arbitry will is law in
the Usage nation and the surrounding
country ROBBED with o. "itte brief
authority he imagines he IS superior
TO all law, rule, aud regulations and
may take his position in the capital of
that nation aud truthfulIy assert with
SelltirlS on the island:
"l am monarch of all survey:
NV rights there are none to dispute
Defendant is simply an Indian
agent and can only act 10y virtue Of
the authority given him by law. or
some rule or regulation Of the interior
department, based on law. tie claims
the right 90 arbitrarily stop and pre-
vent the construction Of the bridge n
question and coutiscate the material
Intended for the same The burden is
ON him to show authority for his act,
complained Of Zoo plaiutih- bill We
challenge him To produce lawful au-
thority for his high handed despOtic
conduct
What motive actuatcs him towards
plaintif9 This bridge may facilitate
legitimate trade and commerce be-
tween the whites and the Indians, aud
thus enable the Indian to euily that
freedom OF trade accorded him boy the
law of the land, the rules aud rcguIa
tious of the Indian department. and
immemorial practice and custom.
China is "A striking example of wall
ing in one nation from all Intercourse
with enlightened ncighbors and
nations We insist thai the defend
ants conduct can only bc explained ON
the theory that he is Interested i'm pro.
tacting the licensed traders in the
nation from competition of the neigh.
boring merchants at the towns and
villages in close proximity Co the res
crvatiOn. Defendant gave permission,
so he admits, for the building Of the
bridge. at least, the evidence of plant
iff and witness, skinner, show that
his permission was given
Plaintiff has gone ahead with the
full knowledge Of the agent and under
the belief that he had authority, and
expended money and contracted for
material in the sum Of ~ 500, three
fourths of the contemplated cost of
the entire structure
Flore and Wismyer are the licensed
traders" at Cray Horse agency. fifteen
miles above on the river at which
place is a toll bridge across the Arkan
sas river
Defendant Freeman admitted that
Wismeyer had visited him several
times at his residence and that they
talked about the bridge being con
structed at Blackmirc, and That after
these talks, he made his first obiec
tion 10 the construction OF the bridge.
This, coupled with the fact that he
has nephew who Is "A licensed trader
upon the reservation, and the further
fact that the licensed traders were
assessed and compelled 10 contribute
twelve thousand dollars TO the parties
who recently secured the payment of
two hundred thousand dollars to the
Usage Indians as additional to their
regular annuity payments, and that
Freeman testified that 10 was through
his influence and 10y his recommends
tion that the additional payment of
two hundred thousand dollars was
made, we may well conclude that be
Stands in" with the favored traders
on the reservation, who, more than he
would be ready and willing TO do th,
bidding OF the greedy traders, who iu
s.st on monopoly of the Usage trade.
A strong intimatiou i, found lu the
evidence, that the twelve thousand
dollars paid 10y the traders, aud which
Freeman virtually admits he advise,
them TO pay, was added 90 the ac
counts Of the traders against 'ht lu
dians, and iu reality, 'lu tGe poor .u
dian, was compelled a. last to pay
that amount and Freeman knew o
that fact
That he advised Mn Skinner ira.
der at pawhuska, 10 contribute his pr,
rata share of the twelve thousand do,
lars, there can be no question. j
Freeman's influence and recommends
tiou secured the payment OF th'
money, and his advice 10 traders {,
pay H., land his advice Is almost equiv
olent TO a command 10 do so) who bu
be should receive the lions share %
that corruption fund, The money wa
in the federal treasury, belonged Z,
the Usage Indians, and il they actually
needed IT, they We're entitled 10 IT,
aud the agent could have secured a
for them without fees or charges.
Why should he stand boy and aid AN,
abet, as il is fairly Inferred, this rob
berry Of those people of the large sun
of twelve thousand dollar,' Ina view
OF the arbitrary conduct of this man
Freeman as shown iu the evidence DO
this case, aud his many tyrauuical act
since he has occupied the position %
Indian agent So well known as to b,
matter of common uOtoricty, th,
government would be iu better uu~l
ness II il should put forth its best ci
fort 90 civilize him instead of the lu.
diaas. The only material dltlerenc,
necessary 10 be employed iu the p.O
cess would be that double the citor
would be required d reduce 90 q stat
of citizenship aud due appreciate
and underst taudiug of the spirit AM
genius of our free institutions, th
agent and AN other. of his kind, tina
would be found necessary TO bring {
"a proper understanding Of the dutle
and responsibility required of goo
citizens by the laws of our country q
a majority of the Indians residing uI
ON the Usage reservation