Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1895-12-19

difficulty in the way of knowing
who our Shawnee citizens are as
the authenticated rolls of 1880
contain what was at that time a
complete roster of Shawnee Cher
okee citizens. 1t is certainly
greatly 10 the interest of both the
Cherokee nation and the Shawnees
to have this matter taken out of
the courts and the expense stop
ped.
***
There is considerable talk among
the registered" Delawares, that
is those who elected to come here
when they bought into the Chero-
kee nation years ago, and accord
ing to the agreement between the
Cherokees and the Delaware Ind
ians were to have 160 acres of land
set apart to them individually, of
asking for their go acres. There
are probably 200 of these registered
Delawares still living, and if they
take their allotments as they are
entitled to under the agreement,
the chances are they will be better
of SO far as land is concerned than
any other class OF citizens in the
Cherokee nation.
***
One of the saddest things that
has occurred during the session of
council, and one of the things that
ought to be a warning to every
young man in this country, was the
sight a few days ago of man who
had stood high in political circles,
and in whose integrity and honesty
there fingered no doubt, being
down drunk in the filth of the
muddy street The man is intelli-
gent and honorable and has oceu-
pied places of trust and emolument
but now he is physical and moral
wreck. One morning last week
after an all night debauch, he be-
come involved in a quarrel which
ended in drunken fight, and the
man was placed in the city Jail.
His friends went round and collect
ed money to pay his fine in order
to save him the humiliation of
working it out on the street. This
fellow, only few years ago was
clean, well dressed young man and
an honored citizen, and now is a
wreck and an example of what
liquor can do for a man.
*.*
Senator Walkingstick introduced
a bill for the continuance of the |
commission appointed to meet |
with the Dawes commission until |
they ascertain whether the Dawes
commission was going to confer
with them or not. If not that they |
make a report in reply to Dawes
commission report. That S475 he
appropriated to pay the expenses
and to pay printing of six hundred
copies of the Cherokee commits
sion's report.
Senator Hendricks: | have been
opposed to legislating in reference
TO the Dawes commission since
council convened. They have
never been here; they have made
their report to the secretary of the
interior and here we are legislating
to confer with them. We are max
ing heavy appropriations every
day. | don't wonder at our peo-
pie becoming fearful that our ma
ton is becoming bankrupt.
Vote taken and bill offered by
Senator Walkingstick passed.
***
Cromwell said to the artist,
"paint me as | am" To desc
the council now closing,to crit lse
its work, to "tell all, " would be a
great task indeed. Ifthe men that
have stood out against corruption
and bribery were to give away |
what they do know. they would be
met with storm of ofdenunciation and
abuse from one end Of the nation 10
the other. If the men who have Sc
cured fat places in the public SER
vice were to tell how much money
it took 10 purchase the assistance
of certain men. the blush of
shame would mount the cheeks IF
some very prominent people. But
in the closing hours Of this very
eventlul session THE CHIEFTAIN
can offer its readers the consola-
ton that the sun will continue to
rise and set, and there will be
seed-time and harvest after this
council with all its foibles and |
weaknesses and prejudices shall
have passed away and been forgot
ten. 1t is certainly sad state of
affairs when members of both the
senate and council sell themselves
for money to forward almost any |
scheme that the ingenuity or the
rascality of man could devise. The
worst enemies this country has
are some of its own INSCRIPTIONS
citizens. While the Cherokees are
hawked at from without and mis-
represented abroad, and bounded
by the Dawes commission, its own