The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-01-17
LEDBETTER VIEWS.
he Writes Capt. Gait an EnthusIastIe
Letter Bearing on the SItustIoa and
Prospective LeRlsIstIoa.

a0 ACAA0hAhk AGlAEE duaEGHHEO 10
Capt. John L. Gait by W. A. LedbetE
ter, now in Washington, possesses
interesting features which impels the
ARDMOREITE to publish it. The
letter, bearing, date Of January 10,
says:
81 have devoted a great deal Of
time since came here to learn the
sentiment among congressman as to
what will be done for the Indian
Territory 1t seems to me that there
is determination to enact legisla-
ton that would completely revolu-
tionIze the condition in the Indian
Territory, at the present session. The
Indians, of course, viii do all they
can to prevent it and nv-r- measure
VIII meet with oppc ,,ioa.
l had a talk v.,i senator Berry
the other day 49, 4. said lie had
just seen the pr ,.i n- aad discussed
with him the & -. lon tLo-cu1hly,
and the preside:i .-iE iiri that he
thought the gover.'i-s nl had done
all it ought to do to 1-.-el amicable
settlement with the Indians and he
did not feel it his duty to further op-
pose legislation such as recommend
ed by the Dawes Commission. A
delegation of Indians has just called
on him and he had told them Of the
fact that at their instance, he had
removed Maj. Kidd from the Dawes
Commission and put in his place Col.
Armstrong, their faithful friend, and
he had Joined in the report which
showed the condition of affairs in
the territory to be intolerable and
recommended legislation that would
exterminate the Indian government
and change their form OF govern
ment. They then called on the Sec
retary of the Interior and he laid
the law down to them in such q
manner as to alarm them very much.
Senator Berry believes that his
bill, providing for territorial govern
ment and a coercive allotment of the
Indian lands, win become a law at
the present session. 1 have done all
that could to impress upon him
and other members of congress, the
Importance of a townsite measure
such as was adopted by the business
men in Ardmore just before / left,
and so far as he is concerned, he is
friendly with them. The Indians,
through their delegates and lob
byists, are going to make q hard
fight to compel the appraisement of
lots at their present value. This,
Of course, would be ruinous to the
people of Ardmore and other towns
and we will have to make q hard
fight to secure the result which is so
much desired; that is, the appraise-
ment of lots with respect to their
value at the time the towns were
started or on a basis of from FIVE to
to ten dollars per acre.
/ shall remain here until about
Thursday of next week. The Dawes
Commission will be here about the
18th and from that time on the real
fight will be waged, and within thirty
days from that time, / believe the
provisions Of the bill which viii be-
come a law, win be substantially
agreed upon. I believe the admin
istration win support the Berry bin
or a substitute similar TO IL which
will be prepared by the senate COM
mittee on territories. do not be-
Iieve that the president would veto
any measure that congress would
pass.
So far as 1 am concerned, / would
be glad to see our townsite measure
pass as an independent bill and
leave the matter OF territorial govern
ment to future actions, but 1 do not
believe any piece meal legislation
will be tolerated at this session"