Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16


Robert Hall, robbery and receiv-
ing stolen property; jury out.
Late Washington Dispatches.
Following are the dispatches
from Washington to the Globe
Democrat, dated 11th:
INDIAN TERRITORY CONDITIONS.
The president is considering the
propriety of writing a letter which
will set forth his views regarding
conditions in the Indian Territory.
He wishes to correct the wrong
impression which the civilized
tribes seem to have that he is 60
ing to stand between them and con-
gress with the veto power. A few
days ago there appeared in a ter
ritory paper letter from one of
the Cherokee delegates in Wash
ington. 1t told OF a visit to the
white house, and reported the
president as saying he would dis
prove any legislation which sought
to change the existing Indian gov
ernments.
The letter was shown to the
president by Senator Berry, of Ar
kansas. yesterday. Mr.. Cleveland
promptly disavowed the declara-
lion attributed TO him. He said
he had told the Indians that in his
opinion the best thing for them to
do was TO become American citi
zens. The president further in
formed the senator that he had re-
quested Secretary Hoke Smith
10 send for the Dawes commission.
Ii was his intention, when the COM
missioners arrived, to have a con-
ference with them and with the
secretary, after which the views OF
the administration as To the need.
ed legislation would be known.
Mr.. Cleveland said that be expect
ed to be guided mainly by the rec
concentrations of the commission.
He said that the commissioners
had made a very thorough exami-
nation of the situation, and he be-
lieved that their conclusion should
be given great weight.
CHEROKEE INTRUDER QUESTION.
By strange coincidence, the
Cherokee Indian delegation and
the ''intruders' - delegation chose
the same day and hour to call up
on the secretary of the interior
About 10 clock this morning the
intruders presented themselves in
the secretary's ante-room, and
about fifteen minutes later, and be-
fore the intruders had secured an
audience, the Cherokees made
their appearance. They looked
rather surprised on beholding their
opponents, but exchanged greet
ings and sat down TO wait. When
Secretary Smith learned that both
delegations were in waiting be
looked a trife perplexed, but fin
ally decided to receive them both
at once and let them have it out.
w. J. Watts. of the intruders,
spoke first. He said that his del
egation understood that the Jones
resolution calling for a suspension
OF action until congress could leg
islate had been referred to the sec
retary, and he wished to know
whether this was so. But the sec
retary was not giving any informa-
ton, but seeking to get it, so, with
out answering Mr. Watts definitely
he said to Mr.. Boudinot, of the
Cherokees:
"What have you got against the
Watts people?"
Nothing in the world" said
Boudinot, "only we cl i'm they
are not Indians.
"What have you got to say to
that?" asked the secretary of w.
J. Watts, the intruders' leader.
"All | wish to say to that, Mr..
Secretary" said Watts, sis that
your predecessor sent a commits
sion TO the nation to investigate
our claims to Cherokee blood, and
| refer you 10 his report and the
decision of the United States su-
pieme court on the subject. F"
II want to say" put in MI.
Hastings, the attorney for the
Cherokees, "that the Duncan re-
port does not sustain the claims of
these people to Cherokee citizen
ship"
81 say it does; it speaks for
itself" retorted Watts.
The secretary continued to put
pointed inquiries to both delega-
tions, and succeeded in getting
good deal of information bearing
on the dispute. At the conclusion
of the cross-examination he in
formed the delegations that they
must not conclude from anything
that occurred what his action in
regard to the removal of the So
called intruders was TO be, because
his mind was still not made up.
"
The Permit Law.