Evening journal., 1896-11-23
INDlANSASKSTATEH0OD
Five Nations Agree to Throw
Open Their Territory.
CHIEFS AND WISE MEN IN COUNCIL

AtIfitutAf comprising some OF the choicest
lands i'm the United States, will probably
be opened to white settlers as a result Of
the big convention of Indians that has
Just come 60 an end. The five civilized
tribes sent their best and most noted men
as elsgates. Their final decision was
great victory for the Dawes commission
that had been working for months TO effect
reconciliation, so that the rich lands
might be opened, as We're those of the Ok
lahoma district
The five civilized tribes are the Chicka-
saws ChOctaws, Greeks Cherokces and
sominoles. They number over $1,000 In
dians. They own the entire soil of Indian
Territory. 1t includes 10, 575. 900 acres.
The convention declared itself with
much emphasis regarding it's preferences
as TO the manner i'm which the lands should
ho opened. The delegates were willing
that their fellow Indians should receive
allotments and be paid for the rest OF the
vast tract They denounced tho territorial
form Of government, which was meant as
a strong hint that they would be satisfied
with nothing less than statehood. But
they declared that they did not want state
hood with Oklahoma, in spite of the pres
ent administration known efforts to urge
that course upon them.
The resolutions adopted by the conven-
ton began by stating that the time had
arrived when repeated demands made it
imperative for the five civilized nations to
treat with the United States commission.
The five nations pledged themselves to
act in perfect harmony with each other,
and on definite common line Of policy
Means Ultimate state Government.
q
mortal continued, "that the proposals of
the United States i'm disintcgrating the
land of our people by settlement and town
site division. mean ultimate state govern
ment, and that, i'm dealing with the Unit a
States. we must fully and clearly rocog
nize this policy Of the general government,
and conduct our negotiations on this basis
SO as TO secure all Of the amount due to
our nations and people, with an agreement
conserving our material and political
rights as % condition precedent TO disinte-
grafton of lands and tribe government
IF impossible to dissolve our tribal
governments, we wish to construct an
ADLER government, secured by council,
which shall protect the lives and the hap.
piness of our people.
The resolutions insist that each tribe
shall b. paid the money due by the United
States Immediately. When allotment of
lands is made TO the Indians, they demand
the patent be made to each individual In
dian, that he may hold the land as his
own, not further subject 10 the United
States, except for taxes.
AS the government requires the Indians
10 do away with tribal relations, which
arc very dear TO them, the government de-
mands that each Indian DC paid 5000 as a
recomrenso for tie sacrifice, and AIS am aid
I'm starting on the new life. for i'm abolish
ing tribal relations the Indian must give
I up many ancient customs such as dances
which they have observed from time inn
memorial. Each Indian, too would be un
der new expense i'm building fences ard
houses, and many things with which they
can now dispense
Dwelling lurthoron reasons for the pay
mcnt of tlis 5000 to each Indian, the rcso-
lutions said
Opening Indian Domain.
We are not unaware TINT the total
amount involved would be largo. but we
are fully advised that the huge develop
mcnt, under the new condition, in open
ing our Indian domain to its fun product
i've rowcr win BE of great advantage To-
tie United States and that the United
STATES viii Doe fully repaid. We realize the
great banc'its that our people derive from
our educational institutions, and also that
many of our Toople will be reduced t. dss-
tiution 10y the new conditions. Being anx-
ious 20 provide for the children of such
citizens we wish 20 set aside land out of
our domain % Eca permanent investment,
for the hcucnt OF certain educational insti-
tutions sufficient for the education OF
these children. We shall further insist that
the institutions that We have erected fol
educating our PEOPLE snail be sust4iucd by
the United States urdcr the Culisle .y.
tenn We win maintain our uibal govern.
mcnts as long as possible Boloro feliu-
gushing tribal government ard bs.0ra tine
disintegration of land shall De made. wc
shall insist that an OF the conditions here.
toforc set up shall have been culricd cut
We will never consent To a territorial
/ government or to a union with Oklahoma
Territory When "a change of government
| takes lace we shall ask that the proposed
agreements provide admission as q state of
the Union, with constitutional provisions
protecting the property right and political
privileges of our people, the constitution
I O. be made by our own people with alsJ-
/ iun prohibition of the liquor traffic. We
7 represent la,OOO sober, industrious, self
supportingaud God fearing people, owners
/ Of the entire soil of Indian Territory, by
/ solemn treaty and patented titlcs-pcoplo
who came 10 a wilderness, driven by force,
and made e a cultivated land-people who
have erected schools, churches, courts of
Justice aud governments under which we
have found safety and happiness. We rely
on the Justice of orr cause. and the guild
ance OF divine providence and we appeal
Co the moral sentiment cf great and mag.
nanimous ration, in whose hands is our
ultimate destiny and in whose national
lie and hist ~ we have earned dcceot
and honorable lace
Well Known business Ran Robbed.
WIiIIANsgo8T, Pa, Nov 23-Uriai
Cummings Of Stamford Conn, president
of the Cummings Ccmcnt company oI
Buffalo. was waylaid and robled In ihi.
city while on she way O his hotel Mr
Cummings was Cccos,Cd by "a negro reai
the Pennsylvania rlilroad stati H. who
after walking lllngsido him for hall O
square. kicked Mr. Cummings In the leg