The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-01-22
THE SITUATION.
Hon. w. A. Ledbetter Returns from
Washington and Talks POIntedly Of
Prospects and Possible DANGERS.

I Hon. and Mrs. W. \. Ledbetter ar
rived last night from Washington.
/ Mr.. Ledbetter was seen by an ARD
MORETTE reporter at his law office
/ this morning. He is quite hoarSe. hut
nevertheless willing to talk as to his
observations and conclusions reached
as to legislation efTecting the Indian
/ Territory. When asked as to what
he thought would be the result OF the
agitation now going on relative to this
country and proposed changes he said:
1t seemed To me that there was
preparation all along the line for far
reaching legislation effecting the In
dian Territory i'm all the departments
and in both houses uf congress. The
Dawes commission was sent for i'm or
der that they might consult with con
greSSional committees and get up
measure embracing territorial form
Of government. the destruction
of the Indian governments. pro-
visions for free schools, town
site legislation. and such other mat
terS a. may be thought proper. Every
body seemed to think that at this SeS-
sion the legislation would be- passed
that would completely revolutionize
the conditions here in the territory.
Last winter the Indians were given
TO understand 10y Mr.. Cleveland that
hc would veto any legislation that it,
terferred with what they claimed 20
be their treaty rights or that
would change their form of govern
ment
This winter he has given the In
dian> and congress 10 understand that
he believes the conditions i'm the ter
Iitory must he changed. and ! do not
believe he would veto any bill passed
10y congress.
The measures discussed in congress
reaching that | became apprehcnSive
that our tOwn~itc interest might be
overlooked To such an extent aS To
greatly injure the non-citizen> owning
improvements. When il is proposed
To change the relations existing be-
tween the five tribes and the govern
ment for more than a half century.
destroying their governments and al
tcring The tenure by which they hold
their land. and then To condemn an
important part of their domain for
townSite purposes. paying the Indians
therefor merely "A nominal value at
one stroke Of legislation. the cause for
alarm may be apparent. Everybody
confes>es that there ought 10 be town
site legislation, and 80 far as | could
see. everybody was willing that the
people acquire title TO the lots IN the
various towns, but il iS going 10 re-
quire persistent and determined effort
on the part Of the people in the Chick
aSaw Nation to get legislation
through, authorizing them TO pur-
chase lots at IA nominal value or at the
value Of the lois at the time the towns
were started. or as il is provided in
I the bill introduced by Mr.. Flynn in
I the house and Mr.. Piatt in the senate
on "A basis of ten To fifteen dollars per
acre. IL j. easy enough 10 introduce
a bin based upon such appraisement.
but when il comes to condemning the
+ Indian lands and taking them from
4 he Indians at 50 small price IN the
face of their opposition. and in view
of the fact that all their treasures
are empty and that they are greatly
in need Of money 10 pay debts already
incurred, and other debts which will
have 10 be incurred before the govern
ment are disbanded. it is going 10 re-
quire the most persistent efforts |
do not want TO be misunderstood in
this connection. | would not give a
false alarm for anything. but / do say
that | have been impressed with the
fact that we are in g,eat danger g
far as the appraiSement of the town
lots are concerned.
What 10 you think as TO the prob
able admission OF Oklahoma to state
hood was asked 10y the reporter?
Mr.. Ledbetter replied:
a strong effort has been made e
admit Arizona and New Mexico anC
Oklahoma TO statehood, but / do not
: believe that any one of them will b'
admitted at the present session o
congress. The contest over the
money question in congress Is so terc.
that the goldbug congressman anC
/ senators will not permit any new
states 10 be admitted to the union II