Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-03-19
AROUND THE CAPITOL.
W. ID. Stevens Sketches i'm the st Leuis
Globe Democrat.

years in the house has Just been
exercised in an extraordinary man.
ner by the people of north Texas
Across Red river from these grain
growers and law-abiding citizens is
the great reservation of the Kio-
was, Comanches and Apaches,
known as the Fort Sill country.
1t is a land of wooded mountains,
clear streams and fertile valleys.
Years ago the government, through
commission, made a contract
with the Indians to allot lands in
severalty, take the surplus, pay
for it and open it to white settle
ment. The Fort Sill country is
all that lies between continuous
civilization from Kansas to Texas.
Inaction by congress and the Pc
culiar attitude of the Cleveland ad-
ministration toward the Indian
Territory have lef; the contract
unfulfilled. The Fort Sill country
is still a reservation held by few
Indians and leased at nominal
rental to cattle barons. 1t affords
retreat whence outlaws sally
forth to rob banks and railroad
trains and to commit ali manner
of depredations.
The memorial of which copies
are being received by many con-
gressmen, is ghastly. 1t embraces
three pictures. One OF them pre-
sents the handsome face of a
young man, below which is print
ed in large type:
Frank Dorsey, the murdered
cashier of Wichita Falls, Texas.
who was shot down by Indian Ter
ritory desperadoes February 25,
1896, one of the latest victims of
the gang of outlaws woo inhabit
the United States government-p pro
tected home for criminals, former
ly known as the the Fort Sill coun-
try, in the Indian Territory"
The next picture presents the
outstretched bodies of Foster Craw-
ford and Elmer Lewis, alias 1.-THE
Kid the outlaws. 1t was taken
after they had been lynched for
the murder of the cashier. Be
meath this picture is printed:
The federal government, not
the people of Texas are RESPONSE
ble for the murders committed.
Samples of the many criminals
hatched and protected by the fed
eral government in the Fort Sill
country, Indian Territory, who
kill law-abiding citizens"
The third picture shows another
dead outlaw, his belt of cartridges
still buckled on him and his win
chester by his side. 1t is labeled:
"Jos. 7 Beckham, member of
the gang of outlaws who inhabit
the Fort Sill country, Indian Ter
ritory Beckham and others of
the gang robbed the store of ALI
Bailey, December 26, 1895, in
Wichitf county, Tex, and would
have killed him had he resisted
The outlaws were followed by the
Texas rangers and Beckham met
his death in the fight"
The people of north Texas pc
tition congress for the opening of
The Fort Sill country, and they Of
fer the pictures as reminders of
long-neglected duty.
The time was when an. earnest |
protest from an Arkansas congress
man against the sale of liquor in
the capitol at Washington would
have been considered more notable
than it was yesterday. Temper
ance sentiment has been making
headway in the south. The vice.
president of the Congressional
Temperance Society is a southern
er-John Allen, of Mississippi
Mr. Little. the Arkansas member
who assailed the senate and house
bar rooms so vigorously, is a ma
tive of the state he represents.
His protest was timely. Whisky
used to be served by the capitol
caterers under the name of "cold
tea," and those who bought drank
out of cups. There is no subter-
fuge about the sale at present.
Champagne corks pop loudly, and
all kinds of drinks are served in
The glasses which custom associ-
ates with them. Wine lunches are
given in committee rooms, especi-
ally at the senate end. The res
aurant privileges are much sought
after, and it is because they carry
with them the sale of liquor.
Mr.. Little was right when he
denounced the present condition
is a public disgrace. He possibly
weakened his case, however, when
le concluded with a tribute to the
'obriety of public men, and said it
vas a rare thing to see one of them
The fact is, there
rave been several disgraceful
cenes upon the floor of this con-
,ress, all due to the rent-free bar
ooms established by congress. In
he course OF night session re-
emily western senator was in
he midst of a set speech, when
mother senator slowly arose with
lis hand on the corner of his desk.
The hand slipped; the senator
unged forward, but recovered his
lold on the desk before he went
iown. The senator who was
speaking stopped.
"Ur! Ur! Ur! Ur!" began the
'ther in hesitating tone, as he
iwayed to and fro.
81 entirely agree with the sena-
or from Blank" sang out the one
Who had the floor. with ready wit.
The senator, leaning on his desk,
visited his head and looked SOL
,mnly at the other.
"Thass all ri'," he said, and
,a,,l- i,.o .