The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-04-26
LITTLE TO DOUGLAS.
Writes a Letter on the Question OF Juris-
dictIon and Defines his Position
Wants Local Government.
Editor ARDMoREITE:

Editor ARDAIORETTE:
AS the following letter touches n
question of importance 70 the people
of the territory and as it contains
the personal views of Congressman
J. S. Little on the subject Of court
jurisdiction which have $50 far as !
know not before been made public.
l deem it well worthy Of space in
your columns, believing It win be
read with interest by your subscriber
Very truly yours
CLARENCE =. DOUGLAS.
WASHINGTON, ID. c. April II, 90.
c. B. Douglas, Ardmore, !. T.
My Dear Sir-I had the pleasure
this evening of reading your inter
view in the "ARDMoREITE, . in which
you refer to me in very compliment
tary terms.
l hasten to assure YOU that il comes
like an oasis in the desert to receive
compliments from that country, for
whose betterment l have labored
without firing. If the people of the
territory had acted upon the lines
you have pursued while here / have
no doubt but that desired legislation
would be in force today. But in
stead of that they have uniformly
assaulted Judge Culberson and my.
self, on every public occasion, which
of course weakenS our influence hat
much.
The great "hue and cry has been
over the court bill, claiming the
rights of local government forget
ting that they have no government
at all, and that cur mission is to give
them one.
i can assure YOU that so far as my
personal feelings are concerned ]
would be glad IL the court 1T Fl.
Smith was discontinued in so far as
it has criminal Jurisdiction over the
Indian country. l believe il has
been detrimental to the growth of
the city, and has brought ii into
disrepute when we know Shat Grim
inais convicted there are treated as
citizens Of Arkansas. To my mind
it is moi a question Of choice or
propricty, at this time.
The coarts established in the ter
ritory, if the proposed legislation is
passed, VIII be wholly unable to
transact the business of the terri
tory. The court at Ardmore is, as /
am advised, now more than q year
behind with its business, and it is
evident To all who have observed,
that crime in the Indian Tcrritov
has increased, with great rapiditv,
VII iiin the last II months. and as the
conditions there becoms more strain
ed between the different elements Of
The country, IL will doubtless, for a
time, continue this increase. To
withdraw the power of these outside
courts, with an unlimited number of
deputies and leave the matter wholly
in the hands of the local courts,
with very limited number OF depu-
~ marsEals, ard with no secure
jails, would in my mind, be little
less than criminal upon the part Of
those of us here whose duty il is to
look after these matters.
l am firm in my convictions that
these courts should be continued for
the present but as soon as the wav
can be hewn for local government in
that country every Vestige of their
jurisdiction should be taken away,
and ] for one, when that event
arises, shall gladly lend my aid in
that direction.
In conclusion allow me to say that
feel that your services here have
been invaluable in aid in the lines
of proposed legislation, and / shall
be glad to see you return, even at
this session of congress.
While | feel that You have credited
me beyond my deserts / mast be
allowed to thank YOU very kindly
for what you have said.
With high personal regards, and
best wishes, am, as ever,
Your friend,
JOHN = LITTLE