davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16
CHANGES THAT HAVE CONE.

To say the very least of the con-
ditions and prospects of the Cher
okee nation. and of the five tribes
in this territory, there is a great
deal of unrest and uncertainty con-
nected with the immediate future.
OF late years it has become abso-
lutely necessary for each of these
Indian netions to maintain a
strong delegation of their leading
men in Washington throughout
the entire session of congress for
the purpose of fighting for
the very life of these Indian gov
ernments. Just how long this
can be successfully kept up is a
matter of very grave conjecture,
even among the Indians them
selves, but there is one thing very
sure: the prospects of long-con-
tinued Indian autonomy are get
ting less and less as the years
go by.
A few short years ago there were
no United States courts within the
limits of this territory and there
were plenty of people in those
days who were willing TO say that
the United States government
could not extend its jurisdiction
over this country without the con-
sent of the Indians. But the courts
came and have from time to time
been enlarged until now they have
we'll nigh absorbed our tribal
courts.
Five years ago if any one had
been so foolish as to have yentured
the assertion that even our towns
would be incorporated under Unit
ed States laws and taken possession
of by United States citizens this
soon, he would have been put
down as an idiot. To fully under
stand the real drift of events
in regard to these Indian nations,
and to realize that they must sure
ly give place to a changed form Of
government and TO a differant sys-
tenn, one has only to compare the
present with the not distant past.
The forces that are at work con-
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16

stantly looking to the destruction
and absorption of all tribal gov
ernments in the limits of America
are not the caprices or fancies of
any particular school of political
economists nor of any particular
political party but the trend of
public sentiment that is governed
solely by expediency. 1t will not
add anything to the glory of the
United States to make a state out
of this territory, but conditions are
such that it has in the opinion OF
many congressman become abso-
lutely expedient to do so. The
anomalous condition of the Indian
Territory has doubtless attracted
more attention from the outside
world than the mere fact that it
was an Indian country, under an
Indian government.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16
The Permit Law.

SEC. 65S. All permits issued
must state the particular kind of
labor to be performed, whether
agricultural or mechanical, ami no
permit shall be issued authorizing
a citizen to hire a non. citizen to
run, herd or manage cattle, or as
bOokkeeper, clerk or manager'of any
mercantile establishment, and any
person, a citizen of this nation,
violating any of the provisions OF
this act shall be deemed guilty of
a misdemeanor, and upon convic-
tion be fined in a sum not less than
one hundred dollars, nor more
than three hundred dollars, and
imprisoned not less than three nor
more than twelve months.
The clerks of the several dis
tricis shall not issue permits to
any persons except to "adults"
april 10, 1888, and no person
shall be authorized to employ non-
citizen laborers or farmers on more
than two places or Improvements,
and any person violating this pro-
vision shall be punished by i'm
prisonment for any term not less
than one year, and not exceeding
five years, at the discretion of the
court trying the case .-(November
25, 1887
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16
FT. SMITH LETTER.
An Exceptionally Interesting Lot OF
Court Items.

A very interesting incident took
place in the United States court
room Tuesday and the room was
crowded For the third and last
time Cherokee Bill was sentenced
to the gallows.
John Thornton is very much
pleased with the action of the su-
preme court in granting a new
trial.
The arguments in the Davenport
appeal, in the supreme court, are
assigned for the second Monday in
next term.
Judge Parker was again turned
down by the supreme court Mon
day, this time in the Frank Carver
case, in which the judgment was
set aside and new trial granted
The opinion was by Justice Fuller.
Judg, Parker made a ruling OF
great importance to the Indians
Friday. George Vann, a Chero-
kee freedman, and William Hicks
were indicted for cutting timber.
Hicks set up the plea that he was
cutting under permission of Vann,
a citizen. Judge Parker held that
there was no jurisdiction as to
Vann, but that citizen could not
delegate his right to a nOn-citizen
and that Hicks was guilty.
The Bob Hall case is one of un-
usual interest Hall is charged with
the robbery of his father-in law,
Judge Riddle, of the Choctaw ma
ton, of 81, 800. Joe Cuner and
Bob Christian took the money
away from the old man, but Cnner
says Hall planned it, accompanied
them to a point near the house
and came back and instructed them
how to proceed. Cuner says Hall
got the larger portion of the
money.
James Sineyard, assault; verdict
from box, not guilty.
Bill Little, contempt; fined $50.
He is deputy of the Paris court
and attempted to spirit away a
witness who was in attendance
upon court.
John Barker and Bell Barker,
assault; verdict not guilty.
Henry Kelley, larceny; same.
Ed Christopher. assault; verdict
guilty.
Frank Stewart, selling TO Ind
ians; plea guilty; 80 days and 500.
John Still, assault; IS months.
John II. Kelley and John Smith,
larceny; verdict, Smith guilty,
Kelley not guilty. Smith years.
George Mills, mailing obscene
letter; plea guilty and fined $50.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16
The Incorporated Town of Wagon err.

Wagner is a municipal govern
ment, with full-fedged authority
to make laws, collect taxes, to sue
and be sued. Judge Springer last
Saturday by order of his court Gre
ated the Incorporated town of
Wagner under the statutes OF Ar
kansas, Mansfeld's Digest, chap
ter 70, part l, which the court
holds to be applicable to the Ind
ian Territory. Judge Springer
has before this incorporated the
town of Miami, which is a townsite
in the affiliated tribes, owned by
a non- citizen townsite company,
and the land is individual prop
erty. Wagner is the first instance
in the Indian country proper that
incorporation has been effected.
Saturday a plat OF the town, to-
gether with long list of petition
ers praying for the incorporation
was presented in open court, and
Judge Springer issued the incor-
poratiBg order to j. d. Freeman,
Rudolph Howerton, William Jack
son, Sam Powell and +. E. Smith,
in behalf of the petitioners. The
powers of the incorporated town
Of Wagner are defined as follows:
Ordered that said town of Wagner
shall be and is hereby declared a
body polite, and corporate under
the name and style of the incorpor-
ated town of Wagner, capable
to sue aud be sued, to contract and
be contracted with, to acquire,
hold and possess property, to have
a common seal and to change and
alter the same at pleasure, and to
exercise such other powers and
privileges as are incid to cor
porations of like character or de-
gree, not inconsistent with chap
ter 20, division l, of Mansfield's
digest OF the statutes of Arkansas,
as adopted by congress, approved
May 2, 1890.
The boundaries OF the town are
as follows: Initial point being the
center of the crossing Of Main and
Cherokee streets in said town,
thence due west one mile, thence
due north one mile to point of be-
ginning Of said boundary line.
thence due east two miles, thence
due south two miles, thence due
west two miles, thence due north
to place OF beginning.
The case may come up again
within thirty days to hear contests
against the order -Muskogee
Phoenix.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16

This Ger true tale would be in
complete if l failed to state how
she reached Muskogee. She ex-
pected to see her uncle as she got
off the train. An utter stranger in
a strange land, she was a little
nervous and excited, and her uncle
not being in sight, she did not
know what to do, when she caught
sight of DR.. Harris who had reach
ed home in safety, and before she
could control herself she sprang
to him and just hugged him then
and there, she was so glad to see
a friend. The good doctor was 60
ing to take her to his home when
the uncle appeared on the scene
and the curtain drops.
r n
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16
LARGELY THEIR OWN FAULT.

One of the most potent reasons
why the government will not lis
ten to the representatives of the
FIVE nations in this territory, and
allow the Indian to dictate terms
in the settlement of questions
where citizenship is involved, is
simply because the Indians them
selves are not consistent. Take
the Cherokee nation for instance;
the greatest question to be dealt
with is the intruder question. And
it is fact beyond controversy that
the Cherokees themselves cannot
agree as to who are really intrud-
ers, and who should be removed
from the country. If the govern
ment were to take the list of the
so-called intruders promulgated by
the Cherokee authorities, a copy
of which has been furnished the
secretary of the interior, and re-
move the persons therein named,
they would remove persons who
never claimed citizenship in the
Cherokee nation in their lives and
are here in the employ of citizens
OF the nation, and for whom per-
mits have been issued. The dele
CATION declared to the president that
they oily wanted those removed
from the country who claim citi-
zenship and to which they are not
entitled, when at the same time
they furnish him with a list en-
bracing persons for whom they
themselves have issued permits.
Can the Cherokee nation hope 10
gain or hold the esteem of the
president or of congress when they
openly and knowingly make such
misrepresentation as these? If
the Cherokee nation would stick
to facts they would have fine
case to 60 before congress with but
when it distorts the truth it for
feits the respect of its friends. The
delegation has presented the presi-
dent with list of names of per-
sons whom they are willing to go
on record as saying are intruders,
when the facts are that every men,
Der of the delegation knows TO a
moral certainty that many OF these
people are now in the employ of
some of our own citizens under per-
nit issued by the authorities of the
nation. Is such action consistent?
Is such warranted by the facts in
the case? Nay verify, but the
whole intruder matter is looked
upon with distrust and disapprov-
al by the president and by con-
gress, for the sole reason that in
their eagerness to get somebody
elected from the country they
have overdone the thing. The
United States is, We believe, dis
posed to dispossess of the realty oc-
cupied every person in the Chero-
kee nation who can be shown to be
an intruder in the accepted sense
of the term. If these people are
not removed from the country
bodily, as per agreement, the Cher
okees will certainly be placed in
possession of their land again, SO
when the final adjustment comes
there will be no intruders, because
the United States government
shall have so declared. Suppose
the United Stated should 90 TO
work and remove from the coun-
try all those who the authorities
declare are intruders and then it
would develop that many had
been elected that never claimed
citizenship? 1t would be a most
embarrassing and unfortunate
affair for the nation
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16
Israel Carr, murder; verdict not

Israel Carr, murder; verdict not
guilty.
John Kingfsher, violating inter-
course law; plea guilty; 80 days
and sl00:
Willie johnson, ,alias Overton, as
sault; indictment dismissed.
BhZ Lucky, Frank Smith and
Henry Smith, obstructing railway;
verdict guilty.
Charles Turner, receiving stolen
goods; continued generally.
Bill Cook, larceny of money of
United States and robbery; same.
John Dasher, Soda Fife and John
Postoak, robbery; nolle PROSE-.
Robert Hall, robbery and receiv-
ing stolen property; jury out.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16
NEW BILLS INTRODUCED.

A resolution has been intro
duced in the senate and will doubt
less be adopted continuing the
Platt sub b-Indian committee. Sem
ators Platt and Higgins were here
i'll 1894 and gathered a great deal
of intormation-to them new.
A bill was introduced in the
senate on the 9th by Mr.. Teller
providing as follows: That the
sum of s12, 900 together with inter-
est thereon at five per centum per
annum from the first day of Janu-
ary, 1914, be, and the same is
hereby, appropriated, out Of any
money In the treasury not other
wise appropriated, to be immedi-
ately available, in satisfaction of
all demands by the estate Of Blu
ford West, deceased. against the
Cherokee nation, for compensation
or damages arising from the dis
possession of said West by said
Cherokee nation of the property
known as the Bluford West salire,
situated in the Indian Territory,
and said amount, with said inter-
est thereon, shall be charged
against the invested funds of the
Cherokee nation, and shall be de
Quoted from said invested funds.
And the secretary of the treasury
shall pay the said amount and in
terest TO the administrator of the
estate of said Bluford West, de-
ceased, and shall take a receipt
therefor in full satisfaction of said
demand.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, has
introduced a bill to ensble the
Greek and Seminole Indians to 90
into the court of claims to adjudi-
cate some financial transactions
between them.
Senator Cockrell has introduced
bill granting right ofway through
Indian Territory to the Fort Smith
branch of the Kansas City, Pitts
burg and Gulf railroad.
Mr.. Teller has introduced in the
senate bill to abolish the office of
commissioner of Indian affairs and
assistant commissioner of Indian
affairs, and to create in lieu there
of board Of Indian commission
ers. 1t provides that the presi-
dent shall appoint from civil life
two Indian commissioners, to hold
office for four years, and of differ
ent political parties; and to detail
an officer of the regular army TO
act with the commissioners above
provided for; the pay of the CON-
missioners 10 be $1,000 per annum.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16

THOSE who oppose allotment
of lands in the Cherokee nation,
have never recognized the fact that
those who favor it have as much
right to their opinions as do others.
The fact is,a very large portion of
the Cherokees favor allotment; in
deed there are very few of our
leading men who, at one time and
another, have not spoken or writ
ten in favor of division of the
land
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16
General Harrison on the Presidency.

Ex-President Benjamin Harri-
son will discuss 1.-The presidential
office"very comprehensively in his
"This Country of Ours" series, in
in the forthcoming February
Ladies' Home Journal. He will
detail the provisions and methods
of electing a chief magistrate, and
will have much TO say bearing up
on the eligibility Of president
for reelection; will give his views
as to the length of the presidential
term, and express rather decided
opinions relative to the annoyance
to which presidents are subjected
from Office seekers. The article is
practical, based upon experience
and observation, and is very time
ly. General Harrison believes
that the fears Expressed by the
trainers of our constitution) that
the power of the office is such as
to enable an ambitious incumbent
to secure an indefinite succession
Of terms have never been realized.
sin practice the popular opinion
has limited the eligibility of the
president to one reelection. But
some of our leading and most
thoughtful public men have chal-
leDged the wisdom of the four
year term, and have advocated six
years, usually accompanied with a
prohibition of second term. And
unless some method can be devils
ed by which a less considerable
part of the four-year term must be
given to hearing applicants for Of
flee and to making appointments,
1t would be wise to give the presi-
dent, by extending the time, a bet
ter chance to show what he can do
for the country. 1t must be ad-
mitted, also, that ineligibility to
second term will give to the execu-
tive action greater independence.
1t seems unlikely. however, that
any change in the presidential
term will be made unless some un-
expected event should stir into
action thought that is now of a
theoretical rather than a practical
cast, ~
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16

TUESDAYS Daily Capital at Tah-
lequah comes out in pretty strong
terms of denunciation of Secretary
Ivey. just what the charge agsinst
Gus SIS, deponent saith not, but
one would infer from reading the
heading that rape had been COM
mitted on the treasury. 1t is to be
hoped that the plucky little daily
will be more specific and tell it all
before letting up But the idea
that any of the school funds should
stick to Ivey's fingers will strike
the average Cherokee citizen like
a clap OF thunder out of a clear
sky(?). OF course the people have
the utmost confidence in the i'm
maculate intef rity of Gus Ivey.
Unlock the treasury and turn
him in.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16

THE Advocate prints the "Advo-
cate law" nothing of an abusive
or partisan character shall be ad-
mitted to its columns" at the
head of its editorial page. and yio-
lates it in the same issue 1t hasn't
been many weeks since Waddie
Hudson asked the fraierna, help
of The CAIEFrAIN in securing the
position he now oceupies-and got
it too. Hudson, ingratiiude is
contemplate, even in a man of
your calibre.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16

ACCORDING to the decision OF
Watt Starr, district judge, those
Cherokees who have tax en- the oath
of allegiance to the United States.
are not within the jurisdiction of
any court, as the United States
refuses to try them.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16

CHIEF MAyEs' letter to the pres
ident OF the United States is brim
full of good sense and ought to be
sufficient to convince'the great faith
er that the Cherokees have some
rights left that ought to command
the respect of Congress. Such a
plain statement of fact and figures
will not only secure the ear of the
president, but may cause congress
to stop and weigh the subject
carefully.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16
WITH the Transvaal war cloud

WITH the Transvaal war clouds
in the east, the insurgents in Cuba,
and the infraction of the Monroe
doctrine in South America, to
say nothing of the outbreak of the
school board at Tahlequah. we have
quite enough excitement for the
most fastidious. The report of
the Dawes commission is a decid-
edly tame affair along side of so
many ether bigger and more excit.
ing things.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16

TEE Daily Capital, at Table
quah is justly indignant at the
commission appointed to meet the
Dawes commission for sending 10
St. Louis to get their printing
done. The chances are that be-
fore another six months some of
the gentlemen who compose this
commission will want the services
of the home press. 1t is mighty
poor rule that wont work both
ways.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16

WHEN the delegation and JEFF
Watts met accidentally at the in
terror department last week it was
not unlike the situation when two
young gentlemen call upon the
same young lady at the same time.
Watts, however, seems to have
had the first opportunity to talk
and didn't neglect to use it.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16

The committee on territories
have adopted a schedule which
operates unfavorably to Oklahoma.
1t fixes Saturdays and Wednesdays
for its days of meeting and will
take up statehood bills in the ord
er of their introduction, which will
place Oklahoma last, as the bills
4 for the admission of New Mexico
and Arizona were introduced
first
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16

TIE principal qualification. and
in faci about the only che it would
seem, necessary for the applicant
for public school before the
board of education at Tahleouah,
was TO have voted the National
ticket at the election last August.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16

For the information of our read
trs we will state that the clerk law
will GO into full force and effect on
the l4,h day of March, 1896. There
is only one obstacle that will inter
iere with this law, and that is, dis
trict clerks may legally issue per
mits for one year before the law
becomes effective .-Tahlequah Ar
row.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16

The indications are getting
stronger anu stronger that there
will be no intruders removed from
this nation, but the chance is
pretty good that they will have to
reIinquish their holdings.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16

EVERY one is enquiring about
the news from Washington. and
the average citizen confidently ex-
poets something to drap" most
any time.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16

Do YOU know of any first class
position open 10 the man who is
addicted to the use of strong drink?
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-16
Late Washington Dispatches.

Following are the dispatches
from Washington to the Globe
Democrat, dated 11th: