davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17
THE PRESS CONVENTION.

A meeting of the executive com.
miitee of the Indian Territory
Press association was held at South
McAlester Friday. The annual
convention was called for August
IL and IA, at Atoka, and an excur-
sion determined upon to the Nash.
vile centennial. Arrangements
for the transportation have already
begun and there seems no pros
pect of the members and their la
dies having to walk. 1t is pro-
posed to leave Atoka at a very ear
ly hour Sunday morning and come
to Wagner; stay there about an
hour and take the Valley road for
Memphis, there the Nashville, Chat
ianooga & StI.opis for Nashville
Thicn Is reached Monday. En-.
deasofs will be made to arrange
several side trips from that city,
including possibly one to the Nam.
moth Cave and perhaps to Look
out Mountain The committee
will try and arrange a program for
the convention calculated TO be Of
value as we'll as pleasure to every
newspaper man in the Indian Ter
ritory, and invites and urges every
legitimate newspaper man TO join
the association and take part. II
you are in the business, you are
eligible and are wanted, but you
cannot get letter from the man
who runs paper, crediting you as
his representative, and get the as
sociation's help to impose upon
the railroads and other institutions
extending courtesies. Send your
application and a dollar to B. F.
Jobe, secretary and treasurer,
South McAlesier, 1. T., and state
If you will go upon the excursion,
and whether you will be accom-.
panied by your wife, mother, sis
ter or sweetheart, as it is necessary
TO give an intelligent answer as to
how large the party will be-and
thelarger the better if they are le-
climate newspaper people. Let's
bave good time and see if we
can't do something to help our
selves, and help each other at the
same time.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17

THE question of the payment Of
the occupation tax recently impos-
ed upon the citizens of our munici
paliiy by the city council has been
the subject Of discussion in bust
ness circles this week, but with
what final conclusion we are not
advised. At a casual glance il
seems remarkable that the matter
Of payment OF what seems TO be a
perfectly legitimate tax should be
a subject about which there would
be any halting whatever, but some
of our most substantial citizens
and heaviest taxpayers give what
they consider a valid reason for
hesitation. They say they do not
object to being taxed, but are
doubtful as TO what use the money
will be put after il is collected. If
Il is to be expended upon the
streets or any other needed i'm.
proyement Of the city, well and
good; but if It is to go for the sup.
port Of a gang Of street loafers
who are too lazy TO work and too
vicious to engage in any legitimate
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17

A CLOSE friend of Hon. L. B.
Bell was interviewed by repre-.
sentative of this paper recently rel
lative to the political plans of that
gentleman in the campaign now
opening in Delaware district. He
said: Eyes, / think Bell will run
for the senate again this year. We
are just waiting developments and
If the signs come right he will an
nounce himself" "What party?"
"Well, none 10 particular; he is
going to run on his brain again; he
has never said much about being
honest in any of his campaigns; in
fact, the people care nothing about
that anyway. At the proper time,
after the conventions are over, we
will quietly bring him out in op.
position to the old parties and
don't intend TO spend much mon.
ey this time. We expect to nulli-
fly Bill Davis influence by telling
the people that Davis is in favor
OF the Delaware claim; this will
also weaken Pete Hastings, as will
also the fact that he is brother of
Bill Hastings. The chances of
Hoolie's election this time are
good 1 think. "
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17
w. r. BADGETT. VINITA

8. The Downing party renews
ito fidelity to all citizens of the
Cherokee nation, both by blood
and adoption, and recognizes that
one great object Of the Cherokee
nation must be ever to keep peace
snd friendship among her own cit.
Izens, and to keep alive in every
citizen the true fire Of patriotism,
the genuine love of their country,
that our government must be main
tanned by the united efforts OF the
entire people,. The party there
fore guarantees equal civil, polit-
cal aud property rights to all citi.
zens as pledged 20 them under the
constitution and laws Of the Cher
okee nation and treaty stipulation.
The body polite Of the Cherokee
nation consists of its citizens, TO.
wit: Cherokees by blood, adopted
Whites, Shawnees, Delawares,
Freedmen and Creeks, and must
be one people with a mutual in
terest, the party recognizes the
fact that the destiny of our country
rests in the hands Of the entire
people, and its great purpose will
be to make every citizen feel and
know that this is his home; that
here his life, liberty and property
will be protected.
Respectfully,
JOE. NJ. LAHAY,
JAS S. DAVENPORT,
E. B. WRIGHT,
GEORGE w. WALKER,
DANIEL WHITMIRE.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17
Admission Free! Refreshments Free!

business, then in that event it be.
comes moral question as TO
whether it ought TO be paid or not.
The advice of THE CHfEFTAIN in
this emergency is that the tax
should be promptly paid, as it
seems TO be legitimate, and the
money is doubtless badly needed.
But when it is paid, those who pay
should demand its prompt and
legitimate expenditure and full
accounting made Ct every dollar of
it. The time for the loose, Hoolie
Bell methods OF collecting money
and making no public accounting
of it should be terminated right
now, once for all.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17

have no better friend than / am
and they know ii. IL will always
crafty me, when / can do so, to
be of service TO the Cherokee ma
tion or any Of its citizens, but this
does not mean that | would advise
the nation to deny to any OF its
adopted citizens their property.
rights. Such a denial has been
bad policy before, and II will be
bad policy now. The Cherokee.
commission is charged with grave
responsibility. | have confidence
in their wisdom. and sent the best
thought Of which l was capa-
BILE for their consideration. L
could do no more, and no.
citizen who thinks his views might
be OF service, could do less. |
earnestly hope that, in their de-
liberations, they may receive. di-.
vine guidance and act for the best
interests of the people.
The story that ! was angry be-
cause the Cherokee authorities re-
fused to enroll me as citizen in
the last census, because | lived in
Muscogee, Is not true. felt no
anger about IL. / regarded il as an
accident, and an error on the part
Of the authorities; that is all. of
course, cutting a man off from the
rolls, who had been regarded for
several years as a Cherokee citizen,
would seem TO relieve him Of any
special allegiance. Not 20 with
me. / would be glad 10 do any
thing | could 10 DO of service AZ !
the Cherokee nation, but my use
BE is impaired by the impor-
|&aI responsibilities l have assum-
|I |bewhere. Yours respectfully,
RoDERr l.. OWEN.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17

BEFORE pledging support TO any
candidate for a seat in the national
council this year it would be well
for the voter to enquire as to the
views of the candidate on the Del
aware claim, the railroad claim
and proposition OF treating or not
treating with the Dawes commits
sion. The man that is not right
on these great questions should in
no case be elected.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17
CHEROKEEs TOO SWIFT FOR THEN.

If the sentiment of the majority
is needed there will be no agree
ment made with the Dawes COM
mission until the various claims
against the Cherokee nation are
settled definitely. To make an
agreement to relinquish tribal gov.
ernment, with the railroad and the
Delaware claims unsettled, would
be an act of folly that our Chero-
kee commission cannot afford to
be guilty of. 1t is argued that if
we do not agree, the recent act of
congress abolishing our courts will
go into effect January 1st, 1898,
and that our tribal government
will be practically at an end.
That is doubtless true, but if the
Cherokees refuse to be a party to
the transaction and it is not done
satisfactorily, she will still have
her remedy in the courts. She
will not be shut oil from any re-
dress as would be the case in the
event Of treaty to which our peo-
pie consent.
There is, beyond all doubt, a
growing belief that it would be
vastly safer for the United States
government TO deal with this ques-
tion direct, as it has started ia to
do in amendments to the appro-
priation bill providing for the abo-
lition Of the Indian courts and a
curtailment Of the legislative pow
er of the national council. We be.
lieve this to be the most far.reach-
ing and important step yet taken
in the solution of the Indian ques-
ton. It is a feasible and logical
way Of dealing with a vexed ques-
ton. The masses Of the Chero-
KEGS will never be satisfied with
an agreement reached which any
members of the tribe have a hand
in shaping, no matter how fair
and equitable it may be. They
have been misled and plundered
so often by their trusted leaders
that no act Of these men will
ever go unchallenged, and all the
ills for generation to come will
be charged to them. No; let us
deal directly with the government
and not be a party to transaction
that may not be satisfactory.
Give the Cherokees their land and
money in seyeraliy just as quick
as possible, and don't try to COM
promise them by Juggling in any
unreasonable or unjust claims.
These people own this country
jointly and equally, and they want
il divided with that idea in view.
To do this il will be necessary to
steer clear Of the townsiters and
other .schemers that are claiming
special privileges and vested rights.
The attempt Of the government
to deal with the five tribes through
the medium Of the Dawes commits
sion has been, and will continue TO
be a pronounced failure, for the
simple reason that these Indian
politicians are "too swift" for that
commission. The Indians have
defeated the Dawes commission in
every battle; they have led them
from one labyrinth TO another un-
Ill today IT is a notorious fact that
The commission don't know "where |
Il is at" 70 handle the Dawes
commission has been simply past
lime for the Cherokee leaders, and
has been a task with more fun
han difficulty. The only real big
steal they ever made was almost
before the very eyes Of the commits J
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17
A CHEROKEE PAYMENT SCANDAL,
Special Indian Agent Dickson Charged
With Many Irregularities.

Washington, June 9.-The "doc-
uments in the case' of the scandal
in the payment of the Cherokee
freedmen at Fort Gibson as report
ed to congress by Secretary Bliss,
reveal peculiar condition Of at.
fairs.
From the correspondence il ap.
pears that FEBRUARY 10 instructions
were issued to James G.. Dickson,
special Indian agent, to proceed
with the payment Of sS5S. .9s1 to
Cherokee freedmen under the pro.
visions of an act Of congress,
March 3, 1898. and under a decree
OF the court of claims in the case
of Nose Whitmore ct al VS. the
Cherokee nation and the United
States. The payment was to be
made upon the basis of census
roll prepared by a commission
consisting of William Clifton, Rob-
ert II. Kern and William p.
Thompson, and was surrounded
with many restrictions, chief Of
which were that under no condi-
ton was the agent to recognize a
power Of attorney, no arrangement
was TO be made in favor of any
trader, and no creditor of the freed
men was to be allowed in the vi
cinity Of the building when the
payment was in progress,
Payment was begun, apparently,
about March 10, and March 26
Judge Springer of the court at vi.
nila issued an order directing
Dickson to pay under the powers
Of attorney presented to him. The
next day Dickson reported this
action to the department and asked
advice. IL came out later that
Dickson had been aware of this
proceeding March l6, that he did
not enter an appearance, that when
he notified the department Of the
courts action it bad adjourned for
the term.
In the meantime complaints
came to the department that the !
payment was not being conducted |
properly, and upon these Secre-
tary Bliss asked #. G. Armstrong
of the Dawes commission to inves- |
tigate and report. He did so, and |
upon his recommendation the pay.
ment was stopped May 4 and Dick
son was relieved by Secretary |
Bliss.
: Inspector Mclaughlin and Cap
tain j C.. Galbrath, first cavalry, |
who had been assigned to duty in
connection with the payment, ad-
vised the department that Dickson
was arranging to make collection
for certain favored creditors; that
his conduct had forfeited conf.
dence, and recommened that il be
taken out of his hands at once. j.
b. Clogston wired that Dickson had
told the freedmen that only those I
who would agree to pay +. B. Sew
ers, who held power of attorney
for about 100000, would be paid,
and that Sewers was admitted TO
the room.
In his letter TO the department
Mr.. Armstrong asserted that from
the commencement the proceeding
had been unsatisfactory. The
rolls were incorrect, and should be
corrected before resuming pay
ment.
II am convinced that crooked.
ness from commencement Of the
roll making, year ago, TO date
has been practiced by some parties
connected with IT, be said. He
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17
Mr.. Owen Not Angry.

sr. LOUIS, June nth. logs
EDITOR IEDIAN CHlEFTAIE, Dear
Sir;-Friends advise me that old
political adyersaries are circulat.
ing a false story that | am un-
friendly TO the Cherokee nation
in the pending negotiations with.
the United States. | wish 70 en-
ter a vigorous protest against this
scandalous story. The Cherokeea
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17

The country will surely not be
agitated over the attempt that is
being made in certain quarters to
exhonerate A. e. Ivey from the
charge Of embezzlement Of large
amount Of school funds while act
ing in the capacity OF secretary Of
the board of educstion. Ivey and
his friends seem to be trying to de.
fleet public attention from his
case Of misplaced confidence to the
big freedmen steal, evidently 60
ing ON the theory, that the magni-
tude Of the one justiies the other.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17

IT is understood that the nego-
tiations with the Dawes commits
sion are off indefinitely and the
Cherokee commission gone home.
@. V. Rogers was seen at Chelsea
yesterday afternoon and stated ii
as bis opinion that no agreement
would be reached. The Dawes
commission are soon to turn their
attention to the Creeks.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17

The present indications are that
the work OF the Dawes commission
will not be pushed to any great ex.
tent with the Cherokees till after
the August elections. The Nation
al party is very anxious to get
still further hold Of the govern
ment. and viii endeavor TO crush
the Downings this summer on ac-
count OF 100000 freedman appro-
prlqlion. However, the facts seem
20 b. that number Of prominent
Nationals were IN the deal and it
win DO difficult 70 sadale il on
either party 10 The yindicalion Of
Che other.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17

The spectacle Of the Dawes COM
mission and the Cherokee commits
sion waiting for the return from
Washington Of the fullblood dele
CATION is as remarkable as it is un-
usual. Never before in the history
Of the nation perhaps did the full
blood element have so much to say
in shaping their destiny and that
of the whole tribe as now. 1t has
generally been conceded that the
recent pilgrimage to the capital Of
the American government will do
the cause of ultimate reconcilia-
tion to the impending changes that
must soon come to their people,
good. II is believed that the full
bloods will now understand that
the contest is hopeless one and
that the struggle had best be end.
ed as speedily as possible.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17
DOWNING CONVENTION.
coOWeescSOWee Ticket Selected and
Platform Built.

The Downing convention was
held at Claremore Tuesday and
" ednesday Of last week, John +.
Warren, was chairman and T. A.
Chandler secretary. The ticket
and platform are given below;
For SeDate-Joe NJ. LaHay and
ID. w. yann.
For Council-E. B. Wright
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17

sion. No; the part of wisdom
would be for the government 10
call the commission home; it is too
slow for the Cherokees.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17

HusbandBeen shopping?
Wfe--Yes
Husband-Been economical2
Wfe-So much so that felt positively ashamed
of myself
Husband-Well how much money have you cfta =
We-Oh, haven't any money left but you ought
to see what bargains got.
Husband-Where did you go?
We-To
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17

A GENTLEMAN in this city owns
a vacant lot in ElReno, Oklahoma,
worth not exceeding one hundred
dollars. Last Monday he received
a statement of taxes due for one
year, on said lot, to the amount of
s43.75, and on another lot of less
value in another Oklahoma
town the taxes were s27.70.
There is food for thought in this
and'the people Of the Indian Ter.
ritory should steer clear OF any al
lianoe with tax-ridden Oklahoma.
To be annexed to that territory in
the event of stat 70 ood would mean
ruin soon and swift and complete.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17
IS. S.
COBB'S.

Husband-You are wise. He buys for cash and
sells for cash You pay no bad debts.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17

Dried Blueberries worth 20c for Observation-Disclosures.
80 pounds best Navy Beans for ammonium. .... 100
Full 81 lb Bucket Syrup for 81
(These full weights like the 40c syrup offered by
other merchants which weigh lbs half gallon less)
Bucket Jelly
Evaporaed Apples, per pound
gallon of Apples for %
Bananas per dozen 10
Lemons, per dozen II
Candy, pounds for 10
15c Baking Powder for. %
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-17

They have on display in the Grocery Store the
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-02-22

charging me any interest ! says to him.
says ], 'You'n have To excuse me"
THAT was right, you did perfectly right
simmons. The man was trying to insult
That was tho time / come To YOU"
But colonel he didn't 80 about il that
way. Don't you reckon YOU could tell
when anybody was trying TO insult you?
That was the tims | come TO YOU
Il charged you interest. didn't 7. Sim
mons?"
you did. colonel fer a fact"
TIN this kind Of a man, simmons" re-
marked Mr. Gossett with q touch of sim
cere pride and with a man do business
When do him favor it must be outside
of businessIts mixing the two things up
that keeps so many people poor"
W nat two things, colonel%' gravoly IN
quirod Simmons.
Why the doing Of business aud-er-the
doing Of favors."
"Oh. / see" said Mr. simmons rs - -
great light had been turned on the matter
Then he laughed ANA continued: yes. colo
mel l borrowed the money from YOU and
Just about that time the fever taken me
DOWN and II IL hadn't a been fer Addison
1NDeic'"hDie the note / gave you would
nave swallowed my house and land"
Is that so|' inquired Mr. Gossett
ASK my Wife" replied AR simmons.
"One day, while / was out of nv head
with the fever, Addison Abercronbie ne
r1d by and saw my wife setting on the
front steps. Jest boo-hooiLg-you know
how Wlmmen VIII do. colonel; Il they amt
a-tawln' they're a-cryin So Addison ABB
ercrombie he ups and asks her what's tho
matter, ana Jennie she tells him. He got
right or his horse and come I'm and set
by my bed the better part of the morning
Ana all that time there was a-running
on about notes and a-fring Of my troubles
IN the air. SO the upshot of the business
was that Addison Abercrombie left the
money there to pay the note and left
word for me to pay him back when I got
good and ready; and Jennie hadn't hardly
dried her eyes before here come a nigger
on horseback with a basket on his arm
ana in the basket was four bottles Of wine.
Wine! Why, colonel, it was worse'n wine
Jennie says that If any one of the bottles
had "A had load of buckshot IN 1t the
roof would "a been blowed off when the
stopper flew out. And. colonel, II ever
you feel like taking right smart of exer-
else list pass my house some day and
stick your head over the palngs and tell
Jennie that Addison AbcrcrombIe's got
streak of meanness IN him"
Have you ever paid Abererombieo' Mr.
Gossett inquired. His voice was harsh ard
business like.
II was laying off to catch this Niger Of
yours and pay him some on account" re-
piled Mr.. Simmons.
why, It has been three years since you
paid me-" suggested Mr. Gossett.
Two years or sech matter" remarked
Mr.. Simmons complacently.
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-02-22

.-,,
men mats the reason You think Alb
eicl'ihple alh harooriuS my nlgSerE in
qu.re" AIT. Gossctt scornfully.
but, colonel drawled Mt Simmons.
what under the sun ever got tae -iee
in your head that Addison ADerc.o
Is harboriua vour nigeer?.'
IL ts sjr1,,. ~ FL. IN, d. Il, o;a-.s--
.,.ii.l Ia, -, IN I'll =, f,-.,- III,
H'bs+I on ti'e 'l"c n anu t"N'un \ "'-' ~.
he thinks ia sell II the nSSer u stay 1T tee
t.,.t.,rf,,,, 49,. ,,;..- .,l ,,,..r tt..r rl..t
-','7 '''' '''07 ~.
70 hi''" ~ "l' i'S "N il'~7'ia 'ii.' ''-
y"iler tapTt'liiiol' '""lt htt" q 'il''i.
ne sets lie comes, nut ht doit go -i'
the Niger quarters Now, where ooeS ne
GoE'
Yes where said MIR. GossetlS SON
George, who up TO that moment tad taken
10 part i'm the conversation. Three times
this month I've dealt out an extra rasher
of bacon 70 two OF our hands ana they lci
rh,. so mo tale
1T looks quarc." Mr.. Simmons admitted.
ohm ~ 1i,ra .4 ,-,tt'r. l.ortl A,itf4.n Al,..-
,.,,,,l,t 80 -. -, ~, ',.l., +. ..,--..t,..',.
- ~ "a - -
IieASL' - -ie -''l.. =" '-7e -.
Too''1 I - - u - 80, ~ 49,
maj h., .3g.i h.lis,.. IN r,,n,.,,,- ,-f.-.-.r -
,i,is e',' ~. i',t 49, +
=, p tll, .'l' summons eou'0 muster az
rhe moment.
No, remarked Mr. tossett. sarcasile'li-
~ ms hSEeIS doh take ~ ms M"t17 90
cause they DO ass they blamed please at
home. Ii sets my teeth on edge To- see the
way things are run ON this plantation
Why / could take The stun that's htmg
away here ana get r+ch on II IN five years.
It, "A scandal
81 beliey, Won - asscnted his SON George
=. believe" asstutvd his son George du,i-
dutffullv
Cbunit,. Ptlev baarI This co-.,-4rsatisn by-
s9strb.s Inn ~ caurhf ina 9r5ft ~ H.
Wb9r H. ro,,,a,lbar...f of il vvas fb9t SOM,
~ Lts f.1lo,- s,.,.,ar.s were ready H. rsJ
ail INV lr..,,- f,r .to .vfr3 t.r.t-H.4..- ~
ba.rin tho rsvt ruoruins.-aud il u-ls, now
ceffiur along toward dawn. H.. wanted To
V.arn Aaron ,e4in ne ,.,,-ed esnat.i.sIIy-
=, IN -, SO ,t1raa mon ,-a,., sitti,,e-
~ ~ f.,,n VIM for Sin, Tuf MS
- t.-,-'..t.l -,l, 49, - -,.,,r.....t,
W 10 1,t.,,,,,1-- f3fi,- -, s. III
~ /" 49, 80 .5s.tt ii.,,..iN, - ~
~ ~ az ~, - 10 - - ~ ~, b',.,'f. ~.
byd' s1s0i eoi,n5ly- rb,. first hair ~ ne