Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-17
lcolumhus (Ol IournaIl

columbus (O) Journai)
The commission appointed TO devise an
improved form OF government for the IN
dian Territory. OF which ex-senator
Dawes Is chairman. has made considerable
progress, and the members are hopeful OF
bringing about many reforms. The Choc-
taw Nation has accepted the COMMISSIONS
plan, and IL is believed other tribes Will
follow soon. The commission has been at
work three years, and has found II
hard task TO Win over the powerful men
OF the tribes, who fear TO lose influence
IL changes are made. The issue OF tho
last election i'm the Choctaw Nation was
the adopting OF the Dawes plan. The can
didate favoring that policy. Green Mccur-
tain, a full -blooded Indian, was elected
by fair plurality.
The Endorsement of the plan by the Choc-
taws Will give other tribes an opportunity
to see its workings. and the commission
confidently expects 10 havef Its plan In
effect throughout the Territory soon.
The new plan Is Intended 10 give the
Indians more complete control OF the Ter
rltory and bar out lawless whites. When
the Territory was established seyenly
years ago II was expected that the In
dams would always have II TO themselves.
II was then an isolated country. but since
then the lands on all sides OF IL have be-
come settled. and the whites are anxious
10 profit by encroachment upon the In
dams. The Territory Is touched TO
greater or less extent by Kansas, Missou--
ri, Arkansas, Texas. New Mexico, ana
Colorado. and the people from these
States and Territories have found their
way into the country OF the i've tribes.
The original settlement OF the Territory
was by the Choctaws, Cherokees, Chicka-
saws, Creeks. and Semnoles. who gave
up their lands in Mississippi and Louis
lana for this grant I'm the West. Parts OF,
other tribes have since been located In
the Territory. There they have MAIN
tanned a government 10 suit themselves.
being obliged only to conform to the Con-
stitution OF the United States.
The defect of their government has been
that comparatively few men. fuli-boods.
half-bloods, and adopted chiefs. have con-
trolled affairs and made money for them
selves. Whites have been encouraged to
enter the Territory and lease land. There
are now 10000 or 10000 whites within
the Territory. They have built I'D towns
and trading posts. but own no land, have
no legal rights ard have no voice In tbs
government Naturally they are wild and
reckless. and the Territory has become
the refuge OF criminals from all parts Of
the country. The common class OF In
dams have had no power to prevent this
aggression of the whites, as the land IL
owned In common. and the authorities
have been able to do az they chose for
their own profit while the poorer Indians
scraped up such an existence as they
could In the mountains.
The important feature OF the Dawes
plan is TO have an allotment OF the land.
All land. excert that OF mineral value
and that occupied by whites, will be dis
tributed in equal portions. The mineral
lands will be held I'm trust for the Indians
by the United states. and their incomes
used for educational purposes. The land
occupied by the whites IL to be sold either
to those who have improved Il or others,
and the proceeds divided among the In
dams This VIII give all the Indians pro-
perry and furnish funds for the expenses
Of the government. Then, in addition 10
these changes. important laws must here
after be approved by the President OF the
United States and the important offences
be tried I'm Federal courts BY these
changes the laws OF the Territory Will be-
come more stringent and white criminals
will be tried by courts where justice viii
be done.
lands among the Indians. Ii will give
them a sense OF property ownership that
Is expected TO promote their rapid growth
in peaceful and gainfui pursuits.