The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-06-03

use our best endeavcr TO get at the
truth and the exact condition Of things
for every report Simetimes we may
be mistaken. but if so ii is mistake
Ill our sources Of information and no. a
colored report for any purpose. Las;
week We gave a resume of the work
done as far as We could verify it. and
took The word of the allotting force that
they had allotted thirty-five individuals,
although others acquainted with the sit
udtic1 in detail could count up only six
teen who had taken their allotments.
We also stated then that Mr.. Mills, one
of the allotting agents, was in Wash
ington to confer with the authorities re-
garding the refusal Of the Indians 10
select their allotments. and to the fur
Their fact that delegations Of the Indians
Were also in Washington TO justify their
refusal and TO ask that they be guaran-
iced payment for their surplus land az
ter allotment. This week We can do
but little else. than repeat the former
statement. Mr.. Mills and the Directing
delegations Of Indians are in Washing
ton, ana no word from any of them has
reached US since their arrival at that
place. What they are doing, or what
they can do,'is simply matter of con-
lecture. The evident facts. SO far. are
that the ailotting agents had no power
to force the work Of allotment. when
they came on, and that the Indians took
advantage of that lack of authority to
stop the work altogether We can only
suppose that the errand of Mr.. Mills to
washington was to explain this Interim
ton and to ask for extended authori-
ty that will enable the work to go on
with or without the consent of the In
uans But the Indian is also at Wash
inston, and If ever a tribe had lust
cause of complaint it is the Wichita
tribe Owners and actual OCCUPANTS Of
the country since the time when nei-
ther tradition not the memory of man
runneth to- the contrary, yet the lard
mas been sold, resoId, treated for and
transferred from beneath them without
their approval or consent from the time
OF Spanish exploration down to TODAY
and even the small remnant of land lef,
them they were forced 10 divide with
the Caddos and the Delawares and only
held tenure by the slight authority of
executive order. Territory claimed nv
the Spanish by right OF discovery. sold
u France for price. bought by the
United States government in 1903. treat
cd away 10 the Choctaws and Chic.a-
saws in 1865. coded back (for purpose,
y the United States government N
1866. now claimed by the Choctsws ana
Cn.ckssaws as their original purchase.
ana the title disputed by the United
states government in the courts AZ
Washington. Where. and when. and how
do original owners of the soil come an,
Nowhere yet. In the treaty made with
Wicnitas in 1891. they understood they
ware az last 70 get something for The
surplus lands OF their little remnant ~
territory. but the treaty as ratified made
no such positive declara ton and LEFT the
matter entirely with congress whe.h
er the Wichitas should have any price
al ALL or get anything save their aIlot
1ehts. The title 70 the surplus land is
now involved between the Chictaws and
Caickasavs on one side. and the United
States government on the other side. and
he ailotting agents are on hand 10 des-
ignate 10 the Wichi:as their last Is0
acres OF land 20 the individual In this
emergency. and seeing no hope in this
movement for long delayed justice, they
have now made their final stand IN OBJ
jec''on and last appeal for some guar
antee Of payment for their surplus land
f-r-
ments. Put tia; matter Is being con-
tecfed in the courts bytwo other par
ties. each OF whom claim right c. do
main. without reference 20 TIE Wicni-
ta- a. all II there IS any show for the
Wicii'ss l. Is more than We can see.
No legal authority nor written docu-
rasnt gives them any title to The land.
nor ever did. In fact the only autho-i-
y they have nai for even the small
r-at - 80 acres each is contained in
til agreement o. 1881.
Bnt equity they have n abundance.
and (; is this hope ths. equity VII Be
awarded them that has caused them 70
refuse allo.men. and 70 appeal 20 wash
ins;on
The probabilities o. The whole matter
ere these Mr.. Mills vil return WIKI
pJwers 70 alio, the Indians; ID a.tsn.
ton viii - paid 70 gh@ equities % re
wichi,as; ire t-sal FOR right o. domain
Will 60 azains: the United States AZ.
i. favor c, TIE Chociaxs sE5 Cascxa-
SAWS. the CnTei States wiIi retain pos
session and the Chictaxs and Chicka-
saws VII De paid sls5 PEI acre f5- AZ
<lrpiCs land after the Wichitss aud
others are allotted: ;he Tich.ias end
others viii &c. tasir sil5tEeais. z-i
nothing more y TIE free homes bli BE-
ca-7es lev. II IA; law fails they ma
81; re money paid ~ se;ders :or ho.us-
sseae<.
We sxpee. us. sn1 exp7ct :ze dele-
cat cas L. return IL a ,ss days Ne
atss expect then - So TIE WORK Q. al
J,ta.eas proceed a. b~:'e- rate 81
speed