New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-16
AS TO SOME OKLAHOMA YARNS.
STORIES OF AN INDIAN EMIGRATION TO MEXICO
DIsCREDITED.

Washington, July Is (speciaD.-The enactment by
the Oklahoma LEGISLATURE OF an anti-poygamy law
aupears TO have caused considerable excitement and
dissatisfaction among the Indian tribes OF that
Territory, whose members from time immemorial
have INDUCED in the practice OF polygamy. The
Indians fear the law Is designed to interfere
with one of their ancient and cherished "institu-
tons" and that unless each one who possesses
more than one wife shall put away the rest he
will have to suffer the penalties of the act few
DAYS ago several Oklahoma dispatches were pub
lished the purport Of which was that several
thousand Indians of various tribes were holding n
secret council Fort Reno and discussing
with general approval proposition to emigrate
TO Mexico Two other items OF information were
also gven-one to the effect that the tribes have
nearly one hundred representatives now in Mexico
negotiating for a home for the redskins" and the
o,her saving that some thirty years ago a large
number of Kickapoos and Blanket Pottawa tonnes
made a pilgrimage to Mexico and remained there
ten years and until they were forced back to the
United States by the Army.
No information respecting secret council" OF
1000 or any other number Of Indians to discuss
scheme to emigrate to Mexico has reached the
authorities in Washington and they dismiss the
story as absurd as well as the assertion about
the hundred tribal representatives now In Mexico
negotiating for home for the redskins As TO
the story about the ''pgrimages" II has this foun-
dalton: number OF years ago-pcrhaps thirty
the Comanches in Texas were on the warpath and
a force of Rangers was sent TO Kill or disperse
them. Buffalo were then plentiful. and band of
Kiekapoos and Pottawatomies on a hunt followed
their game into Western Texas. where they
eountered a party Of Rangers on the lookout for
Comanches. The Rangers conveniently mistook
the peaceable buffalo hunters for their Indian
enemies, and after killing few chased the
mainder across the Rio Grande into Mexico. The
pilgrimage" was an exceedingly lively well as
q wholly involuntary one.
The pilgrims remained In Mexico several years
and until the Mexican Government firing Of their
presence demands that the United States should
again receive them which done, and, as their
lands In Kansas had in the mean time been settled
by white farmers. a place was set apart by Ex-
ecutive order for the wanderers In part OF the
Indian country which now constitutes the Terri
tory of Oklahoma
Acting Commissioner Smith, Of the Indian Bu-
reau, said to-day that no Information had been
oeived at that Office as to whether not the anti
polygamy law OF Oklahoma held TO be APP
pcabe to Indians who maintained their tribal re-
iGtions in that Territory but he expressed the be-
lief that 1t would be held affect Indians who
had entered into po,ygamous relations prior 10 It's
enactment. in no event. however. he thought.
would the enforcement OF the 10 W result IN gen
eral emigration Of Indians 10 Mexico. or in an
strongly Inclined 10 make light of the Oklahoma
dispatches referred 70 In the beginning OF this dis
mich