Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-01-21

fed him that the situation was
previously misrepresented to him
He is now for the annulmsnt OF
the tribal relation, and for the al
lotment of land to the Indians.
and for the transformation Of the
population Of the territory into
American citizens. One ne, the
Choctaws, has made an agreement
with the Dawes commission, and
the provisions are about to receive
the approval of the secretary OF
the interior 1t is strongly prob.
able that without waiting Tor vol
untary action by the other tribes
the present congress will pass a
law winding up the Indian nations
as such. The president is now
ready to sign such a bill, embrac-
ing Just regard for what individual
rights the Indians may be entitled
to, but dissolving the tribal forms
of government within a reasonable
limit of time. Mr.. Cleveland has
given much thought to the ques-
ton, and he would like TO make
the settlement one of the achieve.
ments of his administration.
These Indians of the five tribes
live in houses, wear the garments
of civilization, have schools and
observe the social forms. They
are as able TO take care Of them
selves as the average white man.
Some of them accumulate means
and live in good houses. Some OF
them lack thrift and get along in
the hund-to. mouth fashion of poor
white people. The Indian people
are Indians only in name. They
are no more Legitimate wards of
the nation" than the occupants of
so much territory in Texas, Kan
sas or Missouri should be. A gen.
ial climate goes with wide diversity
of soil and scenery. There are
boundless prairies in the northern
and central parts. There are rug
ged mountains and desperately
poor lands for crops in the south.
eastern part. There are fine for
ests Of pine and oak and other
woods. There are most promising
quarry locations ofhighclass build
ing stones. There are rich valleys
along the rivers in the southwest
ern part. With the coal certainly, ,
aud the oil aud gas possibly, un-
derneath, the Indian Territory Is
equipped to become one of the
best all-around commonwealths Of
the union.
BY the latest and best estimates
there are $4,000 people living in
the territory. OF these only $1,000
are there by the right of belonging
to the five tribes. These 75, 900
include the Indians, the white men
and women who have married In.
dians, and the freedmen who were
slaves OF these Indians before
emancipation, and were made
members of the tribes by the Unit
ed States. ! he number of white
men and white women who have
married into these tribes is large.
1t includes representatives Of some
of the best families in the south.
4 few years ago the chief OF one of
these tribes came to Washington
OH business for his people, aud he
was at once persona grata to a
United States senator from a south
ern state, because his wife was the
senator's niece. There are lead
ing members of these tribes who
send their daughters to Boston to
be finished in music. a member
Of one Of the tribes married an Of
fcer in the army and lived in fine
style in Washington, having an in
come Of $1,000 a month or more
from royalties on the coal land she
leased 20 white men. When these
rs, 600 so-called Indians divide up
their lands and other property in
common and become citizens OF the
United States their per capita
wealth will be much greater than
the per capita Of the rest OF the
people Of the country. IL Is high
time, from every consideration
that the costly farce Of treating the
"tanned Yankees" as wards" was
brought 10 an end
The 275, 900 white people in the
territory are there by sufferance.
They lease the land from the In
dians and work it on shares. They
operate tle coal lands aud pay
royalties TO the Indians They
pasture cattle on lands, for the use
Of which they pay the Indians 80
much per acre. They keep stores
and sell goods in cities where not
one Of them can acquire title to a
foot Of ground, where there are no
ordinances, no public improve
ments. The 275,0O0 white people
are the tenants Of the rs, 900 land
lord Indians. In all OF the history
Of the settlement Of the United
States there was never a situation
like this.
The 275, 900 white people and
the 70 600 Indians, so called, make
a population considerably greater
than any Of the states OF recent adj
mission possesses. II there wasn'l
such feeling in the east over th,
course Of the mountain states, The
$50, 900 people OF the Indian ma,
tions, landlords and tenants, might
step direc. from their present posi-
tion into statehood. They arc 81
enough for 1t. But there will be
no more states admitted while Tree
coinage OF silver u alive aud kick
ing issue. The Indian Ternior,