The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-23
HE Halls FROM BLAINE
Seymour Foose Tell the Story OF tho WIG
West.

Seymour Foose, friend Of Earl Blake,
g in the city to enjoy the Pythian festi-
writes. visit his father, Rev. Foose OF
Kingman county, and meet his oio
friends in Wichita. Mr.. Foose STUDIED
law it'll Messrs. Bentley & Hatfield IN
1891. Soon after the opening OF okiaho-
ma he went into the Cheyenne ana Ar
apahoe country, took a claim there ana
opaned an office in Watonga, Blame
county. He had passed through the
usual experiences of the young lawyer
in a new country, and in addition has
added the spice of thief rontier- Watoh-
ga is in the heart of the LANDS formerly
occupied by the Cheyenne and Arapahoe
tribes. and while the Indians have TAX
en- their lands in severaity, and their
tribal relations have been largely brok-
en- up, the old time peculiarities OF this
strange people are still prominent. MT
Foose soon after going into Blaine coun-
ty was appointed assistant county az
torney, and at the next election was
elected county attorney. HIS ofnciai po-
sition and wide experience as a settler
upon the frontier, thirty miles from
railroad. has given him a careful insight
| into the habits and peculiarities into the
! onca powerful tribe Of Indians. When
Blaine county was first formed the IN
dams had right TO vote. A strong ef-
| fort was made by the Republicans 10
! capsure the Indian vote The Republic
cans went among them, held meetings,
killed beeves and had powwows, and the
Indians promised them 10 support the
| Republican ticket. About one week prl-
or to the election the Democrats took
| turn at the Indians and told than II
| they voted they would have TO pay poll
| taxes and work the roads. This was
enough. The idea of an Indian doing
any acual work was out of the question.
AT the following election only twenty
one Indian votes We're polled, the re-
mainder. numbering some hundreds, re-
naming at their homes. AT the next
election the Democrats were early on the
ground TO work the Indian vote. They
| killed beeves and held powwows with
| them. and Mr. Lo made promises 10 vote
! the Democratic ticket But just a day
or So before election the willy Repuol-
| cans went among them, and repeated ihs
old story about the poll tax, and on that
| following election day not a single In
dian voted. Now they refuse entirely &c
vote regarding elections as an interna
machine OF the pale face. Since becom'
ing n resident OF Blame county Mr..
Foose has defended in several Indian
murder cases and has .aad good success:
in his profession. Quite number or th'
Indians OF Blaine county have been ed
ucated at Carlisle Indian school, ON
their return from school they carry a!
The evidence Of civilization-dress in civ
| iHzed clothing and speak English Wen
A few weeks contact with the 1rip'
works wonders. The first indication
their return 10 savagery is 70 let thei
hair grow long. Next they become re
tjcent. ana a few months puts them int
blankets. The fact is the Indians laug'
a; the duca;ed Indians. make fun o
them and shame them so that they Re
turn 10 the savage state.
Red Bird" formerly a chief IN IN
Cheyenne tribe. and for some time il
fall in this city under charge in N
limited States court. is still a prominen
man among the Indians n Blaine coun
". Red Bird" is Harvard colleg
? graduate. bu; wears ahianke; and paint
his face a bright veTmiilion. Wesle
4 Warren. full hiooded negro who mar
T riad a Cheyenne woman, and who IN
? been in the Sedgwick county jail a
most numberless times. resides i
D Blaine county. oklahoma. Mr.. Zoos
= SAYS that strong efforts are being mad
: in his county 10 get the Choctaw raj
| road extended from Fort Reno % Wa
= tonga. Blaine county Is devoted
q | corn. cotton, wheat. oats. forage crop
e ana cattle. Grazing Is good and wi
j ter is abundant