The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-07
INDIAN TERRITORY.
Agreements with Tribes Should BE
Rntified--The Dawes Commission.

Ratified--The Dawes Commission.
For a number Of years past It has been
apparent that the conditions under which
the five civilized tribes were established in
the Indian Territory, under treaty pro-
visions with the United States, with the
right Of elf-government and the exclusion
of all white persons from within their Dor
ders, have undergone so complete a change
as to render the continuance of the system
thus inaugurated practically impossible.
The total number of the five civilized tribes
as shown by the last census is as 494 and
this number has not materially Increased.
while the white population is estimated at
from 100000 to 250OO0, which, by permission
of the Indian government, has settled in the
territory The present area of the Indian
Territory contains 25, ,564 acres, much of
which is very fertile land
The United States citizens residing in
the territory, most of whom have gone
there by invitation, or with the consent of
the tribal authorities have made permanent
homes for themselves Numerous towns
have been built, in which from 500 to 5000
white people now reside Valuable resi-
dences and business houses have been
erected in many of Them Large business
enterprises are carried on, in which vast
SelnS u money are employed, and yet these
people, VINO have invested their capital in
the development of the productive re-
sources or the country, are without title ia
the land they occupy, and have no voice
whatever in the government, either of the
nations or tribes. Thousands of their chill
dren VINO We're born in the territory are OF
o 81 90 age, put the doors of the schools
OF the nations are shut against them. and
what education they get is by private con
tTlDqtlon No provision for the protection
OF the life or property of these white citi-
ZenS is made by the tribal povernroapts q ~
courts. O
The secretary of the interior reports that
Ieading Indians have absorbed great tracts
OF land to the exclusion of the common PEG
pie. and government by an Indian aristocra-
cy has been practically established, to the
uetrlment OF the people. 1t has been found
impossible for the United States to keep its
citizens out of the territory, and the ex-
ecutory conditions contained in the treaties
with these nations have for the most part
become impossible of execution Nor has If
been possible for the tribal governments to
secure TO each individual Indian his full
enjoyment in common with other indians
of the common property of the nations.
Friends of the Indians have long believed
that the best interests of the Indians of
the nve civilized tribes would be found in
American citizenship, with all the rights
ana privileges which belong to that condi-
ton.
BY Section 16 of the act of March 2 1902
the President was authorized to appoint
three commissioners to enter into negotia-
ton With the Cherokee, Choctaw. Chicka-
j.
dians, commonly known as the five civilized
tribes in the Indian Territory Briefly the
purposes OF the negotiations were to be:
The extinguishment of tribal titles to any
lands within that territory now held by any
and all such nations or tribes, either by
cession OF the same or some part thereof,
70 the United states, or by allotment and
division of the same in seVeralty among the
Indians of such nations or tribes respective-
ly as may be entitled to the same. or by
such other method may be agreed upon
between the several nations and tribes
aforesaid, or each of them, with the United
States with a view to such an adjustment
upon the basis of justice and equity as
may, with the consent of the said nations
OF Indians, so far as may be necessary be
requisite and suitable to enable the ulti-
mate creation OF State States of the
Union which shall embrace the lands within
said Indian Territory.
The commission met much opposition
from the beginning. The Indians were very
slow to act, and those in control manifest
ed decided dissemination to meet with
favor the propositions submitted to them.
A little more than three years after this
organization the commission affected an
agreement with the Choctaw nation alone
The ChickaSawS, however, refused to agree
to it's terms, and as they have common in
terest with the Choctaws in the lands of
said nations, the agreement with the latter
naion could have no effect without the con-
sent of the former On April 90 1897 the
commission effected an agreement with
both tribes-the Choctaws and Chickasaws.
This agreement. 1T is understood. has been
ratified by the constituted authorities of
the respective tribes or nations parties
thereto, and only requires ratification by
Congress to make it binding
On the 9th of September, 1897 an agree
ment was effected with the Greek nation.
but 1t is understood that the national conn
Gil of said naion has refused to ratifv the
same. Negotiations are yet TO be had with
the CherokeeS the most pOpulous of the
five civilized tribes. and with the Seminoles,
the smallest in point of numbers and ter.
ritory.
The provision in the Indian appropfiatior
approved June 10. 1885, makes II the duty OF
the commission TO investigate and determine
rights of applicants for citizenship in the
five civilized tribes. The commission is al
present engaged in this work among the
Creeks, and has made appointments for TAX
ing. the census of these people up to and
including the Goth of the present month
Should the agreement between the Choc-
taws and Chickasaws be ratified by Con
gress, and should the other tribes fail to
make an agreement with the commission
then it will be necessary that some legfsIa-
ton shall be had by Congress, which, while
just and honorable to the Indians, shall be
equitable to the white people who have set
tied upon these lands by invitation of the
tribal nations.
the commission, in a letter to the secretary
of the interior, under date of Oct H. 1897
says: individual ownership is. in their (the
commissioner opinion. absolutely essential
to any permanent Improvement in present
conditions and the lack of IL is the root OF
nearly all the evils which 50 grievousy af-
hict these people. Allotment by agreement
Is the only possible method. unless the
United States courts are clothed with the
authority to apportion the lands among the
citizen Indians for whose use II was orig
/ concur with the secretary of the interior
that there can be no cure for the evils en-
gendered by the perversion OF these great