Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-12-02
WASHINGTON NOTES.
sketches by the Globe Democrats
Special Correspondent.

| reservations, the QlStrlDutlOn OF
great sums of money by the gov
ernment to members of tribes, the
development of splendid educa.
tional institutions for the exclu-
sive benefit of Indian children,
these and other advantages have
mad the effect TO draw back into
tribal relationship thousands
whose title depends upon a small
strain of the blood. These
changed conditions are stimulat,
ing marriages between white men
and Indian women, and between
Indian men and white women. In
the Indian school at Lawrence,
Kan. can be seen blue-eyed, fair
haired little Indians receiving liv-
ing, clothing and education at the
cost OF the government. The same
is true at Carlisle and at Hampton,
and at all of the Indian schools.
The richest people per capita in
this country are the members of
some of these tribes. The prob
lem of the five civilized tribes is
complicated by the presence of too
many "squaw men," white men
who have married Indian women,
TO the great advantage of their per-
sonal fortunes. 1t is enough to
bring tears to the eyes of craven
image to hear these squaw men
talk of the wrongs of the poor In
dian. Gov. Brockmeyer, of Mis-
souri,, went down to the Indian
Territory some years ago to trans
act business with one of the tribes
When he came back, alter having
driven a hard bargain for his eli
ents, he commented on the people
he had dealt with.
"Indiansl" said he. "Those
fellows are not Indians. They are
mighty smart Ysukees. tanned a
little"
The new superintendent of In
dian schools is impressed with the
growing numbers of white Indians,
and he calls the attention of the
government to them in a forcible
manner.
Inspecting officials" Supt.
Hallman says, "are frequently en-
barrassed on visiting boarding
schools by the discovery that
among the children there are many
who apparently have very little
Indian blood, if any. On inquiry,
these children claim a slight de-
gree of Indian blood, varying from
one-sixteenth to one-sixty-fourth;
in a number of instances, however,
it is found that they are the child
rem of white parents who were
adopted into the tribe previous to
the census for registering it's men-
bers. In most cases the parents
of these children are sufficiently
well-to-do and able TO provide for
their education.
For a number of reasons the
presence of these white Indians
in The schools is liable to become
disturbing element lii its life,
either through the greater natural
turbulence of the white blood in
their veins or through fancied
superiority OF race. Moreover,
these children, upon graduation,
may seek employment in the In
dian service and gain admission
thereto without being subjected to
the civil service examination,
which stands between other whites
and appointment.
"On technical grounds, all this
may be correct, but in equity it
seems TO hold elements of unfair
ness both to the real Indians and
the white citizens of the United
States, who pay the bills for the
education and maintenance of these
people. Inasmuch as there seems
to be no remedy for this in exist
ing laws it is imperative in the in
terest of justice to both races that
congress should at an early date
indicate by statute what degree of
blood shall constitute an Indian,
and to what extent adopted In
dians shall be entitled to govern
mental support in matters of edu-
cation"
Oklahoman made a strong push
for statehood couple of years ago
when Delegate Flynn was in the
house. The enabling bill almost
reached the president. 1t seems
probable now that the movement
will be abandoned. Gov. Barnes
informs the secretary of the Inter
ior that thoughtful citizens are
not clamoring for statehood"
at is generally conceded" =" the
governor says, "that the interests
of the whole people will be best
subserved by the union of the In
dian Territory and Oklahoma into
one state. Oklahomans are will
ing to await the action of the gov
ernment in disposing of the many
vexaiious questions arising with
the five civilized tribes, a settle
ment of which seems to be required
before the adoption Of a scheme of
union. 1t is to be hoped that
these matters will be rapidly ad-
vanced by congress, and that the
people of these two territories will
at an early date be permitted to
form one state government of their
own. In my judgment, the form
alton of two separate states would
be burdensome and annoying to
the people of both, while a union
OF the two would make a strong,
vigorous and prosperous state"
The rest of the country probably
does not realize Whist material ex-
lists in Oklahoma and the Indian
Territory for the formation of a
state. Oklahoma now has pop
ulation. by the returns of the as
SCISSORS, of 1885, 600. The Indian
Territory has white population
of 100000. The white population
now aggregates almost 100000 and