Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-08-25
kHE-TOO-WAHS HAVE ISSUED A
STRONG ULTIMATUM.
TRIBAL COMMISSION WARNED.
FORMALLY NOTIFIED NOT TO NEGo-
TIATE A NEW TREATY.
Little Doubt That This will Put u
Stop to the Work of the Dawes
COmmission-F<Ie-too
Are Stronger Thun
Ever Before.

Claremore, I. T.. Aug. 2i.-tSpecal) The
noted secret Organization of Cha-ekees, the
Khe-too-wahs. has issued an ultimatum TO
fits delegation which was appoiatet to treat
with the Dawes commission. That any other
plan of procedure except that outlined in
their document TO the deleg atom Will he
followed is not thought of, and thus the
last hope of inducing these people to face
the situation seems TO have vanished Che
text of the ultimatum follows:
"a Whereas. There L. a commission
here which has been sent by the United
States, commonly known as the Dawes
commission, who are here for the purpose
of entering into new treaties in order to
bring us into an agreement TO aIlot our
lands and to change our form of govern
ment: therefore, be il
Resolved, by the national khe-too-wan
convention. That there is a strong protest
filed, and which is to be a protest for al
time to come, against making any agree
mcnt and entering into new treaties, and
with this resolution adopted by the ma
tional convention, the chairman of the said
convention is hereby instructed to proceed
at once and put the petition before tire
people for them to sign, praying the United
States government to leave them alone to
enjoy their present form of government.
and that more Importance be given and
accorded to the faithful observance of our
patent to the Cherokee lands.
I'VE have kept faith with the United
States and observed faithfully all the pro-
visions of the treaties. and desire to pro-
test against entering into any new treaties
and against any change in our present
form of government.
1T Is ordered that these resolutions be
submitted to the Cherokee commission
without delay for their information.
DANIEL REDBIRD, Chairman.
WILSON CUMMINGS Secretary
with 335 names attachedD
The Post. in commenting upon this step
by the fullbloods. says: There is not the
least doubt that this will put a stop to
all Cherokee negotiations with the Dawes
commission. However well the Cherokee
commission might be disposed to treat, the
members of the commission. with this
warning staring them in the face, dare go
no further"
The organization Is said to number about
s,0O0-stronger than ever before in its his
tory-and its action is likely to have no
little influence with the other tribes of the
territory. What the ultimate outcome will
be remains to be seen.
1t is generally thought that Judge
Thomas decision in the Arkansas incor-
poration case, few days ago. in which
he held, virtually, that the right of self
government could not be taken from the
Indians without their consent, is the cause
Of the Khe-too-wahs' decided stand against
making a treaty. Be that as 1t may. the
judgment of the organization has hereto
| fore been considered as final. 1t remains
| to be seen whether its potency has become
impaired by civilization.
The action of the Cherokee commission
will be watched with interest.
Tahlequah, I. T., Aug. A.-The resolutions
introduced by the Khe-too-wah Society had
| the desired effect on the Cherokee commits
sion, and it has decided not to treat with
| the United States at the present time.
The commission has sent a resolution to
| the Dawes commission, informing 1t that it
| is impracticable to negotiate an agreement
with the United States, because of obsta-
| cles which can be removed only by the
| United States government.