The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-07
IN DIAN AFFAIRS.
Progress of the Negotiations With the
Five Civilized Tribes.

I
For number of years past il has
been apparent that the conditions un-
der which the five civilized tribes were
established in the Indian territory un-
| der treaty provisions with the United
states, with the right of self govern
ment and the exclusion of all white per-
sons from within their borders have
undergone SO complete change as to
| render the continuance of the system
thus inaugurated practically impossi-
bic. The total number of the five civil
lied tribes as shown by the last census
IS 49.4Si. and this number has not ma
terlally increased, while the white pop
ulation is estimated at from 200. 900 To
2oo,OO0, which, by permission of the In
dian government has settled in the ter
ritory. The present area of the Indian
territory contains 1864 ,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 Num-
erous towns have been built in which
from 900 to 5000 white people now re-
side. Valuable residences and business
houses have been erected in many Of
them. Large business enterprises are
carried on in which vast sums of money
are employed. and yet these people who
have invested their capital in the de-
Ntioi'Iicht III lilc resources
or the country are without the title to
the land they occupy and have no voice
whatever in the government either of
the nation or tribes. Thousands of
their children who were born i'm the
territory are of school age, but the
doors of the schools of the nation are
shut against them, and what education
they get is by private contribution No
provision for the protection of the life
or property of these white citizens is
made by the tribal governments and
courts
The secretary of the interior reports
that Indians have absorbed great tracts
of land, to the exclusion of the common
people and government by an Indian
arlstocracy has been practically estab-
'lished, to the detriment of the people
1t has been found impossible for the
United States 10 keep its citizens out of
the territory. and the eXecutory condf-
tons contained in treaties with the ma
lions have for the most part become
impossible of execution had ID been
possible for the tribal government to
secure each individual Indian his full
enjoyment in common with other In
dams of the common property of the
nation. Friends of the Indians have
long believed that the best interests
OF the Indians of the five civilized tribes
would be found in American citizenship
with all the rights and privileges which
btioilR lnut mat condition.
BY Section 16 of the Act OF March 8
1923, the president Was authorized to
appoint three commissioners to enter
into negotiations vita the Cherokee.
Choctaw, Ghiekasaw, Muskogee Cor
Creel1) and Seminole nations common
ly known as the five civilized tribes in
the Indian territory. Briefly the pur-
poses of the negotiations were the az
unguishment IF the tribal title to any
lands within that territory now held by
any and all such nations or tribes. eth
er by cessl0n Of the same or some Mart
thereof 10 the United States. or by al
lotnenl or by division OF the same in
severalty among the Indians of such
nations and tribes aforesaid or each
of them with the United States with n
view To such an adjustment upon a
basis Of justice and equity as may with
the consent of the said nations of the
Indians SO far as may he necessary
requisite and suitable TO enable the ul-
innate creation of a state or states of
the Union which shall embrace the
lands within said Indian territory
The commission met much opposition
from the beginning. The Indians We're
very slow To act. and those i'm control
manifested a decided disincllnaton To
meet with faNorite propositions sub
mitted TO them. At little more than
three years age this organiZa ton. the
commission. effected an agreement with
the t1DCldN nation alone. The Chick
asaws have refused To agree to it's terms
and as they have a common interest
with the Choctaws in the lands OF said
nations the agreement with the latter
nation could not have been made without
the consent Of the former. April %. 1891
the commission effected an agreement
with both tribes-the Choctaws and
Chickasaws. This agreement. it is I'M
derstood. has been ratified by the con-
stituted authorities of the respective
tribes or nations or parties thereto and
only requires ratification by congress
10 make il binding.
On the 27th of September. 1897. an
agreement was effected with the Creek
nation, but IL is understood that the
national council refused 10 ratify the
same. Negotiations are vet to be had
with the Cherakees. the most populous
Of the five civilized tribes and with the
Seminuies. The smallest in point Of
numbers and territory. Tho provision
in the Indian appropriation act. an
proved June 10. 1896. makes ~ the duty