Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-18
INDIAN CROOKEDNESS
A. l.. IVEY SAYS THERE HAS BEEN
TOO MUCH OF 1T.
HE WANTS AN INVESTIGATION.
SAYS 1T is THE DUTY OF CONGRESS
TO INTERFERE.
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Will Send n Special Commissions
cr to the Territory After
the Holidays to study
the Question.
HE WANTS AN INVESTIGATION.

Washington, Dec. 17.-(SpeciaD The sem
ate committee on Indian affairs will send u
special commissioner to Indian Territory
Immediately after the holidays to inveSti-
gate the Indian question. The committee
intended to take this course during the re-
cess between the last session and the pres
eht congress. but delayed action. 1t desires
complete data on the Indian question before
making any recommendations. a special
commissioner it is understood, has also
been sent by Secretary Bliss. and is now on
the ground gathering data.
a number of Indian delegations are in
town. and many people interested in the
territory are trying to influence the Indian
committees in congress. Augustus T.. Ivey.
oil Iahlequah, is the latest arrival. His
mission is to call especial attention to the
reported Irregularities in the finances of the
territorial government. He will call on
Commissioner Jones tomorrow and set be.
fCre him the facts in the alleged $i0O, 900
steal which he says the halfbreeds tried to
work on the fullblood Indians of the Chero-
kee nation. He claims that it is true that
Chief Mayes. of the Cherokees. eX-Dele-
gates Harris. Benge, Hastings. Young. to-
gether with r. II. Kern and ]. Milton
Turner. of st. Louis. are not great states
men. Mr.. 'Ivey says it Is the duty of con-
sress to interfere and set things right in
the territory.
Ivey is a candidate for principal chief of
the CherokeeS at the next election.
1t Is the duty of congress- he said to-
day. Ito see that the Indian governments
in the territory are run honestly for the
beEeiit of the people, to protect them, and
to see that corrupt Indian officials do no;
sqnander the patrimony of the Indians. In
TACT. the United States government is our
administrator, according to provisions in all
treaties.
pie be not robbed in the house of their
friends. Secretary Bliss has sent q special
Inspector down to the Indian Territory to
lcok into this 100000 steal. He is there
now. / shall insist with all my might that
either the senate or house. by resolution
shall investigate this conspiracy to defraud
the Cherokee people. Notwithstanding the
opposition. l am a Cherokee myself. and
live there among them. I want to see the
fullbloods protected. and all other citizens
down to the lowest, and see that their pat
rimony be not Squandered and their sub
stance wiped out by corrupt officials. I'm
opposed to any further sQuandering of our
funds. and shall insist on congress saving
us from our friends. 1t is 4 pity that our
little governments did not maintain their
integrity to the end. 1t is sad. Our people
orCe boasted of statesmen and patriots;
now they bewail their fate. The Dawes
commission will never be able to treat with
the Cherokee. yet they have lot of cler-
iCal work down there to do. The Cherokees
prefer to risk the action of congress rather
than to treat with the Dawes commission"
Tams, BiXby is another who believes con-
gress should interfere. He did believe that
the Dawes commission should have more
time to change their treaties but has since
changed his mind. He said to-day:
The territory is practically controlled by
vicious halfbreeds. and the fulbloods have
nothing to say. The halfbreeds are work.
ing in their own interests and against the
fullbloods. l think it is time congress in
ment of lands to the Indians. If they re-
fuse to accept the allotment they can go
to blazeS."