Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-01-28
DIFFICULTIES GALORE.
A PEssIMIsTIC VIEW OF THE
INDIANS PROSPECTS.
Many Difficulties Loom Up as the
Various Interests Arc Being En-
oroached Upon-Too Many to
be Taken Care OF.

EDITOR CHIEFTAIS:-The opera.
ton involved in the allotment OF
our Cherokee Indian lands is.
when looked at in common sense
way, extremely simple, requiring
an application of only the most
elementary principles Of right and
justice. If poor mother has two
children to feed and a single cake
TO divide between them, she never
thinks it necessary to go and con.
suit her neighbors, or learned
lawyer, or two, as to how she
should make the division; not at
all. She takes the knife at once,
and, in business way, draws the
edge right through the center and
the work, the allotment, is done
There is no such thing as sham
ming and fussing, and quibbling
in the transaction. Why should
there be2
Even so simple, and straight
forward, is, or should be, the work
of dividing our Cherokee lands
among the rightful part-owners.
Yet to hear men talk about it,
those men who want to make, aud
probably will make the distribu-
tion-one is almost induced to be-
lieve that it is one OF the most
complicated and incomprehensible
pieces OF business that was ever
known among the affairs Of this
world.
Take a common sense, practical
view Of the case.
Here are a few acres of land
the number does not affect the
principle-and few men-the
number here, too, is equally in
dilierent-who own the whole tract;
and these owners have concluded
to divide up, each taking a part
equal in value to that Of any other.
Hence there is nothing needed in
the case but TO make the calcula-
tion, and go at once about running
the lines, and fixing the metes
and bounds Of individual shares.
But if to do this equitably should
be found to be impracticable, then
the next best thing to do would be
to sell out the whole for all that il
will bring, aud distribute the pro-
ceeds ameng he common owners
These methods are prescribed by
the counsels ofsimple reason; they
are practical and lead to the most
speedy, jus, aud satisfactory solu.
tion OF the whole problem.
But the business II not TO be al
lowed 10 run along to conclusion
in this oily way. The proceedings
are TO be obtained at a multitude
Of points, and in a great many
ways, to answer the demands Of
various individuals who have, by
some means, got a notion that, in
the general settlement of the es.
tate, they have become entitled to
some special adyantsge--some ex
ira allowance over and above what
may be due TO the parties who
make up the common mass Of part
owners.
Here, for instance, are our town
lotters, a mul ul.itudinous class COM
posed Of our most respectable, in
telligent, thrifty, and influential
citizens, who have managed TO get
themselves into the occupancy of
the valuable soil that lies under
the foundation Of all our large
towns and villages; they imagine
that they have acquired solne
special, and individual interest in
the ground which they occupy as
against all the rest Of the Cherokee
people OF course they will not
be satisfied with any kind Of allot.
ment that will not concede TO them
the absolute ownership Of what
they call their "town property "
Hence il may be expected that
any scheme OF distribution which
would propose 10 recognize the IN.
tofeAt of our remnfo niuf hill VeO.