Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-07-08
THE CHIEFS DENIAL.


We take great pleasure in print
ing in this issue a letter from
Chief Mayes. The Chief evident
ly las gotten the idea somehow
that he has been accused of shar'
ing in the distribution of the $780,
600 rake-off in the recent freedmen
compromise. About six months
ago THE CHTEFTAIN invited the
Chief and others to explain to the
people just how the sl26, 900 scan
dial stood and we are truly glad
even at this late day to have a
word OH the subject from the man
who Of all others is certainly sup
posed to know all about it. The
Chief enters a general denial OF
haying shared in the steal and
says every man and all men are
liars who state il otherwise. The
Chief then apparently sits down
completely exonerated and with
the AIR of one who had settled for
all time to come a great national
question. But the Chief mistakes
the temptre of the Cherokee peo-
pie If he thinks the matter will
rest here. The fact still remains
that s126,000 of the peoples mon.
ey was taken without any comDen-
sating services having been rem
dered by the benefciaries.
1t is really Of little consequence
to the people as to who got the
money, Jul we suUmit the question
to a right-thinking public if the
Chief is not a little more response
BILE than any other individual citi-
zen, and if he is not the man the
citizens of this nation are looking
to for the protection of their in
terests and their funds. The Chief
permitted a thing to be done that
nine-tenths of the Cherokee peo-
pie believe to be wrong.
When band Of outlaws step in
to a bank and hold up the cashier
and rob its vaults of all the cash,
the question as to how the money
is divided among the thieves is Of
little consequence to the losers.
Chief Mayes states in confirmation
of the statements heretofore made
that the deal was made in Wash
ington, after which the Chief hast
ened home and called the council
together and recommended the ap-
preparation of 100000 for the
benefit Of the freedmen, in excess
of the amount allowed by the court
of claims. 1t is presumed that the
Chief will not deny that he had
full knowledge Of the true inward
ness Of this measure and that $780,
600 was to be divided between Mr..
Kern and a few Cherokees, and
the whole country knows that the
bill was surrepticiously passed,
and that many Of the members did
not know the outrageous provi-
sions of the measure. In view Of
all these facts we submit If it does
not require a good deal of assur-
ance for the Chief of this nation at
this late day to come before his
people and exonerate himself by
holding up his hands and saying
he did not get any of the money.
The CHIEFTAIN it is true was
active in support of Mr.. Mayes for
principal chief two years ago, but
1t did so purely and solely upon
its own volition, and without fear.
favor OF promise OF reward. The
paper owes Mr.. Mayes no fayors;
on the contrary he owes his cleo
tion to-the efforts and influence OF
the paper.
THE CHIEFrAIN does not now
propose to keep silent in the face
of public robbery nor stultify itself
by refusing to expose any set Of
public plunderers, be they high or
low. 1t owes the public a higher
duty than it owes any mere indi-
yidual and will continue to dis
charge that duty regardless Of any
influence that may be brought to
bear TO the contrary. 1t denounced,
and continues to donounce the act
in question as the crowning act Of
a long line Of official corruption in
the Cherokee nation. The Chief
inyokss an affidavit from Mr..
Kern, the chief beneficiary in the
scheme, to prove that he received
none of the money from his hands.
That affidavit is worthless for the
purpose for which il is used. If
any man believes that the Chief
received share of that money be
could only believe ii from a process
OF induetive reasoning that to
knosinglY permit II was evidence
that he shared it, The Chief may
have recommended the passaps ofl