Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-12-14
Relief II Needed.
THE INDIANS.
Needs of White Residents in the Ter
Fitory Must he Considered

For a number of years past it has been
:he five civilized tribes were Established
in the Indian territory under treaty pro-
visions with the United States. with the
right OF self-gCverument and the ex-
clusion of all white persons from within
their borders, have undergone so complete
a. change as to render the contlnuance Of
impossibl The total mum Der of the uve
civilized tribes. IS shown BY the last census.
is 1894. and this number has not material
estimated at from 100000 TO 25o0o0, which,
by permission Of the Indian government.
has settled Ii the territory. The present
area Of the Indian territory contains 25.-
6g4 564 acres. MUCH OF which is very ter
siding in the territory. most Ct whom have
gone there by invitation or with the con-
sent Of the, tribal authorities, have made
Gus towns have been built in which from
500 to 5000 white people now reside Ealu-
able residences and business houses have
been erected in many OF them Large bust
which vast sums Of money are e en- n
Fave aVy INVESTED their capisa tn p the devesop
ment Of the productive resources OF the
country, are. without title to the land they
government either OF the nations or tribes.
Thousands OF their chi " no were born
R the the
against them and what education they get
is by private contribution No provision
lot lQS projection OF lDe ll1e OF properly
Of these white citizens IS made by the
tribal governments and courts
An Indian Aristocracy.
The secretary OF the interior reports that
leading Indians have absorbed great tracts
Of land to the exclusion of the common peo-
pie and government by an Indian ar1stoc-
raey has been practically established, to
1a found 1 the Bs GIFTED sate ns
keep its citizens out of the territory and
the executory conditions contained in
fra1 &C inrc h1t e..
most part become impossible Of execution
Nor has it been possible for the tribal gov
ernments to secure to each individual
Indian his full enjoyment in common with
other Indians Of the common property Of
the nations. Friends Of the Indians have
Indians Of the Ave &c CIVILIZED d tribes Wo t!ld
be found in American citizenship, with all
the rights and privileges which belong to
The Dawes Commission
BY section liz of the act Of March 3 lyn2
the president was authorized to appoint
three com missioners to enter IN to regotla-
tons With the Cherokes: Choetaw, Chick
tons. commonly known as the Five Civ
iIized Tribes in the Indian territory. Brief
to be fhe Of Iriba tes
to any lands within that territory EnE
held by any and all such nations or
some part thereof to the United States OR
by allotment and division OF the same In
Severa1ty among the Indians of such ma
tons or tribes respectively as may be en-
titled to the same, or by such other method
as may be agreed upon between the sew
era1 nations and tribes aforesaid, or each
OF them with the United States, with
view 10 such an adjustment upon the basis
OF justice and equity as may. with the con-
sent OF the said nations OF Indians, so far
as may be necessary. be requisite and suit
able to enable the ultimate creation OF
a state or states Of the union. which shah
embrace the lands within said Indian ter
ritnry-
The commission met much opposition
from the beginning. The Indians were
very slow to act. and those in control mani
with favor the propositions submitted to
them, A little more than three years after
this ofganiZa ton the commission effected
an agreement with the Choctaw nation
alone. The ChfckaSaWs, however, refused
to agree to it's terms. and as they have
common interest with the Choctaws in
the lands OF said nations. the agreement
with the latter nation could have no ef-
feet without the consent Of the former.
an asr zen nth both trInseshs Chez
It IS UNDERSTOOD has been ratified by the
constituted authorities Of the respective
tribes or nations parties thereto, and only
requires ratification by congress to make
It binding On the 9TH Of September 1881
an agreement was Effected with the Greek
nation, but IL is understood that the ua-
tiona1 council OF said nation has refused
to be had with the Cherokees. the most
popuIous Of the Five Civilized tribes. and
with the Seminoles. the smallest in uoiut
OF numbers and territory