The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-10-17
WHERE DO THEY GET THE.
RI0HT7

the Dawes COmmlSStOn ever Sldlce
that body has been at its present
work and is now sending up q ca
lamity howl over the regulations
sent out by the interior depart
ment. Of course these rules in
their present form are not alto
gether satisfactory, but there will
not be the Wholesale ruin that the
ARDMoREITE predicts. Those of us
who 90 long have watched Indian
legislation have learned to believe
that there vail be regard for all in
terests displayed in the settlement
of the land holdings of this coun-
try.-Purcell Register.
No, the ARDMOREITE does not
pose as an obstructionist to the
right, but it is opposed to inJus-
tice befng perpetrated by even the
Secretary of the Interior or Dawes
Commission upon the citizens or
non-citizens of the Territory. The
ARDMoREITE takes it that it is as
much the duty Of the Secretary OF
the Interior and the Dawes Com
mission to obey the law as it is for
the humblest Indian or non-citizen
in the Territory. They have no
more right to violate the Curtis
bill or the Atoka treaty than an
Indian or non-citizen has. What
right have they to put citizen to
great deal Of trouble and expense
through the protest of Que or two
parties to prove his or her right
when that right has been estab-
lished and recognized for yearsf
What right have they to say a citi-
zen shall only occupy and rent 24O
acres of land when the law says he
shall have right to occupy and rent
all of his proportionate share of
the tribal lands of the Territory
until allotment is madef Where
do they get the authority to force a
man and his family to give
up all their home except 24O
acres each, when they are
entitled to more land! The law
doesn't contemplate breaking up
of homes. 1t says you can take
your allotment on the land you
have improved, if you choose, but
how can you do this after part of
it has been allotted to another citi-
zen under the rulings of the inte-
rior department. The negro can
get his 40 acres of land, but the
Indian must give up all of his ex-
cept 240 acres, it matters not how
much he is entitled to. Why force
these Indians to give up their
lands, remove their fences and
drive from the Territory many
renters, when they are en-
titled to their lands, entitled to
their improvements and have the
right to rent to the non-citizens
their propOrtionate share of the
lands? If the Indian is entitled to
500 acres of land and can take the
land he is now occupying, the in
terror department has no right to
prescribe him to 24O acres until
the final allotment is made. If
these regulations are not intended
to be enforced, as the Register in
Inmates they will not be, why did
the department promulgate them7 7
Why make rulings that are calcu-
lated to disturb the land holders
and cause much trouble, anxiety
and Illustration of business if they
are not intended to be enforced9
The ARDMoREITE is not ques-
tiOning the honesty and sincerity
of the commission and interior de-
partment, but we do say their ac-
tiOns and rulings regarding the
making of the Indian roll and allot-
ting lands are putting a great
many people to unnecessary ex-
pense and trouble, causing dis
quiet and dissatisfaction and dis
turbing business interests, when it
all could have been avoided.
Is your liver tired? does it fail
to do its dutyi If so don't neg
|