The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-20
WHAT AILS INDIAN TERRITORY
And What il Needs TO Help II Accord
in- 10 NIr d w. Meacham.

Vinita, l. T. April 19-To the Editor OF
the Eagle: At the present writing the
squawmen OF this country are having
troubles thick and fast. and there are no
police 10 whom they may relate their
tales Of woe The first thing to trouble
these noble red men was the placing OF
the Arkansas law over this country.
Then came the Organizing OF town govern
ments under this new law. They don't
want TO pay taxes. on the heels Of the
Arkansas law comes a decision by Judge
John r Thomas which allows white men
10 do business in this territory the same
as Indians or squawmen. by paying the
regular license This was another SUM
ber-disturber 10 the mobiles. And last but
not least comes the word that the house
has passed the Curtis bill. and that
Charlie Curtis has been ren0minated BY
reclamation for congressman The squaw-
men were jubisnt in their anticipation
Of the defeat Of Curtis. but today the low
er portion of their tale Of woe dispensers
strike them in the neighborhood Of the
knees. and their sorrows are many and
great
The real Indian OF this country knows
but little and cares less. about what con-
rress does. You will find these full-bloods,
as a rule settled on a small tract Of land
about twenty acres, ten or fifteen miles
from the townsville further from clvll-
cation the better-livIng peacefully and
contented. They never have any troubles
except when some Irishman who has come
into this country and married an Indian
woman. goes 10 his cabin and tells him
that the great father in Washington Is
going 10 do something terrible 10 him
The whole situation in this country Is
about as follows: Several years ago a
large number Of white men came into
this country. married Indian women. and
since that time have lived in idieness and
luxury of the wealth acquired by said
marriage. They have not only done this,
but they have robbed the uususpectng
red zen to a finish Now that the Curtis
bill is about TO become q law, they are
bowling like mad. and great many now
threaten TO 60 TO Mexico. They fear the
allotlng Of lands and the organizing %
towns and cities. because this will put the
white men who have not married Indian
women on an equal footing with them.
The Curtis bill will give the white men
OF the territory chance 70 20 ahead and
build cities and 20 acquire title 20 their
homes As IL Is now. al efforts % build
cities and make substantial improvements
is held in check by the nou-proEressive
element. who are bowling themselves
hoarse about the white men and govern
ment robblng the poor Indian. However.
when the Curtis bi.i IS passed and be-
comes a ". and white men can obtain
titles 20 property. this country viii bloom
with prosperity and progression. The In
dian Territory Is the finest country in the
world. There IS no section % the United
States that viii compare with ~. y IS
rich in mineral % all kinds. Marble
granite. oil and gas. besides being the
finest farming country on earth. ard is
destined 20 become a great nufacturiuR
district. from the fact that y contains al
the essentials 70 make il such-fuei. water
and railroad facilities
(Signed) o. " MEACHAAL