The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-27
ALL TO Be DONE OVER
But the Dawes Commission
Will Fetch the Greeks Yet.
THEIR REPORT is HOPEFUL
What the Department Says of
the Indian Burners.

Washington, Nov. 26.-The patient and
.ssiduous efforts of the Dawes commits
sion to induce the Five Civilized Tribes to
gree to allotment Of their lands in sew
crafty have been Of no avail in the case
of the Creek nation, which has rejected
proposed by the commission. This result
had not been anticipated by the members
Of the commission, who had already
treated successfully with the Choctaws
and ChicFasaws, and counted many firm
friends Of allotment among the leading
tribesmen Of the Creeks and the Chero-
KEGS. The first reports of the Creek
election were to the effect that the pro-
substantial majority; but the complete
count shows that the opponents Of the
treaty were enabled 10 poll small but
sufficient majority of votes.
Since the Dawes commission was ere
ated in March. 1898, it has rendered inval-
liable service in developing among the
Indian holders of the lands in Indian Ter
ritory a keener and more active sense
Of responsibility to the country for the
management Of their splendid possessions,
and in determining absolutely the rights
Of applicants for citizenship in the Five
Civilized Tribes. The census rolls are
now practically complete, so that should
the tribes consent to allotment, the di-
vision and Improvement of the fertile
territory held by them might be easily
and rapidly undertaken. Vast and pow
erful corporate interests have combined
10 encourage the Creeks and Cherokees
10 resist the commissions plan Of allot-
ment, and the work of argument, appeal
and concession viii now have to be re-
newed with the Creeks. A similar case
existed in 1885, when the Chickasaws
refused 10 agree to the terms Of the
treaty, which with a few notifications
was signed in the following year by rep
resentatives of both the Chickasaws and
Choctaw nations.
Resistance TO the governments plan
for the substitution of civilized admins
tration for the rude, semi-barbaric Gus
toms Of the tribes is evidently stronger
and more concentrated on the wealthy
and populous Creek and Cherokee reser-
vations than among the tribes to the
southwest The Cherokees and Creeks
are on the very borders of Arkansas and
Kansas. with two trunk lines OF rail-
way running through the reservations, a
population OF about 10000 Indians and
10000 whites. and a steady stream CT
immigration pressing strongly upon the
territory. The Creek reservation, which
lies just beyond the western border line
Of Arkansas extends over an area of
3.04G, 900 acres. or 4,750 square miles.
Watered by the Arkansas and Canadian
rivers and their tributaries, the country
Is a veritable garden in fertility. and its
vast aluvial plains might easily furnish
sustenance for many millions of people
This great principality is held as the
private and personal possession of less
than 140e0 Creek Indians, whose leaders
have steadily resisted all efforts TO put
an end to the anomalous condition of
affairs in the territory-a semi barbaric
community in the midst of a permanently
settled area OF civilized states, claiming
tribal integrity and practical independ-
ence Of federal authority.
In the late session of congress legis-
lation was enacted prohibiting The ex-
crcise of supreme judicial authority BY
the courts of the Five Civilized Tribes.
and Justice is now administered through
cut the territory ny federal judges. Fur
ther curtailment Of the assumed independ-
cree OF the tribes will be necessary in
order to protect the Interests OF white
settlers.