Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-11-02
FROM OTHER SANCTUMS.
Other Territory Papers on the
Chieftain Boycott.

Speaking Of cattlemen it must
always be borne in mind that there
are two classes, one of which buys
up all kinds OF marketable stock
tor shipment to Kansas City or ST.
Louis. They purchase from citi-
zens and non-cItizens alike, where
ever they can find an animal tit
for the shambles. 1t is these men
who have distributed among the
people of the territory whatever
of wealth or profit arises from the
cattle trade here. With these
dealers the Cherokee laws do not
interfere.
But there is another class, the
introducers of cattle from Texas
and other southern states from
whom neither the nation nor the
people derive one cent of profit.
Whole train loads of cattle from
the south have been unloaded at
out OF the way places on the pralr-
les where there is no chance to
count the herds or keep a record
of the owners. This stock eats
out the grass so efectually, root
and blade. that pasturage is des-
troyed, whole sections of our once
!uxuriant prairies being covered
with rag weed. 1t is to this class
of dishonest cattlemen that the
Cherokee law, which federal off,
cials are endeavoring to enforce ap-
plies. 1t is this class of vampires
that are the tax fighters, the boy
cotters, who run the First Nation
al Bank of Vinits, and who have
hitherto essayed to rule the nation,
until at last they have reached the
point where "grasping avaricious-
ness breaches ITSELF" Out upon
such men.-Fairland Bee.
The Indian Chieftain, of Vinita,
insisted that the cattle men of the
Cherokee nation should pay the
tribal tax of fifty cents per head on
their cattle. The directors of the
First National Bank of Vinita met
and instituted a boycott against
The Chieftain because of its posi-
ton on the cattle tax, a large
number of the stockholders of the
bank being cattlemen. The Chief
tain is making things warm Tor the
bankers, who are attempting to
coerce the paper into support OF
their views. The position of the
Register on the tribal tax question
is too well known TO require any
lengthy explanation. We hold
that the entire system is wrong
and in direct opposition to the
constitution to the United States,
which declares against taxation
without representation. Tribal
taxation should be entirely abol'
ished, but so long as these taxes
are enforced and collected, there
is no more reason why the cattle
man should be exempt from pay
ing the tax levied against him than
there is for the hay man, the mer-
chant or any other class of people
paving that against them. If the
man who ships a few bales of hay
is required to pay a tax the man
who holds thousand head of cat
tie should be treated in the same
way. The Chieftain is right and
the people will stand by it
Purcell Register.
The Herald is opposed to a boy
colt in any shape or style. 1t is
un.American, unfair and unsafe.
Just now, the Vinita Chieftain is
said to be boycotted by the First
National Bank of that place and a
number of cow men who desire to
avoid paying delinquent Cherokee
tax. We venture the assertion
that the boycott will prove abor-
tive and, even worse than futile, il
will rebound, boomerang like, and
and show the government officials
where to look for delinquent taxes.
-Nowata Herald.