The Wichita daily eagle., 1899-11-24
INDIANS IN FEAR OF OIL MEN
They Think Leasing Would Hand
Them Over to the Oil Trust

Guthrie, o. T, Nov. 23.-The following
Washington dispatch details at greater
length the hearing yesterday before Sec
retary Hitchcock regarding the leasing
of oil lands in Indian Territory, which
is being opposed by the Indians, and was
lore briefly covered in Wednesdays dis
patches in the Eagle:
There was an important hearing today
before Secretary Hitchcock and Assistant
Attorney General Vandevater Of the in
terror department, concerning the grant
ing of leases in the Greek and Cherokee
nations. The Cudahay Oil company Of
Chicago, which is applying for leases COW
ering $4,000 acres, was represented by
Attorneys Aldrich and MCGOWAN and the
Indians were represented by w. s. Logan
of New York and William T. Hutchins
OF Muskogee. Mr.. Logan, on behalf Of
the Delawares, contended that the deed
TO that nation in 1867 gave them an abso-
lutte title in fee, including the oil and
mineral rights, TO 157,6O0 acres of land,
which they paid for at the rate Of 81 per
acre. The leases in question cover much
OF the Delawares' land, so that this ma
tion is deeply concerned in the matter.
Their lawyers contend that the leases,
even if the secretary had the power TO
make them, would not be beneficial to the
Indians, because, firstly, they were so
drawn that the royalties, 10 per cent,
We're paid on the value of the Gil at the
mouth of the well, while the oil could
reach market only through the Cudahays'
pipe line, and there was no restriction on
the charge for conveying the oil through
the line. Consequently If the oil was
worth 81 per barrel at destination they
could charge 80 cents u barrel for taking
it through the pipes, and leave only 10
cents as the nominal value at the mouth
of the well, upon which they would pay
but l cent royalty. The Cudahay COM
pany's counsel admitted that this might
lie the result but contended that the In
dians could trust this corporation to do
the fair thing. Attorneys for the Indians
stated that they would decline to accept
the assurance, and insisted that the leases
would merely place the Indians at the
mercy OF a gigantic corporation. They
oontended that the granting of the leases
would result in the formation of the
greatest trust of the century 1t would
NC CAblACl NAl6 CldlEQdIu Oil COMPANY OF
something worse. Messrs. Logan and
Hutchins asserted that there was reason
10 believe that the Standard Oil company
was playing its usual game, setting up a
pretended opposition which would, in fact.
be working for its own interest and in
any event the monopoly would be worse
than the Standard Oil as It now exists,
for While that company controls the ave
nues of transportation it has not yet con-
trolled the sources Of product, as would
be the case with the company owning
leases of heimmense territory involved
In this case would do. The Indians at
torneys bOntended that if the leases were
granted al all they should be to Compel
ing people and cover smaller areas: that
il was not for the interest of the Indians
1hat they should be handed over 70 one
gigantic monopoly; that it was in fact
more than a question Of dollars to them,
as it involved the environment Of their
homes and whether they should be al
lowed to live and rear children in a COM
munity where they were equal, OF in the
hands Of a foreign monopoly, where every
body working was a vase Garner to a
foreign taskmaster, and d rent payer TO
4 foreign landlord. Secretary Hitchcock
asked the attorneys many questions and
seemed to be impressed with the points
made against leasing of this vast tract TO
one corporation, which would give It con-
troll Of more oil land than is in the hands
Of any other concern in North America.
The lawyers for the Indians are hopeful
that the secretary viii not reverse the
decision of some months ago. which was
unfavorable TO the Cudahay company.
This important matter had been brought
TO the department upon appeal several
times and every effort is being made u
induce the granting Of leases on terms
which viii enable the controlling of all
oil lands in the Indian territory by one
or two gigantic corporations. The oppo-
nents Of this policy believe they strength
Rned theIr casa II the h.a-Inc- -,lnr-