The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-12
ATTACK FROM TEXAS
Congressman Stephens Sails
Into the Administration.
He ALLEGES CONSPIRACY
With CattIemen TO Prevent
Opening of Indian Lands.

Ell Reno, o. T., Nov. u.-Congressman
John H. Stephens of Texas has mounted
his high horse and bounced down on the
Republican party, charging that it is
working in behalf of the cattlemen and
Indian traders in not taking steps to open
up the Kiowa, Comance and Arapahoe
country to settlement. Some time ago the
editor of the Ryan Record received let
ter from the department of the interior
in regard to these lands. Mr.. Sampson,
editor Of the Duncan Banner, sent Con-
gresham Stephens this letter from the
department and asked Stephens his opin-
ion about it and received a reply.
The letter to Editor Coulson of Ryan,
from the departments is as follows:
Sir: This Office is in receipt of your
communication dated September so, 1899,
in which you enclose a newspaper clip
ping containing an article by one William
Kinman and stating that you would like
very much to have the decision of this
office as to whether the Kiowa and Com
anche lands are open for homestead en-
try
In reply you are advised that by the
second article of tine treaty with the
Kiowa and Comanche Indians concluded
October q, 1867 C5 Stat. 5S2), the United
States agreed that a certain described
district of country (now included in the
boundaries Of the Kiowa and Comanche
and Apache reservation shall be and
the same Is hereby set apart for the
absolute and undisturbed use and occu-
for such other friendly tribes of indi-
vidual Indians. as from time to time they
may be willing. with the consent of the
United States, to admit among them
BY the sixteenth article of the said
treaty the tribes agreed to make said
reservation their permanent home. The
twelfth article provided that no treaty
for the cession Of any portion or part of
the reservation which might be held in
common, should be Of any validity or
force against the said Indians unless exc
cuted and signed by at least three-fourths
of all the adult male Indians occupying
the same
There is nowhere in the treaty any
suggestion that the reservation was to be
occupied for any limited time. On the
contrary, it was secured to them by SOL
emn treaty as a permanent home. in
which those who desired were to have
lands allotted them in severalty, the bal
ance TO be retained in common and dis
posed OF only with the consent of three
fourths of all adult male Indians BY a
treaty concluded on the same date the
Apaches became incorporated with the
Kiowas and Comanches.
1.-THE fact that this reservation was Ia
part of the leased district has no eff
feet upon its status las the Choctaws and
Chickasaws conveyed the leased district
to the United States for the purpose of
settling friendly Indians thereon, and the
Kiowas. Comanches and Apaches were
so settled
AN agreement was concluded with the
Kiowas, etc, some years ago, by which
they coded the surplus lands remaining
after allotments should be made to them
10 the United States, but as this agree
ment has never been ratified by con-
gress, it is null and void. There are no
lands In the Kiowa, Comanche and
Apache reservation open to homestead or
other white settlement. and persons at
tempting to make such settlements sub
feet themselves to removal as trespassers
and to the penalties prescribed by the
statutes and can acquire no possible
rights IN or to the lands attempted to be
settled upon. Respectfully
"a. C. TANNER,
Assistant Commissioner"
The letter of Congressman Stephens of
Texas, to Mr.. Sampson Of Duncan is as
follows:
Vernon, Texas Nov / 1899
"Mr. ]. P. Sampson, Duncan. L T.:
Dear Sir and Friend: Your letter and
newspaper clipping at hand. I had re-
celved a copy of the letter before I re-
to you your copy.
The rascally lot of Republican officials
in the Indian office are doing all they
can TO prevent the opening of the Fort
Sill reservation. believe that they now
are, and have all along. been, working in
the interest of cattlemen. Indian traders
etc. He. Tanner. says the treaty with the
Comanche and Kiowas of (of '92) is null
and void because congress has not rati-
fed ii. This is an untruth. for congress
can ratify 1t at any time. l will re-intro-
duCe my bill at the beginning of the next
session December next and feel conn
dent that it will pass. and that the treaty
of 80 will be ratified by congress the
lands allotted to the Indians, and the rest
thrown open to settlement under the
treaty. and as prescr bed for in my bill.
With sentiments Of highest esteem. am
very truly your friend
JOHN II. STEPHENS"