The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-22
CONTEST DECIDED BY INDIANS.
The Status of North Carolina Indians De-
cided an Election Case.

>AfN 49, ~
The Cherokee Indians of North Carolina
numbered by the last Federal census 1855,
and there were by the same census in North
Carolina 231 " Indians not taxed" this being
the distinction between Indians having the
right to vote and Indians not having that privi.
lege. Indians not taxed are tribal Indians
whose relations with the Government Of the
United States are regulated by treaty indians
paying taxes are Indians who have surrendered
their allegiance 10 their chiefs and have be-
come American citizens with all the rights,
privileges and responsibilities which hat re-
lation implies.
The State Senate Of North Carolina at Raleigh
has recently decided a contested election be-
tween Cannon and Franks from the extreme
western or mountain district. Cannon, n Dem
ocrat. contended that the election Of Franks. a
Republican. was obtained by the votes of
Cherokee Indians in Swain county who were
not qualified electors. The Committee on
Elections. to whom the matter was referred.
d f6s freo tR" Of '9 1SiS, l a@d s66 aTH %P ba tr regos ai igsd
rs citizens OF North Carolina. Franks retained
his seat.
Of less than 1000 in an area Of 1926 SQUARE
n. Y. and Inhabited chiefly by backwoodsmen
in the region OF the Great smoky Mountains,
North Carolina and Tcnnesses' though they do
not constitute any boundary line between the
inhabitants, those or. the kentuckv-TenncsSco
side being in fact the same as on the North
The relation of Indians to the suffrage has
controversy in The election laws Of the United
States In Arizona all Indians are excluded
M MIN TSrf't nmtax6 SHI Tndrans are im s mlSn a fr a%n
rights which in the former State aliens enjoy.
lRc M ssmS 1I1Ic pn'a astSr i@GiG With ST idi inrln fdI6n IN
insane persons and citizens who have not paid
their taxes In Montana and Nevada all IN
Mexico. all Indians ara excluded. except
homa Indians having tribal relations are ox-
cludud from the rights OF suffrage. as they are
in Wyoming. while in Washington the untnXed
marked ppee'cuiiarity Of American election laws
Indian population is considerable the suffrage
Of Indians Is rigidly provided against, whereas
is small, they are admitted to the rights Of sui;
irage under terms similar to those prescribed
The total number Of Indians in the United
States is, substantially, 2lO.OOO. ~ whom 49,
600 are on reservations. 65,OOO are members Of
balance are either taxed Indians or Indians en-
In@yipg some goTcrnmental ex"mPtion, Ltlle
the Xpaches. at Mount Vernon. who are under
the control Of the War Department, and the Six
chiefly in or near OnondaRa county.
In "a close election contest, such as the ono
which has been recently determined in North
Carolina. the importance OF the Indians and
their status might. in some closely contested
sideration that the Raleigh Senate, which has
determined this question, comprises 10 Flu
sionists and 40 Democrats. whereas the
Raleigh House of Representatives has an oyrl.-
whelmiDg Democratic majority. largo enough
TO override the Republicans IN that body,
Indian voters have never been a factor in cleo
tions In the State Of New York, though there
are nearly twice as many indians IN thls State