Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1900-08-23
KEE-TOO-wAHS MEET.
Ancient Cherokee 0rganlza-
ton in Convention.

met in convention at Bug Tuck
er's spring, Tahlequah district,
Cherokee nation, August 18th,
this being the regular place Of
meeting.
The Kee.too.wAh society was 70.
organized in the year 1859. They
have a written constitution and
code Of laws.
They are a law abiding people
and their sessions are opened with
prayer and singing. The council
is composed Of q delegates; 3 from
each Of the 8 dristicts 10 the Cher
okee nation.
The convention was called to
order by Hon. Daniel Redbird,
the head captain Of said society,
on the morning Of the 18th. No
quorum being present the conven.
tion adjourned until 8 o'clock 8.
M, August 14th. Convention met
according to adjournment, and all
delegates answered to the roll call.
The head captains made their an.
nual report to the convention and
also made recommendation for
the committee to act upon.
The executive department is
composed Of Daniel Redbird, Pres.
ident; David Muskrat and Wolf
Coon, assistants. They have the
vetoeing power Of ali bills and
resolutions that the council may
pass.
The committee passed a resolu-
tion to have a general rally Of the
convention on the 18th Of August,
at 2:30 p. m. AT the appointed
hour procession was Immediate
ly formed in line, lead by the
head captains, the council, a Cher.
okee choir and all old soldiers of
the 2nd and 3rd regiments who
we're present. They then marched
under the flag Of stars and stripes
ever loved by all true Americans.
The flag is a elk United States
flag and was presented to the so.
ciety by ladies of Philadelphia
shortly after the civil war, and
bears the following inscription:
"Flsg of the Kee-too. wah warriors,
friends Of the union" After
reaching the shed prayer was Of
iered by Rev. -, the flag was
hoisted, then America" was con.
tributed by a choir from Table
quah, after which a history of the
flag was given in detail by John
Mcintosh. Also speeches were
made by Daniel Gritts and David
Muskrat, who were late delegates
to the city of Washington. Mr..
Muskrat compared our present
condition with nearly that Of 1866,
when that unjust treaty OF '66 was
forced upon the Cherokees. He
also read letter written by Chief
John Ross, in 1866, to Capt. Pegg,
who was then a delegate to Wash.
ington. Said letter was in oppo-
sition to the treaty of '66.
Mr.. Muskrat said he was sorry
to say the nation had men at the
head of affairs whom be feared
we're not true men and was una
bic to cope with our situation in
the premises and that they are
not representing the true wants of
our people in trying to enforce the
late treaty upon them.
Mr.. r. NJ. Wolfe was called up
on to address the convention in
English, but declined TO do so.
After the speaking the conven-
tion again formed in line around
the shed and prayer was offered by
Rev. -, then the Cherokee
choir furnished music while a gen.
eral hand.shaking took place.
This part of the program was a
sad scene.
Mr.. John Vaile's report on the
emigrant four million claim was
read before the convention for the
information OF those interested.
The report shows a favorable
condition Of the claim and Mr..
Vale expects to be able to get it
next congress.
The convention adjourned on
the 10th after having passed some
ringing resolutions and bills.
The Kee-too-wah society is more
firmly united than ever and will
stand by their rights regardless of
the consequence.
Mr.. John Brown, of Stillwell,
United States marshal, and a Mr..
Eldridge, also an Indian police, OF
Braggs, we're present to see that
nothing occurred to disturb peace.
I a f. a