The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-03-13
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PRIVATE LETTER FROM 5. B.
BRADFORD.
How They Find The SItustion In wash
InGton-They are Given an Attentive
Hearing and are Studying NIL Biiis
Relative to Territory Affairs.

The following private letter has
been received from Judge s. b.
Bradford, now in Washington as
the delegate from the Chickasaw
nation, and inasmuch as it reflects
the situation at the national capi-
tai, the person to whom it was ad-
dressed consents to its publication.
Washington, d. c., March 10.
Dear Strive arrived here We'd
nesday morning at 1:30. DR.. Ben
| nett and Judge Stuart not having
arrived we set about renewing our
acquaintance with heads of depart
ments, congressman and senators
and studying the situation here.
The news of our coming seemed to
have preceded us, and as rule the
salutation is, "Well, what do you
want?" "Get up your bill and ]
will help you what can, but don't
ask for something impossible.
We are trying to find out what is
possible. We have collected all the
bills introduced this session on the
subject of the Indian Territory and
Alaska with view of carving out
bill or bills on lines that the minds
of the members are more or less
| familiar with.
Alaska has as many GLACIERS as IL
has children of school age in its
boundaries, and less people than the
Indian Territory has voters, and yet
there is a bill in the senate contain
ing 6O4 pages, the result of the labors
of committee for more than a year
! and ali for Alaska. The bill was
made a special order in the senate
for last night.
We are glad of this Alaska bill for
it furnishes us the basis for an ar
gument, and comparison.
They propose in the Alaska bill a
cheap territorial government, a gov
ernor, secretary of state, treasurer
and delegate.
The governor has power to con-
tract for the care of the insane, a
prison, etc.
The delegate is appointive and can
be called to Washington at any time
by the department of the interior to
advise with congress snd the depart
ments.
When we ask for a suggestion from
a member he answers by saying we
can probably get something like
what has been promised for Alaska.
They Immediately entrench them
selves by saying that they cannot
say what they. will support until they
see the bill. This latter statement
of theirs is proof that organized ef-
forts have force and when we pre-
pare a bill that suits them and is
satisfactory to the people we repre-
sent, it will pass.
They are afraid of expense and the
creation of any more offices than are
\ necessary. There is, down deep in
the breast of every old member at
least, a burning desire to get rid OF
this whole.Indian Territory business
by giving us local self government.
We answer and say hurry up the al
lotment of the lands, and survey,
plat and sell our towns and let US
organize as a state or territory.
Finishing tie rolls, alloting the
lands and selling the townsites, is
the saw-log that is breaking the
camel's back. They all recognize
the fact that these things must come
and that 1.-THE longer the matter il
put off, the worse the conditions in
the Territory.
The Greek delegation is here with
Gov. Porter working on a treaty
They say they are about to agree
Gov. Porter expressed to the writer
yesterday strong desire to cooper.
ate with our delegation in obtaining
the remedies we ask.
, We are hopeful that on the next
committee meeting day, Thursday Of
next week, we will have a tangible
proposition ready.
We cannot be heard before the
house committee but can by the SEN
ate committee.
We shall call on the president in
; the meantime, also at the interior
? department and department oi
$ Justice.
. So far we have had no trouble in
, engaging the attention of those we
desire to present our complaints to
Yours respectfully,
q 5. b. BRADFORD.
Prepare for Easter by getting