Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1900-04-05
THE CLAIMANTS VIEW.
Why they Mistrustthe Dawes
Commission.
Welch, March 81, 1900.

Welch, March 81, 1900.
Editor Chieftain-Sir: l am in
receipt of @ letter which asks me
why the claimants and the people
who are residing in the Indian
Territory seem to be opposing the
Dawes commission in its efforts to
finally settle the questions which
have been the source of contention
in your country. And, as the let
ter is written apparently in the
spirit of fairness, | desire to an
swer the game through the col
umns of your paper, knowing that
public discussion of a proposition
of this importance can reasonably
do no harm, and may result in a
great deal of good to our people.
/ am reasonably we'll informed
as to the acts of the Dawes COM
mission, for as party in interest
l have watched them from the day
the commission was instituted, not
as a critic, but as one who desired
to see the Indian Territory all that
it should be, both as to the chsrac-
ter of its people and the preserva-
ton of the rights of those who re-
sided therein.
Without exception the claimants
or tbs nsn- siazens in all the ave
civilized tribes welcomed the crea-
ton of the Dawes commission.
We believe that congress was in
tending to provide a remedy for
wrongs which existed, and We be-
lieved that this was the first off,
cial recognition of the existence of
wrongs which required a legal
remedy. The reports of that COM
mission for the year 1895 have now
become historical. They set forth
the condition of affairs in the In
dian nations, a condition without
parallel in the history of govern
ment in this country. No stronger
arraigument OF any form has ever
been written than this document
which resulted in the passage by
congress of the Curtis act, and the
assumption by the United States,
irrespective of treaty stipulations,
of the right to provide a means Of
protection for all of the people
within the territory.
After the report Of the year 1895
was written the personel of the
Dawes commission was changed
that is, its active working per-
sonel. Senator Dawes, against
whom nothing can be or ever has
been alleged, assumed the nOm-
inal workmanship Of the commits
sion. He came to the Indian Ter
riiory for a very short time, but if
he participated in the active work
OF the commission do not know
1t, and the ordinary claimant for
citizenship does not know it.
The work of the commission was
divided Mr.. Needles looked after
the freemen. Mr. Bigsby attended
to the Office at MusKogee. This
left Mr.. McKennon in charge of
practically all the work in the
field, and the field work Is where
the Dawes commission came in
contact with the people-with
those persons whom it is my be-
lief ii was the intent of congress TO
provide remedy for and to afford
protection from the existing con-
ditions which rendered them un.
able TO protect either their per-
sonal or property rights.
In the Cherokee nation there
were large number Of persons
who had no shadow of a Just or
equitable claim for consideration.
This was admitted by the honest
claimants and has never been de-
MED by them. But this did not,
or should not, prejudice the rights
of those who were honest and who
did have just and equitable claims
for consideration. We believed
that the Dawes commission was
appointed for the purpose of in
vestigating the rights OF the par
ties. We went before them. We
submitted for their consideration
the proof of Indian blood or resi-
dence in the territory and asked
sI,e--r-'rJ o-ljj---'s~-.I-----ne neonle. and
under the evidence 20 protect the
estate of inheritance which came
to them from their fOrefathers.
We are informed, and | believe
correctly, that the Dawes commits
sion, through its active officer,
purchased rubber stamp with the
word rejected" prepared thereon
and that instead Of having our
claims adjudicated, the only con-
sidaration va raceivad vsa tho usa