The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-02-25
ARE como TO FIGHT.
,odian commissioners Are AgaiHst
the Convention.

Iodian Commissioners Are AgaiHSt
the Convention.
While the delegates to the South
McAlester convention were enroute
to that place Wednesday the Choc-
raw and Chickasaw commissioners
were drafting resolutions at Atoka
urotestiag against the changes likely
70 be demanded by the resolutions
Of the convention. Their resolutions
we're as follows:
10 the Honorable Secretary of the
Interior: We, your memorialists,
rspresenting the Choctaw and Chick
ssaw tribe of Indians, beg leave to
address you upon a matter of ma.
uonal andAindividnal import to the
choetaw and Chickasaw nations.
A convention, purporting to be
convention of representative men of
the indian Territory, has been call
al to meet at South McAlester, l. T.,
Feb. %, 1900. This convention is
really and in efact convention of
non-citizens residing and doing busi-
nass in the Indian Territory. The
ayowed purpose of this convention,
"a published in the convention call
and advanced in their primary meet
ines held for the purpose of electing
delegates, is to. secure by congress
sionai legislation the abolishment of
tribal taxes and the dissolution of
tribal government and customs. In
lien of and as a substitute OF the
Government which they seek to
overthrow, the non citizen element
would ask the United States govern
ment to establish territorial form
Of government and appoint terri
torial governor.
The inroads heretofore made upon
tribal autonomy have been marked
in their effect to diVest the Indians
Of authority and control OF their own
AFFAIRS. The Choctaws and Chicka-
.aWs. sensible OF the evils OF this
slow but constant transition, turn to
the United States government for
remedy. The United States govern
1uent, through its agent duly author
jzed for the purpose, indicated TO
the Choclaws and Chickasaws way
nv which further rayages of their
rights, property rights and policy
could be arranged. This plan sug-
gested by the United States govern
ment was embraced faithfully by the
Cboctaw and Chickasaw people. and
i. that set forth in the Dawes Choc-
taw.Chickasaw agreement, Sec. 20,
of the act of congI ess approved
June Is, 1898 go L. =. statute at
large, 495).
Now, as a elimination of annoy
ing aVarice, the non-citlzens not
only of the Indian Territory but OF
adjoining states will join in me-
mortal to congress to throw open the
lands of the Indian Territory to the
non-citizens' possession without
recompense to the Indians, the
rightful and acknowledged owners
of the land. Congress will be asked
70 disregard the lawful rights of the
Indians to the exclusive greed, and
thus set justice at etiance.
The Choctaws and ChickAsaws are
heartily in favor of any plan to ex-
pedite the allotment of lands and the
settlement of townsite matters, pro-
vided always, that such plan shall
conform strictly to the provisions or
the Dawes Choctaw ChickasaW
agreement, or maintain consistency
herewith.
The Choctaws and Chickasaws
have ever INDUCED firm reliance In
the provisions of said treaty or
agreement; they have arranged their
affairs both national and private
with respect to this agreement, and
have calculated upon the faithful
and specific performance OF Its pro-
visions by both United States gov
ernment and the Choctaw and Chick
asaw tribes of Indians.
We, the commissioners on the part
of the Choctaw and OhickasaW tribes
of Indians, appointed and authorized
to adjust any differences that may
exist between said tribes, and for
other purposes, deem it expedient
that we should, as a matter OF duty
to our people, call the attention OF
the interior department to the pro-
ject, which seems to do injustice.
We would moat earnestly beseecn
the department of the interior 10
protect our rights as guaranteed Dy
the Dawes Choctaw Chickasaw
agreement, aud ask that the DE
mands OF seltishness be ignored In
Difference to solemn treaty rights.
Respectfully submitted,
G. w. DUKES,
DC. MCCURTAIN,
A. TELLE,
Choctaw Commissioner.
Ed B. JOHNSON,
JOSIAH BROWN,