The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-02-01

Xiii the Backdoor Policy and Give Us
Territorial PORN of Government.

n
Purcell, Ind. Ter, Jan. 3l.-A citi-
zen Of Purcell says In regard to the
Lewis convention: The movement
inaugurated by Judge Yancey Lewis'
ex, United States Judge OF the GEN.
tral district, calling for convention
of representative citizens OF the
Indian Territory for the purpose OF
discussing needed legislation, ls
meeting With hearty response from
the business men of the Territory.
The call, which will be made in few
DAYS, will probably designate Purcell
az a place for holding the conven-
tlon. A representative body of the
intelligent, thinking, conservative
class will be in attendance. The
present deplorable condition of the
inhabitants of the Indian Territory
demands immediate action on the
part of congress, and this conven-
ton will in no uncertain way forcibiy
bring to the attention of the present
session of congress the conditions
that now prevail. While there is di-
yersity of opinion in regard to the
details, ii is now believed the con-
vention will be in favor of the i'm
mediate erection of territorial form
of government.
The legislation enacted by congress
in the last five years, together with
the rulings, orders, decisions aud
suggestions of the various commits
sions, have only succeeded in render
ing more chaotic the conditions that
at that time prevailed. AT present
the opinion of the most ignorant full
blood in the Territory is worth mere
on any legal proposition fixing the
status Of inhabitants than is the
opinion of the most profound jurist.
Business in all lines is paralyzed,
the courts are being overrun with
unlawful detainer suits and the jails
are being filed with persons attempt
ing to enforce their believed rights
with the shotgun, Winchester and
sixshooter.
1t has been said by prominent citi-
zens within the last three weeks that
the rivers of this country would run
red with the blood OF land jumpers,
unless some immediate and decisive
action was taken by the government
to prevent the controversies arising
from land leases.
There are now estimated to be liv-
ing within the borders of the Indian
Territory 500, 1000 Indians, whites,
and negroes. whose status in the
United States government is not
even that Of the Cuban, Hawaiian,
Porto Rican or Filipino. They are
political outcasts, and government
orphans, and they are forced to beg
at the back door of congress for that
which as an American citizen, they
have the inherent right to go to the
front door and demand.
1t is inconsistent with the nature
of the American citizenship that
such conditions can longer prevail.
The convention soon to be held will
bring this matter in a forcible man.
ner to the attention of the national
legislature, and it is not at all i'm
probable that a solid train load of
representatives will go to Washing
ton city and present the request of
the people. The old pigeon hole
route for legislation in this country
has made the inhabitants sick and
sore of this method. The expecta-
ton that government employees,
whose salaries depend on the con-
tinuance of the present condition,
will recommend change, will not
be realized, that the time seems ripe
when decisive action must be taken
to bring about the desired results.
II think would go crazy with pain
were it not for Chamberlain's Pain
Balm," writes Mr.. w. III. Stapleton,
Hermanie, Pa. 81 have been afiict-
ed with rheumatism for several years
and have tried remedies without
number, but Pain Balm is the best
medicine / have got hold Of" One
application relieves tbs pain. Sold
by City Drug Store and T. N. Cole
man.