The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-02-06
A CALL TO THE PEOPLE
To Send Delegates to a Territorial
Convention on the 22nd.


tory:
In the judgment of those who have
long resided in the Indian Territory,
and who have been familiar with its
conditions, it is today in the most
distressful state in its history. Un-
certainty prevails everywhere and
with reference to everything. Every
interest, every class, every vocation
is paralyzed with doubt. The farm
ers are perplexed, not knowing
whether. If they plant a crop, they
will be permitted to gather it; the
business man cannot buy his stock
with safety because he cannot know
what the normal demand for his
goods may be; the dwellers in towns
cannot view the future with assur-
ance because they cannot know,
whether, in the general depression,
their ability will be equal to the bur-
den which they must meet in the way
of paying the required percentage of
the valuation of their lots, nor
whether this burden will be ruinously
heavy, nor the time when it must be
lifted. The Indian is hampered with
restrictions and cannot make a sat
isfactory contract with his tenant,
because of the conditions stated, nor
improve his lands himself because lie
cannot know with certainty where
his holdings will be.
In the administration of the law, a
very chaos prevails. OF the five In
dian systems, some survive with
powers abridged and without judi
eial functions, and some with frag-
mentary judicial functions whose ex-
istence adds to the general confusion.
Monstrous incongruities are patent
everywhere. The law provides how
a man may acquire a fee simple title
to property in towns, yet, without a
judicial hearing, he may be deprived
of the right to live upon it. A popu-
| lation greater than that of half a
dozen several states exists in the
| heart of the union, the greater part
/ of which is without law under which
! schools can be organized and subject
to alien taxation, not only unjust,
| but oppressive in amount, and which
is levied without voice or represen-
tation on the part of those against
whom the tax is exclusively direct
ed. The insane are without aSylums
but are confined in jails. The or
/ phans and destitute are without
| homes or refuge provided by public
agencies. The bodies of the unclaim
/ ed dead have not even the manner
of their death inquired into by Gus
| tomary inquest nor burial provided
/ by legalized agency. No general laws
exists by which the public health can
be protected from epidemic disease.
| At the rate of progress now being
made in executing the agreement be-
tween the Choctawe and Chickasaws
and the United States government,
and in giving effect to laws hereto
fore enacted for i'll those tribes
which have not reached agreements
with the government, present evil
conditions, instead of being termi
mated within a reasonable time, bid
fair to be continued indefinitely. The
prospect not only disheartens and
discourages but appalls.
Under these circumstances, we be-
lieve that it is the duty of the people
of the Indian Territory to have re-
course to the traditional American
methods; to meet in convention as
sembled, there to agree upon reme-
dies for existing ills and TO concert
lines of action and perfect organiza-
tions by which these may be pressed
upon the attention of congress and
of the people of the United States
both alike ever ready and generous
to relieve when informed of need
to the end that conditions, grown
intoleratle, may be ended. The
people of the Territory have not
heretofore attempted to unite upon
broad lines of action nor with una
nimity of purpose and systematized
endeavor sought to secure legisla-
tion conducive to the general good
of the entire Territory; yet the his
tory of our country teaches us that
demands, founded in Justice. and
urged with moderation but with
assiduity of thought and action, have
never yet failed of success.
We, therefore, request the people
of the Indian Territory, without re-
gard to race or political affiliations,
to meet in mass meeting at every
place in the country at which there
is a postoffice and in every town in
the Territory Tin which places OF
towns infectious disease does not ex-
ist) maturely to consider their in
terest in the light of the presen;
situation, and to select the most pub.
lie spirited and capable of their citi.
zens, and send them as delegates to
] a convention to be held on Washing
toms birthday, the 22nd of February
! 1900, in South McAlester-this place
! being now free of contagiOn and be
. ing selected in Difference to the ma