The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-23

| ton among the Peoria and AIiamis is an
! interesting page in the history Of the In
dian Territory. The northeast corner OF
the territory is occupied by eight small
| tribes and their lands have all been al
| lotted The Peorias and Miamis were al
| 1otted under special act passed March
| 2, 1888 The other tribes took their allot-
ments under the general law. but the
Peorias were not satisfied with that law
| and went before congress for d special
act This they secured by taking time by
| the forelock and not waiting for the mat
ter to be forced upon them.
The next step in the progress of the
Peorias was taken May 2 1891 when an
act was passed by congress comforting
upon them the rights of citizenship. This
act only applied to the United Peorias.
but the Miamis obtained the same rights
under decision Of the courts to the ef-
feet than an Indian became a citizen of
the United States upon taking his allot-
ment.
The act of allotment gave each mem
Der of the tribe 200 acres of land and the
next step the obtaining permission to sell
one-half Of their lands. This act passed
June ?, 1897 and under its provisions 12,00)
acres have been sold out of total OF So
900. The lands have brought from s. to
$40 an acre, and is considered valuable
for both mineral and agricultural pur-
poses.
The next step in the advancement of
the Indians of that part of the territory
is now being taken, which is an effort to
have the whole eight tribes organized into
county and attached to Oklahoma. The
tribes which come under the proposed
county are the Peorias, Memis, Quapaws.
Ottawas, Wyandotes, Shawnees, Senecas
and Modocs.
The Modocs are still held as prisoners
Of war, having been located there after
the close of the war which made their
name familiar to all the people of the
west. Their lands have been allotted but
they are the most backward tribe of the
lot.
The initial step toward organizing a
county government was taken as far
back as 1892, but nothing came of it. The
present movement began at a meeting
held in Miami, December 10, 1897, at
which there We're Representatives of seven
of the eight tribes. At that meeting O. |
J. Nicholson was elected chairman and
D. w. Cooter, secretary. The chairman |
appointed a committee of four who drew
up the following resolutions. which We're
adopted by a unanimous vote:
Be it resolved, That it is the sense of |
this meeting that we, the citizens of the |
Quapaw agency, Indian Territory, are in |
favor of, and DESTROYS of being organized |
into a county and annexed 10 the terri |
tory Of Oklahoma; be it further
Resolved, That we ask the cooperation |
of the delegates of Oklahoma to further
our interest in this county organization
for which we ever pray.
W. G. LABADIE, Chairman.
FRANK BEAVER,
D. w. TALBOT,
c. E. MIDDAUGH.
Since that time the matter has been
agitated and at the opening of
the present session of congress, Delegate
Flynn introduced bill to organize Qua
paw county and attach it to Oklahoma
They have a permanent organization to
assist in the matter and this organization
meets every two weeks. At a Meeting
held February II, 1900. it was decided to
oSIu LNO ueItSdleS 10 W aSDlnStOQ 10
work in conjunction with Dennis T.
Flynn. As a result Messrs. Talbot and
Yantis. two of the most influential citi-
.ens, have gone to Washington in the in
crest of the bill
In speaking of the reasons for wanting
his change, Mr.. Beaver said: What is
he use of educating the Indian If you do
lot turn him loose to do for himself. If
he Indian does not have a right and OPP
'ortunity to use his education, it is soon
ost, and there is no chance to use it
lnder tribal government and upon reser-
-auons. We wanted an opportunity to
ak ourselves to support schools, build
BRIDGES and make good roads We are
itizens of the United States in the eyes
f the law and wanted to be citizens in
Iced We want to vote and exercise the
ull measure Of American citizenship
of course our lands are not taxable.
'ut then we have plenty of property and
re not afraid Of the question Of taxa
Ion. The rate may be pretty high. but
hen that is not worrying US. When we
et this bill through we will be somebody
nd have an equal chance with the rest
( the people. and we are willing to paw
whatever it costs"