The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-25
THEIR WANTS STATED
Indian Territory Convention
al South McAleSter
DOESN'T MINCE MAT TIERS
But Demands of Congress
That Relief Be Extended.
DOESN'T MINCE MAT TIERS

in either of the. territories. Delegates
were here in force from every postoffice
in the territory and every townsite in the
Five Tribal Nations, and every commun1-
ty of business men sent interested spec
tators. Nearly 600 delegates were seated
and they were Of every political belief
and business occupation. This remarka-
Die demonstration came as a ground
swell, the result of conditions which
everybody has known for a year should
dc remedied. When once the movement
was started the response was spontane-
Gus and overwhelming One Of the things
which brought about the meeting was
tho non-enforcement of the Curtis law.
The Curtis law was designed to take the
place Of the tenant system, which had
prevailed for years. The whites who rad
Come into ahe territory were forced to
rent or lease lands and town lots for
short terms and at high rentals from the
Indians. The Indians could not ALLEVIATE
the lands and could only give right of
occupancy, carrying no title whatever and
only a vague and indefinite right in the
premises. Under such agreements the
property reverted at the end Of short
terms to the tribes, to be renewed at the
option CT the tribes. The system was
crude and industrial progress was slow
The Indians encouraged white inmigra-
ton, but We're without the power to in
crease or extend the facilities for doing
business. The old race prejudice died
out and it was realized that the tribes
could ALLEVIATE their lands and be large
gamers, not only by conveyance of titles,
but by participation in the tremendous
development which would follow land
holding and selling among all classes in
the territory.
1t was these conditions and changes in
Indian sentiment which made the Curtis
bill acceptable to the Indians, who have
come voluntarily under its operation, In
der that law there is to be allotment to
the Indians of land in severaIty. and they
can convey title under unimportant limit
ations. This law, with some modiffca-
tions, is the basis of the understanding
with the Chckasaws, Choctaws, and is in
full force in the Cherokee and Creek ma
lions 1t was expected TO mark the be-
ginning Of an era of rapid development.
Confidence in the efficacy of the law to
do its intended work is still strong. but
TWO years have passed and conditions are
mulch worse than under the old plan The
law has remained almost without en-
forcement- The Dawes commission.
which is responsible for its enforcement.
finds itself totally unable to discharge
the immense amount of work devolving
upon it under the Curtis law with the
amount Of men and money at its COM
mand. Allotment has made practically
no progress. All the work in that direc-
ton has been done in the wreck nation.
and there it has amounted to but little
although the full-bloods have been nearly
as ready as the lesser bloods or the freed
men to take their aIlotments.
The old development is stopped; the
new development expected has not com
menced; conditions are made worse than
ever before. The Indians are joint suf-
ierers with the whites, upon whom the
uncertain, confusing and demoralizing
conditions with now prevail rest heavily.
1t was hoped that the agencies and forces
set in motion by the new order of things
would bring allotments speedily. The
hope has not been realized. The force in
control of the commission has not been
large enough and the appropriation las
not been large enough to increase it. in
1he meantime business is at a compare
tive standstill. The landlord suffers as
much as the tenant He is without GER
tainty Of the future as much as the man
TO whom he rents the right of occupancy
All interests are necessarily postponed
X sol,
dren in the territory outside the town
sites. There are at a low estimate 1900
such children without any educational
opportunities. There is no way of open-
ing and making roads; there is no pro-
vision at all for the care of the insane.
There are no organized agencies for the
relief Of the destitute Conditions have
grown worse so rapidly. and the prospect
Of the diSintegradon of such organized
society as had been perfected under old
arrangements has been so great that old
party and factional differences have been
largely abandoned in the face of the
growing danger.
Heretofore Indian Territory relief
measures have been largely local in char
acter, and have nearly all met defeat
because Of the local antagonisno which
manifested themselves at Washington
There has been little legislation for the
Indian Territory in consequence Of these
diversions. The present conditions and
dangers ara such. however. that a union
Of all the forces in the country. Indian
and white, and regardless Of party or To-
cality, was seen 10 he possible.
The basis of representation was fixed
in the call. but organized action of The
two parties was thought TO be necessary.
This was reached through a Joint call
signed by National Republican Commit
1eeman Bennett and National Democratic
Committeeman Markham This call was
assurance and guarantee that the con-
Vention would be non-parJisan IN char
acter. The call IS Of recent date bur
since It was issued the interest in the
movement has grown rapidly and cul-
minated in the really great convention Of
today.
The following resolutions were adopted
without dissent:
We urge upon congress TO increase The
appropriations for alloting the lands and
appraising the towns in the Indian Terri
tory. and 20 strengthen the administra-
tive agencies and increase the force an
pointed by the government 10 perform
Ihiz work
We favor the abolition Of all taxes
levied 10y the tribal governments upon the
property and vocati0ns OF citizens NJ The
United States resident in The Indian Ter
ri,0ry.
IHasm'tch as the people living outside
o. the towns in the Indian Territory are
without laws and without means 10
orsanfz and maintain schools. Ne urge
upon congress 70 pass necessary laws for