The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-07-31
RESIST IT
White Men in The Indian Ter
ritOTy Sure Of tha
Tribal Tax,

Gradually awakening 10 The fact
that unless they ssAs ior their rights
they viii never gei iAs1, the white
people Of the Indian ;erritory have de-
eided 20 back TIE izis-i,o1s tribal
tax Commenting O TIE fact that
in recent decision tse interior de.
psrtmeut held Mat iAs CARTS set does
not relieve uor-sitirszs purchasing
town lots within tie Indian nations in
tae Indian territory from paying the
permi; Itax or License Zee imposed Dy
the tribal authorities. ths E1tAla Jour.
usl says: The tribal tax levied
against white traders of the Eve civil
lied tribes i TAX of Fer cent on all
goods handled duriug the year. As
the merchants t1rn ths.r stocks sever
= times in tce so1rse ot The year the
tax ranges from 70 Der cent accord
ing 20 the amour. and class Of bust
ness done. The occupation tax is also
levied 6y the tribes against the white
professional men. Il Is paid by white
lawyers d3etors, newspaper men, etc
These taxes are levied 20 pay expenses
Of Indian governments, in wrich white
men have 10 vote or voice, and of In
dian schools, from which white child
rer are excluded. TIE towns N which
the white payers OF this Indian tax
live are Incorporated under an act Of
congress. They are taxed 70 support
these interpretations and also 70 sup.
port system OF free schools for the
towns. The Indians n ths ,incorpo-
ra.e limits hold Offices in the town
governments and their children attend
the free schools o1t they DO net pay
the school taxes. TIE slice ase tax
and the occupation tax paid by the
white traders and professional men
the Inciau governments were paid in
yearf gone oy without q murmur be-
cause they obtained monopoly in the
trade, such license bang very much
restricted and hard - obtain. IL lat
er years, however. anybody who
choO5ts can do business in the Five
Tribes, but the United States govern
ment insists that all white men not
Intermarried with Indian citizers con-
tinue 70 pay the tax though there is
low clCse competitor il business and
Indian and iLtermsrried competitors
Of the white merchants ard protes-
s.ODsl men do not pay the taxes. IN
der act Of congress in some Of the
Five Tribes. by treaty IN others, anc
Under 0-ta act ard treaty, IN still
others the white people are enabled
= own fee simple ~. e 20 town lots in
which they have hitherto only claimed
occupancy under license trade clause
ia the treaties. These fee simple tit
les are obtained by purchase. al an
appraised price, rect from the tribes
under the supervision Of the interior
department Of The United States gov
ernment.
Now, says the interl3r department
notwithstanding the white men have
fee simple titles 70 the lands on which
they reside and do business, and not
withstsnding they pay for town gov
ernment and for free schools Of their
own, they must still psy license and
an occupation tax 70 the Indian gov
ernmeuts in which trey have no part,
70 support Indian schools. which white
children cannot attend. The same
being a class tax, levied without the
consent Of the taxed by an Indian
legislature, in which they are rot rep
resented.
Aud the great constitutional govern
ment Of the United States says take
must still be paid, or the American
citizens refusing % pay them will be
removed from the towns, which they
own. IS intrudeTs. No, they won't be-
removed either. As fast as white
. people acquire fee simple titles 10 town
lots jest so fast they refuse 70 pay
tribal taxes. When the officers come
20 eject them the United States courts
will be asked % enjOin them and re-
strain them from com mmitting an illegal
act. Any judge 80 weak.kneed. igno-
rant or corrupt as 20 refuse such an
Injunction ought 10 and will be bissed
out Of the Indian Territory by $50. 900
Indignant white peODle