The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-10
ONLY TIME
THE INDIANS
EVER VOTED
How Poor Lo Was Used to
Save an Oklahoma County.
GIVEN A BIG BARBECUE
Tom Ferguson Relates the
Story of the Plan.
GIVEN A BIG BARBECUE

stance that While the statesmen ate Aeei4
fuI of extending support to the Porto
Ricans and the Fnipinos the government
had no hesltancy in giving the power 10
vote TO the Cheneyennes and Arapahoes-
1t is noteworthy that the Indians exercis-
ed the right hut once and then only
through the utmost persuasion
Territorial Chairman Ferguson in d
reminiscent OF early political DAYS in
Watonga relates this use Of the REQ Men.
He writes:
.'The campaign of 1892 was the only one
in the history of Blaine county in which
the Indians were looked after. 1t was
evident from pretty accurate poll that
the Republicans could not win over fus-
ion with about forty Republicans in the
county kicking over the traces. The
old commissioners Garland and Price,
had not done things TO suit the people,
and the result was a general uprising
against them 1t reached the campaign.
We had to have some votes TO offset the
boiling Republicans and the only way
was TO vote the "Injuns." John Williams.
a young full-blood Indian, was nominated
on the Republican ticket for register of
deeds. A consultation with the big IN
juns'' was held. They were told that the
white man wanted them to come right in
with him and be brother; that
they must be like the white man and live
in houses. farm go to school. wear cloth
Is and hold office After a long con-
sultation the big men Of the tribe decided
that John Williams should so on the
ticket John promised twenty-five In
dian votes. The Republicans had figur-
ed it out and only needed fifteen votes TO
win out Seventeen Indian votes were
cast. The lowest candidate on the Re
publican ticket had majority of five,
consequently John Williams and his
young Indian citizens FILED a pressing
want
Under the Organic Act. it was held that
any Indian who lived on his allotment IS
a citizen and has a right to vote The
Democrats We're after the Indians. too.
Travers. the Democratic nominee for
congress. donated enough money for a
barbecue and had two beeves killed for
the Indians on the river below Watonga.
The Republican committee later on had
four beeves killed for them and they were
informed that they We're eating Republi-
can and Dennis Flynn beef. One Indian
chief made a speech and said that Trav-
ers was heap stingy. Dennis Flynn and
Republican men give heap beef Ed Gill
roy. then Indian farmer. managed the
barbecue. The barbecue was not held
i'm the interest of Mr. Flynn, but in the
interest of the Republican county ticket,
which at that time was short on votes
according to its own inventory.
Some amusing things took place in
regard TO voting the Indians. The fus-
ionists. finding that the Republicans had
the Johns made sport of them as voters
The following from the Rustler and Re-
publican Of October u. 1892. shows how
Blaine county journalism was in those
good old days of yore during the cam
paign:
L would rather dwell in the salt re
gions Of salt river forever than depend
for my election on an Indian VINO cannot
tell ballot from the bray of jackass -
Rustler.
All, you would Is that the way the
Indians are considered by the opposition?
Wen. now just wait until November and
YOU Will ascertain that the Indians can
not only tell the difference between the
bray of a jackass and a ballot but they
can also tell the difference between a
jackass and a man and they viii all vote
for Martin for probate Judge. The In
dams are not fools. mark that down
They viii show the people Of this county
i'm November next that they know how
to vote for good men. They VIII vote
the Republican ticket -Watonga Repub-
Hcan.
Journalism in those olden days was
plain ID. J. Martz was then editor of
the Rustler and also candidate for pro-
bate Judge on the fusion ticket. The way
that he went after Chas. shaw, Geo
Raiuey. ". IT, Tompllins. Seymour Foose
I.afe Long the noodle sheet and others
was wild and picturesque The Rustler
always referred TO the Republican as the
Doodle sheet This paper had the coun-
ty printing In wax OF return compli-
ment the Rusder was always spoken Of
as The Kunners Hoss Bill. But 50 far
q we know no literary bureau ever asked
for copies of either publication To place
on exhibition as specimens of advanced
literature.
'.The following is another broadside
that the Rustler fired az Poor 10. the In
diam
The greatest outrage that cSn be per-
petrated against the right 81 suffrage
(which IS the only right the poor man
has lef0 is now perpetrated by q conspi-
racy Of evil dishonest men 10 vote the
barbarous indian. '-Rustler.
Going south aEaia. Kennel 0nly a
few weeks age while vou stia Thought q
nomination Tor probate Judge ou tie Re
publican ticket i possibility. YOU. ia cou-