The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-06-04
THE CHEROKEE AGREEMENT.
They Want New Commissioners, But
The Department Is Disguised.

w NhN
copies of the act of the Cherokee
council providing for the appoint
ment of nine commissioners to rep
resent the Cherokee nation in the
preparation of new agreement
with the federal government, have
been received at the Indian office
Before the act becomes effective it
will be necessary to secure its ap'
proyal by President Mckinley, and
from present indications It is ex-
ceedingly doubtful whether this
can be accomplished.
The department, as well as the
leading members of the house and
senate Indian committees, has be-
come disgusted with the action of
the Cherokees in the past and there
is a disposition to reject all further
propositions directed toward the
preparation of any further agree.
ment. The reason for this is not
because the secretary and the com
missioner of Indian affairs are not
anxious to dispose of the disputed
questions between the government
and Indians by some amicable
agreement. but because it has be-
come apparent that the delegates
selected by the tribe are invariably
insincere, to say the least, their
object apparently being to prevent
the opening OF the country through
procrastination and deceptive
methods.
Commissioner Jones will take up
the Cherokee act providing for the
appointment of new commissioners
and submit a report upon it for
the guidance of Secretary Hitch
cock. The commissioner will
probably refrain from making any
specific recommendation either for
or against the approval Of the act
merely contentiug himself with a
review of the history of the past
negotiations with the Cherokees.
What course Secretary Hitch
cock will pursue, is problematical.
Personally he is opposed to any
further negotiations with the In
dians, though he may consent to
the approval of the act in order to
allow the Dawes commission to
draft new treaty with the Chero
KEGS which can either be rejected
by the department when submitted
by the commission, or if satisfac-
tory, sent TO congress for ratifca-
ton. In the meantime, however,
the Curtis law will be rigidly en-
forced and the work of winding up
the tribal government will proceed
as rapidly as possible.
Senator Platt of Connecticut
acting chairman of the committee
on Indian affairs of the senate, is
thoroughly disgusted with the
Cherokees and is in favor of the
enforcement of the Curtis act, and
the refusal on the part of the gov.
ernment TO even consider the ques-
tion of the preparation of a new
agreement.
For the past five years we have
been attempting to secure some
agreement with these Indians,
through their representatives, for
the extinction Of their tribal form
of government. Both the depart
ment aud congress have been most
lenient with the Cherokees and
have afforded them every reason
able opportunity to arrange some
satisfactory treaty. The result has
been that they have construed
our leniency as license to continue
pursuing their dilatory tactics and
thus defeat the aim of the federal
government. | for one am in ia
yor of giving them the Curtis law
in its entirety, without any modi'
fication and refusing them any fur
ther opportunity to negotiate an
agreement. What the department
may do | cannot say, though | feel
sure that there is a disinclination
on the part of Secretary Hitchcock.