The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17
LIVE TOPICS ABOUT TOWN.

Indian Agent Schoenfelt. who has charge
Of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Ter
ritory. and who gained name for himself
/ in quelling recent outbreak among the
Creeks. is n fine specimen OF a man He
, is a giant in stature, and breadth is the
main characteristic of his frame. from
the soles OF his feet to his forehead He
has also broad smile which is captivat-
ing. and his laugh. which is Infectious
makes everyone within earshOt join in
the chorus. He was explaining conditions
! among his Indian charges to group OF
friends gathered around him in the snOk-
ing room of the Normandie Hotel last
night.
Everything is quiet now" said he,
but there seemed tn be trouble brewing
for a little while there. II the Creeks
had succeeded in their efforts they would
no doubt have been Joined by all the other
tribes, and then the Government would
have had trouble on its hands. As IL was,
only the Creeks were concerned In the
disturbance. including, perhaps. very
few individual Seminoles. The main cul-
prits are all under suspended sentences
now as punishment for their treason. To
this there Is one eXceptioH-the Indian
I.atamico, who is initiating Aguinaldo In
more than one of his traits, and who has
taken to the woods.
'Nominally, Latamico was the head Of
the movement. for he was chief Of the
council. Really, however, Crazy Snake
was the leader and organized the disturb
ance. He is particularly willy man, tall,
gauut, and bony, but strong. He cannot
speak word of English, but can handle
the Creek language like a master. AS an
orator he can give cards and spades to
any white man / have ever seen, espe-
cidlly because Of his powers of persua-
sion, which are almost hypnotic. These
.f0sfr. f..Ffas Toe do hs4 # he
disturbance, but he was not able to as
sumo the To be head Of the
grand council a man must have been
elected from a township to the House of
Kings. Crazy Snake had not had that
honor. and Latamico was about the only
man among the agitators who had, which
fact naturally made him leader.
The Creeks had already established Il
government of their own directly In OPP
position to the provisions of their treaties
with the United States. They were dis
satisfied with the allotment of lands de
creed by the United States Government
and were practically in rebellion. They
had set of laws drawn up, one of which
provided that any Indian found leasing
his land to a white man should be whipped
at the stake for the first offence, have his
ears cut off for the second, and be killed
for the third. They had their council in
session and We're inhiCtinG punishment
right and left when we surrounded them
and made them all prisoners
at may seem strange to you, but mill
lions of dollars are appropriated every
session through private bills and rcsolu-
TONS" said n prominent Southern SEN
ator who is remaining in the city and
who formed one of a group at Chamber
Inns last night Few Senators who try
to be honest ever manage to get anything
of this kind through. As n example, 1
will tell you what happened to the first
resolution | ever offered.
"A number of us were anxious to have
a certain Investigation made and rs il
would cost about 5000 l had. my clerk
draw up a resolution apprOpriating this
amount When he had completed the
resolution / asked him If il was all right
OF COURSE he replied, but you don't
want to explain it.
Now he was an experienced clerk and
this made me uneasy. | at once asked
him why ! shouldn't explain it.
I must tell the necessity for this in
vestigatiOn, ! said.
We'll. that's your business was his
reply. but II you do you won't get 1t
through
Il brought the resolution IN when pri-
Il quorum WAS present and those in the
Chamber were reading. talking and
sleeping. They had passed ten worse
bills than mine and asked no questions
My resolution was read, no objection was
offered. and the Vice President was about
to say, Shall 1t pass? when my con-
science troubled me. / simply couldn't
let the thing be adopted without explain
ing ii.
4 want to explain this resolution 1
said
Immediately dozen Senators were