The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-11-08

down the amount TO divided It must re-
uuce the amount that viii come 70 each
Of US, therefore. in just that proportion
is the individual Indian being taxed 20
keen w these unCalled for expenses.
but there are features of the matter
you do not touch I was IN days passed
bitter opponent Of alOtmeut-~tOttd
dgainst the Atoka agreement admit
that I was swayed more by stubborn
prejudice than by good sense. ANA gee
now that, IL ever Il can be completed. all
lotments Is the best thing that cin come
to us But this betwiXt and between luisi-
given upp the old plans and nothing new
has been given us Ia their stead on the
contrary, as YOU say in your article. we
nave no control Of our lands and are uu-
able to derive proper rcyenut from them
or 20 improve them as we would ike
There Is yet another Important lOint
which Is not often brought out. but which
Is doubtless In the minds OF many others
as II Is in mine ] am coming 20 be an
old man. l can wish i'm the course OF MAJ
turc Tor but q few more years OF iife
Should ! die tomorrow my children would
have no claim upon lands which / have
improved and hold as my individual rrop-
cfty, but such property. upon which 1
have built up home which would like
my family 70 retain after my DEATH would
revert Go the tribe and become "a MARI
of the common domain subject to ailot.
ment by amy stranger. This is "a thought
which leads many of the generation about
70 pass away TO long for the complet.on
OF allotment SO that we may be able
to leave TO our loved ones the results OF
our lahors. Yet It should appeal as
strongly To the younger ones. Tor death
comes TO all and na one knows when be
may De called away and his pr0perty 40
back into the common holding
] wish we could stir the citizens un TO
see now important II Is to them L. have
thlngs wound up In this country But so
long nave the citizens been accustomed
TO tribal rule. "a here their fftf
ests were apt to suffer If they made anv
uniriendly remark about the tribal Jnic. |
ials or were subject I'm some manner 10
official blaCkmail from the officers ii they
rebelled against any official act. that they |
90 not realize that We are now under diff |
terent rule and no gang has the power to !
take from anyone his rights to property |
OF ne dares Go speak un for that riabt
II Is this timidity the growth Of years |
OF government by petty officials who cx- |
rect to bribe for everything they do |
which makes them hold hack now their /
fearing they may suffer
IN some unknown way If they speak out /
For one. l believe that no one can hurt /
us II We demand our rights as men aud /
citizens of the United tsates. which We
now are We have perfect right To |
say 20 the United states eaovernmeat.
You made us citizens of your great coun-
.ryi as such citizens we demand that our
property be no longer wasted. but be glv-
-n into our hands that we may ugn IA as !
-heirs. The thing the citizens OF this
'ountry should dol mean the Choctaw
ana Chickasaw citizens-ls to call a great
convention and discuss the situation. de-
ldlng upon plans whereby things may be
made different. / would like to see the |
on Indian affairs of your COM
nefcial club-which seems to be the only
'ody taking active interest In this mat.
er, and with which l became acquainted
hrough circular recently sent out -caH
/ convention Of the tribes at pauls Val !
ey or some other point. Maybe IL would
le best TO make this a delegate conven-
ION and have primary meetings at other
'oolnt IN the nation to select delegates
q II. Possibly our Choctaw brothers.
Ike to send delegates to such a meeting.
'quolly Interested in the matter. would
n they might hold one of their own.
Snow some members OF your committee.
ma believe that they would be good men
o take hold of this business and helm 70
'et our property rights adjusted some
ion
Call the convention gentlemen. and let
ne newspapers take hold of matters and
.et the citizens out to the meeting Let |
hem come out and kick long and Justify |
or their rights. Let n petition be i,re-
AIRED and strong delegation named 70
axe II to Washington and urge promnt |
ction by those who have charge OF our
Hairs. a CHICKASAW