The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-06-30

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tothe Eve civilized tribes, to.wit, the
Choctaws, Chickasaws, Cherokees
Creeks and seminoles, and direct
ing that commissOn 20 proceed t.
the Indian Territory and begin ne
gotiations 10 extinguish the Indians
tribal relations and governmental
identity. IL 10 very doubtful II even
tine author Of the bill had any con
ception Of the magnitude Of the task
imposed. The original commission,
consisting Of Hon. II. L. Dawes,
Hon. A. s. McKennon and Capt.
Kidd, soon after their appointment
organized with the venerable senator
as chairman in the summer q tba
year they proceeded TO the Territory
a2d began work.
Their coming was an event Of great
interest the peole Of the Terr e
tory, Al . when a series OF alleged
interview statements and speeches
attributed TO the commission begar
TO appear in the local paper, advo'
Gazing all manner OF radical changes
regardless Of the rights or Interests
OF those affected by the change 4,
practically all Of the Inhabitants Cf
the iTerritory were arrayed again ST
them and were ready by almost any
means TO prevent the accomplish
ment OF the. purpose for which tn,
commission was created. Those al
legged interviews and statements were
diligently circulated. and not only
did the Indians, thinking govern
mental obliteration awaited then A.,
chill the members with their r6cep.
ton. but the white or non either
element, fearing for their leas'
rights, obstructed in every way pcs
sible the progress OF the commission.
To such an extent was this done
that In the Chickasaw nation, whore
most OF the white settlers lived, al
organization known 40 the United
States Citizens Protective Leagu,
was formed with n membership OF
more than 8 200 persons, and with sa
local leagues or lodges, all operating
under one general executive com
mittee. This organization having
for its purpose the perpetuation OF
the lease system on one side, and
the Indian element lighting for ma
tional existence on the other, pre-
sented at the close OF the fret year''
work obstcales which even TO thi'
time have not been overcome. Thai
the successors 10 the original com
missioners have had 10 meet anC
contend with this same sentiment
was strongly evidenced in the Chero
kee Nation last May, when that ma
tion by popular vote rejected |
treaty made by their Representatives
and the commission and ratified b,
congress The personnel OF th'
commission since it's creation ha
undergone several changes. II
March, 1895, the membership wa
increased 10 1--WE, with Mesers
Dawes, McKennon, Armstrong
Montgomery and Cablness in mem
bershlp. Later the number wa
reduced 70 four, and at tho preseu
time the commissioners are Sen
Dawes, Hon. Tams Bixby, Col. T. b
needles and Hon. e. r. Breckin
ridge, with Allison L. Aylesworth
Secy.
II was four years after the com
mission was created before any tan
gible results were effected, thel
after repeated efforts a conference
was held at Atoka in the Choctay
nation, between Representatives o
the Choctaw and Chickasaw nation
aud the commission on April 23
1897, a treaty was made with thes
nations The treaty was signed b.
F. G. Armstrong, acting chairman
Archibald s. McKennon, r. h. Cabi
ness, A. b. Montgomery, commits
sioners OF the United States, will
IL. NJ. Jackoway, secretary.
For the Choctaw nation;
Green McCurtain, principal chief
j. $. Stanley, w. b. Ainsworth, BeI
Hampton, Wesley Anderson, Amor
Henry, ID. c. Garland. For th,
Chickasaw nation, r. NJ. Harris
Gov, /. o. Lewis, Holmes Colbert
r. i Murray, VIM. and X. L. Boyd
This treaty was duly ratified aud II
now in force.
On October 7, 1899, a treaty wal
made with the seminoles. the sam,
being signed by Henry l.. Dawes
Tams Bixby, a. S. McKennon an,
T. b Needles, comissionors for th,
United States, and John F. Brown
and X ~ Kinkehee, commissioner
for the Seminole nation.
On March s, 1900, the Creek treat,