Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-06-27
OPEN RESERVATION
Attempts to Delay the Order Rem
dered Unavailing.
CATTLEMEN RESPONSIBLE FOR II
Secretary Hitchcock Is Assured That
Indians, unnfluenced, Would Have
Accepted the Order Without Cues.
eion--Arransing Preliminaries.

Washington, June 26.-There are
indications that the cattlemen, having
failed in their design to obstruct the
opening of the Kiowa, Comanche and
Apache Indian reservation to settle
ment, have now turned their attention
to the Wichita reservation. A letter
was received in Washington which
states very circumstantially the eff
forts which the cattle men are MAX
ing in this direction. The letter
states that the attorneys who have
been employed try to give the impress
sion that the interior department is
opposed to the opening, and that they
are working in accord with the secre-
tary of the interior ana the commits
sioner of Indian affairs, whose sympa-
thy they have in trying to prevent the
opening.
Nothing could be further from the
facts. Neither the secretary of the in
terror nor the commissioner of Indian
affairs opposes the opening of either
of the reservations. The department
is bending every effort to dispose of
the preliminaries to opening, and both
of the reservations will be opened in
spite of anything that can be done by
any interest in opposition to it.
The secretary of the interior, Mr..
Hitchcock, believes that the agitation
has been worked up in the southwest
principally by attorneys, who are
working for fees in the cases. He is
determined to carry out the law, and
will do SO in spite OF any obstacles
which it may be attempted to place in
his way. Thse department reported
against the ratification of the treaty
many months ago. There is no dis
position on the part of the department
to oppose carrying out the law of con-
gress. On the contrary, the secretary
believes that the opening of the reser-
walton is the best thing that could be
done at this time. He has been the
more convinced of this since the ac-
ceptance of the allotments by the In
dams. 1t is realized at the depart
ment that if the opening could have
been prevented at this time the Indian
would not again have an opportunity
of having his interests so thoroughly
protected. If the treaty question was
again referred to congress, it is hard
! ly possible that the legislative branch
of the government would be inclined
to deal so leniently with the Indians.
The impressions have been preva-
lent in the department for some time
that the Indians were not parties to
the agitation against the opening of
the reservation, and from indirect re
ports which have been received, the
conclusion was reached that outside in
terests were bringing pressure to beal
in the tribes, and the Indians were co
creed into taking up fight which was
urged upon them. The information
which came to the department today
from thoroughly reliable source con
firms this belief, and convinces depart
ment officials that the only interests
opposing the opening of the country
are those which disregard the Indian
interests, and which have in view the
forwarding of ambitious money-mak
ing schemes and the procurement OF
big fees to the legal talent engaged.