The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-09-01
AN OPEN LETTER.
II. S. Smiser Explains Ills Reasons
for Accepting.

the United states government as
townsite commissioner for the Choc-
taw nation, under the law OF May
81, 1901, have no doubt but that
some will crit.cise my action, while
othets may do 40 from a lack of in
formation as to my full reasons for
80 doing. Well knowing that the
criticisms will come, desire to ex-
plain my reasons for accepting the
commission, for the benefit of those
who desire to know the facts, and to
give me credit for an honest desire
to benefit the Ohootaw and Chicka-
saw people, az we'll as my own
pecuniary condition.
No one has been more strenuous
in supporting the Atoka agreement
than | have been or urged more
strongly strict compliance with its
terms. was strongly opposed to
the law of May 81, 1900, or the carry
ing out Of its provisions, and con-
stantly urged that It be contested by
the two nations. No action was
taken until the supplementary agree
ment WIS framed, which provided
for the carrying out of the law OF
May 81, 1900, and ratified all work
that had been done under IL, At
that time was orally instructed by
Gov. Dukes to assist in the appraIse-
ment of towns laid OIL under the
laws above referred to, and fully
expected that no further hitch
would occur in the work.
Congress had passed the
law ard representative OF both
nations had agreed to the carrying
out the same However, congress
failed to take any action on the sup
Elementary agreement, and on July
/, 1901. Governor Dukes instructed
me not to assist in the appraisement
of those towns laid of under the law
of May 81, 1900. This practically
stopped the work, so far at the ma.
tions we're concerned, but the inte-
rior department proposed to proceed
with the work under the above law,
which the nations had proposed
through their representatives that
that they would agree to, ostensibly
to obtain certain concessions in citi-
zenship matters. In proceeding with
the work the interior department
desired to appoint member OF the
Choctaw tribe to represent the ma
tions. as the la provides, and vol
unfairly offered me the appointment.
At the time | was constrained to
refuse to accept the position because
feared 1t would be viewed as dis
loyal move toward the nations.
was told that IL | did not take it
somo one else would, and perhaps
some one who was not so well able
by experience, or otherwise, to pro-
tect the nations interests; and that
the department desired to do only
what was for the best interests of
the nations, under the circumstan-
ces, and under law which 1t
was compelled to carry out. The
fact that / was offered the position,
appeared 70 me-and to many OF our
people with whom advised-to indi
cate strongly the deGire OF the
department to do the best for the
two nations, under the circumstances
and the existing law and proposed
agreement. This was apparent to
mo because had always zealously
striven to protect the interests OF
the two nations, and no one was
more familiar with the facts than
were the officers OF the interior de-
partment. In fact | had st times in
Cured their displeasures by refus-
ing to comply with instruction which
| considered in violation with the
Atoka agreement, and the interest of
the two nations.
lhy previous experience in the
work led me to believe that could
better serve the nations by remain
ing with the commission than by re-
tiring and forcing the department to
appoint man with no experience.
| was of the opinion, aud am yet OF
the opinion, that the towns should
have been laid OF under the Atoka
agreement, and that the tJwnsite
provision in the supplementary
agreement was wrong step for the
nations, but after "A condition had
been permitted to exist and grow to
such proportions as the townsite
work had been permitted to exist
and grow, under our acquiescence,
| believe in doing the thing that will
be for the best interests OF those
concerned, and making the bes'
OF circumstances that can not
be altered. | feel that car
continue to serve tbs nations
and perhaps accomplish as much