The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-09-27

MA. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1901.
Not only the fathers and mothers
clamor for relief for their boys and
girls. hut the prayer Of 400 600 robust
American state builders goes out to
the congress of the United States to
save these young feet from the paths
Of crime, ana It is not statesman-hip
nor economy to refuse their prayer.
Since the advent of the Indian
this beautiful country mas attracted
the eyes of his white brother Call
of whom recognize that the Indian
owns the land). until now the twelfth
census shows almost 400 600 people
residing in the Indian territory. The
Indians have invited the white man
into the Indian territory and the white
man has intermarried with them and
many cities and towns have been
builded, and theee people. both the
whites and Indians. are desirous and
will if allowed develop the great nat
ural resources of the country. yet
they are denied permission to do so.
"The right of the white people to
live IN the Indian territory has been
recognized time after time by con
gress: the United States supreme
court, as well as congress itself. bae
declared that the Constitution. it's
amendments and every provision
thereof are in force in the Indian ter
ritory yet we are denied every at
tribute Of citizenship.
Need of Municipal Control.
"The rural districts Of the Indian
territory are without protection to
life or property; only one constable
and justice of the peace is allowed
to every 10000 people and less than
twenty Of such officers in an area.
which should comprise not less than
thirty counties. We have no counties,
no county seats. no county organiza-
tions, and no form of government
whatever.
For courts, we are allowed but four
judges, who sitting together. consti-
tute our court of appeals. The con
sequence is, that the court dockets
are congected to such an extent that
our people prefer to submit to loss
and depreciation and go without rem
edy, rather than resort to a court
where trial may never be reached.
Every official in the Indian territory
is a federal appointee. even to the
constables and justices Of the peace
and It has been said to the white peo-
pie of the Indian territory by some
of these federal appointees, II you
don't like the condition Of things in
the Indian territory why don't you
move out. We say to them, as we'll
as to all such, that we are OF the An
glo-Saxon race, and possess enough
American spirit that We are a people
to live in the Indian territory
THE white people Of the Indian ter
ritory are of your ow7 flesh and blood !;
we are as much citizens Of the United
States as YOU, and we certainly live
in the United States. In Intelligence
and wealth we viii compare. favor
ably, at least with the people Of some
of the states when they were granted
the boon Of self government.
The congress in 1857. gave to the
northwest territories a form Of self
government; they were granted an
/ legislative assembly, with one rep
4 iesentative to each 500 male inhabi-
tants and certain number Of council
men, all of whom were selected by
the people themselves; they were al
lowed a delegate in congrss, also
elected by themselves; they had
counties and county organizations ana
were allowed these great privileges
when they attained population OF
as much as 600 free male inhabt
ants Of full age.
Again Dive Into History.
"These and similar privileges were
accorded the Frenchmen of New Or
leans and the Louisiana purchase,
when this territory was acquired by
the United States as well az to the
hardy frontielsman when he crossed
the great American desert. climbed
the Rockies AID invaded the gold
fields of far distant California, and
even to the pioneers OF Alaska. who
crossed the Icy seas ito the very heart
Of the arctic regions in search OF
wealth.
why should we be deprived of sell
governm.lt2 Arc we not Americanl