The Washington times., 1901-12-01

Geronimo, the famous Apache warrior.
now a war prisoner at Fort sill, claims to
be the real chief of the tribe. but in real
ity he is nothing more than common
medicine man.
Lone Wolf is the deposed chief of the
Kiowas, but his word is law. He directs
what the tribe shall do and performs all
the legal acts for his people. The Riowas
and Comanches, as well as the Poncas,
have no written laws. Their chief and his
three sub chiefs are elected by vote of
the people The voting is carried on by
word OF mouth. the whole tribe assem-
bling at designated place some time
every third summer, where the new chief
is chosen. II there is any big land deal
TO go through shortly following the chiefs
election, Of course, competition for the
Office is fierce. Often many are killed in
the campaign.
The Osages. the richest tribe in the
Southwest, have their own council, cab
met officer, chief. and assistant. Their
council house is located at Pawhuska,
which is the centre of a deep wood on
the banks of crooked stream-Beaver
Creek. Here is where Black Dog and
Peter Big Heart, rivals, have for years
fought their campaigns. The big battle
occurs every two years. when one OF the
other wins the chieftaincy. One year Big
Heart showed strategy and knowledge of
Indian politics by buying up all Of the fat
dogs in the country, which on election day
he gave free to the people in the form Of
dog feast. No meat so delights the
osages as dog meat, and. Of course, Big
Heart won. He manages the affairs OF the
government fairly well, managing to fill
/ his own Golfers and those of his own
| household.
Electioneering is carried on in a rather
unique manner by the Indians. They give
big picnics in the backwoods. Here the
candidates meet and debate on certain
subjects. II their temper gets the better
of them, and II generally does, they fight
| II out At picnic given by the Chero-
KEGS some five years ago three men were
killed because Of the accusation of one
that the other two were guilty of stealing
horses
Big fessts are held at these gatherings.
! the expense being borne by the candidate
who is elected. The bills are never paid
until after election; then the winner takes
them all into his office and gives vouch-
ers on the government. So it is generally
understood that the expenses Of the cam
paign are borne out Of The public funds.
I There is 10 such thing as taxation among
the Indians. all Of their money coming
from invested funds In the Treasury at
Washington. 1t IS the aim of the whole
Indian populace not 10 keep this money
/ there. but to get hold Of as much Of it
as possible. With that aim in view they
are apt to elect meR who lay stress on
their ability IS diplomats at Washington.
An attorney in Tahlequah won Sl00. .0OG
fee for occurring big sum of money as an
appropriation TO the Indians
The cheroEees, Choctaws. Chickasaws,
Creeks and Seminolec each have their own
written laws. They each have their own
council of from fifteen to seventy mem
bers. The Cherokees have sixty members
to both the upper and lower houses.
There IS also supreme and circuit court
to each nation, often the judge not being
able to write his own name. Politics
counted in these courts. A district fudge
once convicted an enemy of treason and
sentenced him TO be hanged because the