The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-05-18
ON THE TREATY
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VUlllIUlUN UN I'LL IhLHii
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preferable and great boon to the
future generations of our people; but
we are faced by a condition which
must be met. The government Of the
United states says 90 us firmly that
Il will not continue in the business OF
keeping up citizenship rolls, collect
ing royalty and administering our
schools, after the expiration of our
tribal governments; and that we
must dispose Of all our tribal prop
erty. divide the proceeds and take
our places as full.nedged citizens OF
the United states and Of the state
or territory that will certainly be or
ganized in the near future, 70 include
the hve civilized tribes. Since our
coal lands must be disposed Of, Is II
not best that be done while our tribal
governments are in existence and
while we have the means and facili-
ties Of protecting our interests?
II. under conditions that must nee
essarily arise in the future, we should
insist upon continuance Of our
present system. II would be but a
little while until a state or territorial
government would be organized, a
fund for the support of general
school system would be raised by
taxation, the Indians would pay a
large proportion of this tax; first, be
cause no constitution will be adopted
exempting any person or class of per
sons from taxation; and, secondly,
because the Indians will be large
land owners and holders of property
subject to taxation.
The next step would be to merge
our royalty fund into the common
school fund Of the state OF territory,
upon some basis that would seem fair
and equitable, at first, and our royal.
ty fund would be lost sight of as com.
pletely as drop Of water in a full
bucket
or course no one knows or can ap.
proximate the amount of money for
which the coal lands will sell; but
they are to be sold at public auction
In small separate areas not TO exceed
640 acres. Under this plan the whole
world can bid; and human expert.
ence is that sale at public auction is
the most certain means ever devised
for securing the fun value of the thing
sold
At all events, It would seem certain
that the share OF each citizen in the
proceeds, II properly invested, would
produce an annual income equal. II
not greater than his yearly proportion
Of the royalty.
Would you prefer that the yearly
royalty fund should be merged and
lost sight OF, in a general state or ter
ritorial fund, under the control ~ non
citizens, who would out-vote you ten
TO one; or TO dispose of the lands
now while you can protect your inter
ests. receive your share of the money
in bulk and manage your own affairs?
Much misrepresentation in regard
60 the reservation at sulphur Springs
has been made. II has been stated
that the Chickasaws and Choctaws
have disposed OF their most valuable
town site at $40 per acre.
Under the proposed agreement, the
secretary of the interior is TO cause
TO be set apart sufficient amount of
land, not 20 exceed 640 acres, to in
clude the springs creeks and other
natural advantages IL is distinctly
and specifically stated that such res
eryation is 70 be set apart in such a
way as not TO include or interfere
with the present town site, and that
no part Of il is TO be disposed of for
town site purposes.
The town site is to be disposed Of
under the Atoka agreement, and the
preservation Of the springs creeks
and natural advantages. for public
uses. will advance the value OF the
town site many fold; and such en-
hancement will inure entirely to the
benefit Of the Chickasaws and ChoC-
taws
, ! have thus reviewed. at some
length, the main features of the agree
ment, as negotiated and transmitted
to congress and, as above stated, the
disposition and the designing persons
have 20 drag it into politics, TO impose
upon the people by misrepresentation
and misconstruction, is my purpose
In doing so at this time. Later on.
and az the proper time. II the treaty
is ratified by congress in such form