The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-26

the Indian Territory as single state and
excludes from statehood the territories
Of Arizona and New Mexico. In respect
% these last named territories il is in
direct violation of the pledge made by
the Republican platform. No resolution
was ever adopted in any convention of
any party for the assimilation of the In
dian Territory in any form TO the body
Of the states No such proposition was
ever seriously considered in either branch
OF congress until the improvisation OF she
majority report now before this senate.
The Indian Territory should not be
included in the state OF Oklahoma at
present because
First. Under the treaties and agree
raents between the United States and the
Five Tribes separate political organi-
zation was provided for the Indian Ter
ritory, and the jurisdiction of the tribal
governments was extended TO 1905 In the
agreement with The Choctaws and Chick
2saws the following provision was made:
1t is further agreed. in view of the
modification of legislative authority and
judicial jurisdiction herein provided and
thu necessity of the continuance OF the
tribal governments so modified, in order
10 carry out the requirements of this
agreement. that the same shall continue
for the period of eight years from the
4th day of March. 1898 This stipulation
is made in the belief that the tribal gov
ernments SO modified will prove so sat
isfactory that there will be no need or
desire for further change till the lands
now occupied by the Five Civilized
Tribes shall, in the opinion of congress.
be prepared for admission as a state OF
the Union. But this provision shall not
be construed in any respect an abdica-
tion by congress of any power at any
time 10 make needed rules and regula-
tions respecting said tribes
Agreements with the Creeks and the
Cherokees contain the same pledge on
would be dishonorabIe on the part of
congress 10 violate the treaties and agree
ments with the Indians.
Second. Because the Indian govern
n1ents and the entire membership of the
Five Tribes are apposed to becoming
part of the state of Oklahoma. and earn
Cstly protest against such action on the
part of congress
Third. Because the whole body of the
land in the Indian Territory is held by
the Indian tribes by a fee simple title,
and not single acre of land, outside of
a few town lots segregated by the town
site provisions of the Curtis act, is now
subject to taxation. All allotments to
be made to 5000 Indians for homesteads
are TO be exempted for taxa ton for a
period of twenty-five years. No greater
injustice could be perpetrated against
the people of oklahoma than TO require
them to bear the burdens of the Indian
Territory, with its nontaxable- land and
anomalous conditions.
Fourth. Because the illiteracy and
crime within the limits of the Five
Tribes presents a record more deplOra-
BILE than exists in any other section of
the United States. The educational, So
cial and orderly life of the people Of Ok
lahoma, with their splendid common
school system. colleges and normal
schools. would be seriously impaired by
union with the Indian Territory. BY the
census of 1900. 20 per cent of the entire
population of that territory is reported
illiterate. OF the SI.361 persons of voting
age. 15.9 per cent are given lliterate.
while of the .isl persons of voting age
in Oklahoma. only 90 per cent belong to
the illiterate class. Mr. Frank c. .ChuT-
chill special agent of the secretary OF
the interior. made an extensive examina-
tion of the condition of affairs in the
Indian Territory under the direction of
the secretary. as required by act OF con-
gress approved March 3. 1901. and the
following is quoted from his report which
was transmitted to congress at the last
session. On page ,, House Doc. 30. 30.
Mr.. Churchill says:
=" In all this territory the extent and
area of which viii be given elsewhere in
detail there is not a school maintained
by taxation outside of the few incorpor-
ated towns which are authorized by the
act of congress approved June y. 1925
Curtis act, TO levy a tax not exceeding
? per cent for all purposes.
Speaking of Indian education. he says.
on page Is:
But perhaps the most startling fact
is LIT, so far as j can learn. not dol
lar Of tribal funds has ever been appro-
priated toward the erection of a day or
schoolhouse in any of the
nations
Mr.. Churchill also gave much atten-
tion TO illiteracy and crime in the Indian
Territory. and reports as follows:
3. The territory is divided into three
judicial districts. and such is the demand
upon the time Of the four federal judges
tnat much civil business has to be pushed
aside from time to time in order that the
court may give attention To- the enormous
number Of misdemeanor and felony cases.
.' This statement is introduced for the
purpose of calling your attention 70 the
fact that a large percentage Of the young
criminals who appear in courts never
seen the inside OF 4 schoolhouse. and. IS
! believe. would never have landed In
Jail had they received the ordinary ad
vantag ges offered in the common schools
Of the states
'' or this subject have the testimony
Of numerous court officers. who declare
that many of the persons arrested for
the lesser crimes are not naturally vicious
but. through ignorance and idleness. drift
into ways that bring them into trouble.
much Of which could be sverted BY edu-
cation ~ elementary schools.
.. on October .. Iel. ] visited the Unit
ed States jail IN the northern judicial dis
trict. ard of the Al inmates on that dsy.
s. Who could speak English. admitted -
me that they could neither read nor
write and nearly al OF these we're yo-rg
men and women; and the same condition
of affairs can be foaHd IN n other ais
of the territory.
But TO my u.Iad 4 worse feature sfiil
is that isrge part of the Jurors and
witnesses who try these cases are Hitter