The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1902-12-26
sROosEvELT's
word about the Indians in bis

' "a
word about the Indians in bis
message 10 Congress is an exceed
ingly inteliigents one. In tho
necessarily limited space at com !
mand for ! discussion Of their Of.
fairs be hints at an unusual
familiarity with Indian nseds and
wise sympathy for their short.
comings. He has an intimate first
hand knowledge of them; as .
young man be was made . special
commissioner TO visit and report
upon 1 anumber Of Indian. achools
in tho Middla West, - 4. rancbsf
BE- lived.in neighborl1s proximity
to.some Of the reservations; - :
soldier hs recruited coneidersbls
psrt.of Bio regiment from among
tkep;A and = eovernor, of New
Yoxk be took up ths problem in.
so(ar as II related to those tribes
whoss reservations are within
thet state. .xs.g.s.ss~s .s,.
s..In portions Of tha IDdian Ter
ri<6sy 4 says President Rooseysls,
sthp mixture of blaod has gone on
- ne same time with progress 10
wealth end education, 80 that
there are plenty oismsn withxary-
inez degrees Of. purity Of Indian
blood Who sre sSsolutsly indistin+
guIshabls III point Of social. polisi.
cal and economic ability from their
white associates" There the pro-
blsm is working itself out in an
~ |teresting way; and there the gov
nment has labored long 20 make
: transition from tribal supersti-
loo and prejudice to national citi.
bnship as smooth - possible. ~
al early as 1898, when the
Dawes Commission" was created
) treat with the Five Tribes, the
Sroportion of white residents to
itisens, even including those by
doption and OF the thinest dilu.
"a OF Indian blood, was greater
Ian two to one; These aliens,
- wing no standing under tribal
lsdic.lon, had begun TO complain
the crudity and inefficiency Of
ndian courts. They besoughs tbs
rotsction OF the United States
burt, and one vas established ct
q ,cogee. Under the new ar.
Sngement all matters 10 dispute
tween citizens and non citisens
la 70 be- taken ito this newly
reated District Court.
Then the question began 81 be
gitated BY the lawyers who
ooked in 81, get their share ~
! usin sss attbs new court--and:the
Wv ement bad substantial back
> he IN the Hibss--of abandoning
s,Ihsirsly tins Indian 'csurss. aud ex-
s1tag shs jurisdlcsion Of the
- p
poitsd ststss tribunal ovsr ell,
Aliens aud olsissas. Naturally,
--hers was much opposition from
be full sods, aud the Indisn law
ers. That wss long fight but
was Ivsn in 1898 by the, inesita-
s si1asre, those who favored the
: boIlsion Of ind an courts. In. .
trpfisiosIy Snort s'msl,s she asw
, 4 tststn was working smoo thly.
! BE msmory. OF the tribal courts
rlsi. tn. fnisAi iAwysr,taok up
! = prsosics 10 the ne~ court sue
: ssfolIy y.t' II
MesawhiIu thu commission from
Washington vas working in the
: hrz1tory. gpiug trom ,rlbrso ,r'b-,
U ke<i.e obi scsieas and urging IN :
ping up Of tribal orsauis 4'ioas
vhy no'," they sekrd, in sub
nce. ''sive ~ th- prst~ i'c~ %
:. sernm<n' aud sllot your lands,
u 0klapo,L~ snd b~cam- ter
~ until such time ss you are
- for ~trhepd7'
~ Is so-~er= = firs, s-re short
- decId-d; = rh- Fcoun,ry be-
10 u. and ~ d"n'' want 20
~ T. -. 4. i. u