The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-09-07
SOLUTION OF
STATEHOOD Is
SUGGESTED
ChoctaWs and Cherokees
Would Annex TO Arkansas.
AN INDIAN LEADER TALKS
Says That an Invitation 10 Join
Would Be Accepted.

Fort Smith. Ark. Sept 6--The Choc-
taw and Cherokee natlors may be at
tached to Arkansas. according TO the
News-Record of this city. which says:
Almost for the asking Arkansas can
secure the consent of the Choetaw and
Cherokee nations for the annexation of
those nations TO the state Of Arkansas
The proposition has been advanced many
times, but always regarded as a dream.
\ prominent citizen of the Cherokee ma
ton who was in the city yesterday is
authority for the sta tement that a strong
sentiment in favor Of annexation to Ar
kansas prevails in the country, that it has
the endorsement of some Of the leaders
Of the fullbloods. while large number
of the progressive party are outspoken in
their endorsement Of the scheme and with
a little campaigning the entire nation
could be won over to the proposition.
The sentiment in favor Of annexation
to Arkansas is the child of the OPPOSE
ton to single statehood. The Cherokee
and Choctaw nations are bitterly OPP
posed to being tackled on to Oklahoma
and in trying to devise a means of es-
speaking on the subject the prominent
Cherokee referred to said:
- lam surprised that the newspapers
of Arkansas have not agitated this ques-
ton. OF course, we would enjoy having
q state composed of the five Indian
tribes and them only, but the course Of
Congress has led US TO believe that there
is no hope for that. There has been
great deal of agitation of the annexation
of the Indian Territory to Oklahoma,
and there is some sentiment in favor Of
it in the Seminole and Creek nations,
but it finds few advocates ir this end Of
the territory. IF our people can not get
self-government, we want to be annexed
TO our friends and neighboTs. The Cher
okee nation and Arkansas, especially
northwest Arkansas, have much in COM
mon They are rich in natural re-
sources, and are settled with an ener-
getic, hospitabIe, progressive people. II
they were to join hands it would be to
their mutual advantage and the state
would be one that would attract attention
from the moment of its creation. Chief
Burlington IS heartily in favor Of such q.
government. and I am Informed that
Sargy Sanders, who has as much infiu-
ence with the fullbIoods as any man in
the nation, has said he would sooner the
Cherokees were annexed to Arkansas
than for any of the other statehood prop
ositions to become law.
Now the thing for your people to do
is TO send a delegation to Tahlequah in
November, when the council meets, and
get that body to pass a resolution asking
to be annexed to this state. Then your
legislature could endorse it and with the
influence your congressman and senator's
could bring to bear, and those who would
be won over by the fairness of the propo-
sition. I think it would pass easily. 1t
would have no opposition from Oklahoma
for such bill would take away the great
est objection that country has found in
this effort to tack all or part Of the In
dian Territory to it If the Cherokees
were taken into Arkansas the Choctaws
win have TO come in too, out Of self de-
tense. They cannot afford to be annexed
70 Oklahoma any more than can the
Cherokees. After the two nations are an
nexed 10 Arkansas we might divide the
state and form new one Of two or three
western rows Of counties and the two ma
lions and with Fort Smith as the capital
that state would jump at Vllte ii'o ZIG
front rank Of the states What our peo-
pie want now is for you 20 help US TO
keep out Of the clutches OF Oklahoma
Your commercial bodies should take this
matter up. and not only discuss it thor
oughn but should take action on IT.
THE alliance of the two nations as sug-
rested would give Arkansas the richest
norton Of the Indian Territory and a
large increase CT progressive and enter
prising citizens. The suggestion made
bv the Cherokee visitor is well worthy OF
careful consideration.