Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-08
THEY WANT new DEAL
Extraordinary Request Made by
the Indians to the Interior
Department.
--------7-
Want Permission to Negotiate
Direct With Congress For an
Indian Treaty.
Creeks Believe the Government
Creeks Believe the Government
Has Not Dealt Fairly With
Their Nation.

Washington, Jan. S.-One of the most
unusual and extraordinary requests
ever referred to the interior department
certainly in recent years, has just been
receivd from the officials of the Geek
nation. The permission of the depart
ment IS requested for delegation of
Creek Indians to come to Washington
for the purpose of negotiating with con-
gress direct for the preparation of a
supplementary treaty between the
Creek nation and the United States.
In 1891 congress created the Dawes
commission for the sole purpose Of ne
gotiating treaties with the Indian tribes
in Indian territory, and to supervise the
work of dividing their lands. In accord
ance with the provisions of the treaties
thereafter ratified. Thus far all of the
treatits considered by congress have
been prepared by the Dawes commits
sion and representatives Of the five
tribes. After the treaties We're prepared
they have been carefully considered by
the department and,I If FOUND satisfact-
ory, referred to congress for ratification.
1t is needless to say that the request
will be refused by the secretary, who
looks upon 1t as an insult, both to the
Dawes commission and to the depart
ment, and direct effort to ignore the
department in the preparation OF sup
Elementary treaty. But the secretary
can not prevent Chief Porter and other
members of the tribe from coming to
Washington and negotiating with con-
gress direct in the preparation OF new
treaty, provided the Greeks pay their
cwn expenses. The only thing the sec
rotary can do is to refuse to give them
money to come to Washington or pay
their board bills while here. This he
will certainly refuse. Nevertheless, 1t is
understood that members OF the tribe
will come acre, regardless of the secre-
8tary's decision, and take up the question
with n Dnbers OF the committees on In
dian affairs Of the house and senate.
The friction arises over the BELIEF on
the part of members Of the Creek nation
that the government has not fairly dealt
with them in putting into execution all
of the provisions of the Creek treaty,
which became operative last May. Re-
secretary strong letter protesting
against the inaction on the part OF the
federal officials In allotting the lands OF
the Greek Indians, and particularly In
issuing patents to them for their allot-
ments. Copies OF this letter, werNSfven
out by the chief In the communication,
Governor Porter openly charged bad
faith on the part of the secretary and
his subordinates in their failure to issue
patents to the Indians for their lands.
This letter was never replied to by the
secretary who treated 1t with contempt.
About the same time supplementary
treaty was negotiated with the Creek
nation by the Dawes commission to cure
certain defects that existed in the treaty
ratified last winter. This treaty has
been pending before the interior depart
ment for two months and half. and yet
no action has been taken upon 1t. 1t is
stated at the interior department that it
is probable that the supplementary
treaty will be returned to the Dawes
commission with instructions to make
certain alterations and amendments.
1t il this condition Of affairs that has
aroused the fighting blood of the Creek
officials. who are now determined to
carry the question direct to congress
and ignore the interior department and
all of its subordinates in the transac-
ton. In the event that the Creek Off
Gals come to Washington and attempt
to negotiate a. treaty direct with the In
dian committees, the Dawes commits
sion will also be ordered here for the
purpose of presenting the governments
side of the case to congress. A lively
contest is likely to occur, and it is prob
able that at the hearings some interest
ing facts in regard to the inside work.
ings of the Dawes commission will be
made public.