Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-02-19
70 OPEN INDIAN LANDS
How Congress Proposes to
Break Up Tribal Tracts.
AN AUCTION INSTEAD OF A RUSH

AN AJCIION 1NSIEAD OF A RUSH
The Innovation VIII Eliminate the
sooner md Enrich the Indian.
Judge Parker's Presidential Boom.
The Prcsidents Rides.
Washington. Feb. IA Special. i
Congress has authority, under recent
supreme court decision, to Iispose Of
Indian lands by legislation without
treaty. In nearly every instance where
lands were purchased from the Indians
in the last dozen years a treaty was
first made with them stipulating the
price per acre and the manner of pay
ment. Finally congress decided that it
had the right to say what should be
done with Indian lands, and in the fu-
ture all legislation disposing Of these
lands will be executed without treating
with the tribes. OF course It is in
tended to consult their best interests
and do for them as Il man would deal
with his ward. This method has been
found necessary because the Indians.
even after they take their lands in SOW
crafty, do not want to break up the
large tribal tracts which are so detri-
mental to the advancement of Indian
civilization. One of the latest bills pro-
posed for disposing Of Indian lands
will open about 100000 acres of the
Kiowa and Comanche reservation TO
settlement
Another Innovation.
There is another change made in the
bill proposing to open these new
lands in oklahoma They arc to he
sold to the highest bidder for home
stead purposes in tracts of 1G0 acres.
instead of being opened at a fixed
price for all lands. good and bad. This
will prevent such scenes as have been
witnessed when other reservations
were thrown open to settlement. and
instead of an "Oklahoma rush" there
will he spirited bidding for good farm
lands. Probably some tracts will bring
a high price. while other sections OF
the reservation will be sold nj a cheap
rate. The probabilities are that In
dams will get the best of the bargain
in the auction system of sales.
The Democratic Candidate.
Efforts to make Judge Parker OF New
York the candidate of the Democrat
in congress for the presidency are not
very successful. While some leading
Democrats have declared for Parker, Il
great many say that Parker Olney or
German would be satisfactory to them.
Very few have been forced to make An
absolute declaration for the New York
jurist. although he is highly spoken Of
as man who would apparently make
a first class candidate. This is not
the time to make pledges or announce
ments as to candidates" said one man
| who Is q shrewd observer. I'VE shalt
know a great deal more about the stu
alton a year from now, and at thar
| time we shall not have begun the elec-
ton of delegates TO the national con
vention." No one seems TO know deli
nitely why there is such an intense de-
sire among certain men to bring out
candidate in the east, although We hear
it intimated that the real reason il In
head off airy western candidates. 1t -
claimed that if prominent southern
men could be pledged to all eastern
man it might mean his nonination.
Not to Be Conspicuous.
Every day President and Mrs. ROoSe-
Welt ride out in carriage somewhere
in the suburbs, when they alght from
the carriage and mount the horses
that have been brought to the place
agreed upon and then take a brisk gal
lop for miles over tho country roads.
They return TO the White House in the
same way. They do this because
mounting the horses at the White
| House and riding through the streets
of the capital became too conspicuous.
The president does not care on his oWn
account but Mrs. Roosevelt did not
like being stared at so much. for Il
crowd regularly gathered every after
noon to see the president and his wife
start out.
President Roosevelt has a walking
route through the rough paths Of Rock
i Creek park. where number of small
boys who so to the park often see him.
Some of the trails over the hills and
along the rocky banks Of the streams
are designated the Roosevelt routes"
That Old Speech.
Are YOU going to read my tariff
speech" asked Senator Quay of soma
tor Nelson one day when the Peunsyl-
wanna senator saw Il lot of books
stacked up on the desk of the Mnnc-
sofa senator. The celebrated Quay
tariff czech is pointed out as a Won
der in the way of tilbusteriug. Quay
used ii with great effect on the Wilson
bill To get what he wanted. ana ii has
been threatened as Il weapon against
the statehood bill. But the opponents
of the territories will never have 10
resort to il.
Look After Alaska.
Representatives. Cllshman and Jones
of Washington make a specially oi
looking after the interests of Alaska
and The Washington senators second
their efforts. 1t was only few weeks
ago that Cushman had bill passed
giving the big territory delegate ii
congress. What is more, in spite of op
position h" passed il 49, he introduce,
and reported il. Jones was up in arms
against the British encroachmcnts upol
Alaska territory and proposed one oI
those rcdhot resolutions which cause
t discussion, but he has also done some
tbiur zeal in securing recon-