The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-02-18
WAS A MECCA
FOR A UGLY
AGGREGATION
How Poor lo Was Separated
From His Wealth.
ON DAYS. OF PAYMENTS
Ioughs From all Near by
Towns at Anadarko.
ON DAYS. OF PAYMENTS

Oklahoma City, o. T, Feb. n.-Corre
spondence from Chickasha to the Okla
homan contains the following
The regular quarterly payment of tn,
Indians has been made at Anadarko dur.
ing the past week, and that town, sew.
enteen miles west of here. has beer
! swarming with all classes ond conditions
| of people, all bent on separating the
noble red man from as much OF his easily
gotten wealth as possible. Gamblers
| courtesans, psck-pockets, sneak thieves
| snide actors, hot tamale vendors and va
/ rious other specimens of humanity who
| live by their wits. have made the town
their headquarters during the payment
and while the Indians money lasted they
lived on the fat of the land.
The week Of Indian payment is a red
letter occasion 10 the uncivilized redskin
| for it means a brief season OF white
man : fire-water. feasting and numer-
| Gus other forbidden pleasures. II there is
any money left after the Indian agent
deducts the amounts due poor Los cred
| itors, it is quickly dissipated in gam
bling, debauchery or riotous living. The
gamblers and saloonkeepers are fully
cognizant of this fact, too. and never fall
to make full preparations for getting
hold of as much of the Indians money as
they can induce him TO part with, and
the task OF persuading him to "let loose"
is not difficult. The Indians are paid
quarterly, in cash and rations. and from
four days to an entire week are usually
required to transact the business con-
small job, particularly when there are
many creditors, and all the governmental
red tape and regulations to be gone
through with to secure the traders and
other creditors their money. So. as the
week for the Indians TO he paid off ap-
proaches. the town begins TO I'll up with
an undesirable Gloss of cItiZens-the worst
element of mankind to be found in the
new country. in fact. Chickasha has fur
nished her quota of the crowd. The city
has almost been depopulated of gam
blers, courtesans, loafers and other char
acters of this class during the past week.
all of them having temporarily taken up
their residence in Anadarko TO assist in
the work of plucking the golden geese
and gathering in a goodly share of the
golden harvest from the government S
wards. Lawton, FL Reno, Oklahoma City.
Hobart, Mangum, Fort Cobb and other
surrounding towns have also been well
represented
1T may not be generally known to the
public at large, but the government hesi-
tated a long time before consenting to
permit the quarterly payment 10 be made
at Anadarko, this time. In fact. Colonel
oh Of
government affairs at the post at Ana
darko, caused an interview to be publish
ed in the press of the town. in which he
declared that unless the city council
would issue decree closing all the gam
bling dens in the town. and warning the
saloonkeepers to adhere strictly TO the
statute prohibiting the sale of intoxicanis
to the Indians. the payment would be
made at some other town close by which
would enforce such regulations as he de-
sired. At first the Anadarko city council
positively refused to attempt to control
the actions of the public in any way,
bit when they were made to understand
that Colonel Randlett was in dead earnest
they issued a manifesto which satisfied
all parties concerned. In the meantime.
however, Colonel Rsndlett. acting under
the instructions OF the interior depart
ment. had begun to look about him for
another place. Lawton, Chickasha. Fort
Cobb. Hobart and FL Reno were all taken
under consideration. but finally. when the
city dads came to time. the idea OF
changing was abandoned. as none Of the
above named towns are any better in
point of law and order or morality OF
their citizenship than Anadarko.
so, the payment was made at Ana
darko the past week, but IL is exceed
ingly doubtful if the regulations which
the city solons attempted TO enforce had
any good effect or saved the Indians any
Of their money. No matter how dull
the times are. or what the conditions sur
the payment. the Indians rarely
hold onto their funds longer than a
week. az most and with some OF then,
the money lasts scarcely three days.
They always get gloriously drunk. gorge
themselves with meat and drink. and IL
they cannot fnd sufficient gambling OF
give their money away 20
anyone who VIII take the trouble 10 try
and get it And there are always plenty
II that class OF parasites around At such
tines. The average Indian who depends
1n the government for support is usually
goef,II deficient in a knowledge OF the |
-aIue Of money. Come easy. go easy"
s his motto