The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-13
USAGE INDIANS
CANNOT AGREE
Would Have Lands Allotted but
by What Method?
FULLBLOODS ARE OPPOSED
They Scorn the Mixed BIoods
as Too Near White.

dent that at least a week, or more, viii
be consumed by the Usage Indian full
blood orators in discussing the manner Of
the allotment of their lands, in north
eastern Oklahoma. and the selection Of
delegates to represent them in Washing
ton, D. c., to secure such allotment They
met in convention December 3, following
the call for thatp urpose. issued by their
governor. James Bigheart, and by vote
of almost three to ono decided in favor
of land allotment.
But thus far the full bloods have failed
10 reach a conclusion regarding the Sc
lection OF delegates to represent them
before the departments. in making an
allotment treaty, and where the treaty
should be made. Distruss or each other
and the determination not to be placed
in positions of disadvantage in the allot-
ment of their. lands and the division OF
their other property interests have pre-
vented the full bloods and mixed bioods,
or progressive faction. getting together TO
consider what the proposed treaty should
contain and how it should be presented
in Washington.
The full blood Usage scorns the mixed
tinguished in general appearance from
the average white man. Both factions
in the tribe voted for allotment but when
it came to choosing treaty delegation
to carry out scheme or allotment there
was a hitch
The statement was made in the meeting
of the Indians that the commissioner of
Indian affairs had endorsed the eight
tribal councilmen. composed of seven full
bloods together with Governor Bigheart
an ex-officio member. as the treaty dee
cation. Later 1t was modified by the
statement that the commissioner had SIM
ply authorized a delegation, not desig-
mating any number 70 so to Washington
This displaced Governor Bigheart, as he
desires the tribal councilmen, who are
the business agents of the tribe to repre-
sent the Osages in Washington and pre-
pare the treaty On the other hand the
mixed bloods insist the treaty shall be
prepared in their tribal capital, Pawhus-
ka, and adopted by the tribe. jrior to
sending il to Washington. Governor
Bigheart and ex-Governors Black Dog
and Nekehwahaheunkah. all full bloods,
have been working earnestly for allot-
ment, while the opposition. it is claimed.
came from the white men, who have in
termarried in the tribe.
4 number of head men of the full
bloods pricked up their ears, when talk
Of going to Washington began and today
they are in favor of q big delegation
giving place TO as many Csages as pos
sible In order to placate the full bloods
Major C. a. Mitchner The tribal agent.
says he will ask the commissioner OF
Indian affairs to authorize a delegation
OF twenty.
On the ether hand the mixed bloods
have adopted provisional treaty. as
authorized in a former meeting. The
only full bloods present were merely
spectators and took no part in the con-
vention. 1t was not unlike any political
gathering The agreement of the treaty
provides for the division of all the lands
and prohibits any citizen. whatever his
business qualifications may be. from dis
posing of any of his surplus lands for ten
years snd 1eO acres OF the allotment is
a homestead for twenty-five years. This
means that each citizen individually
would own all oil, gas and mineral de-
posits on his own land As the Usage
vision Is a very important one.
Provisions are made for the schools
The ST Johns Mission school and the
st. Louis Mission school. both Catholic
Institutions, established by Mother Ka;h-
crime Drexel OF Philadelphia. each receive
without cost the iG0 acre tract or which
they are located. No reservations were
made for religious denominations. other
wise Inherited Indian lands may be
sold Eighty acres each was reserved
for the townsites OF Hoininy and Fair
fax and $40 for the Pawhuska toEnsite.
which Is to be the seat Of a county en-
bracing the Usage reservation.
The Usage Indian IS too wealthy TO Do
anything in "a hurry. and the matter Of
selecting delegation. approved By all
factions. may consume several ve. ks
There Is good authority for the statement
that powerful influence. not apparent on
the surface. win force the final silot-
rnent Of the Usage lands.
The Usage reservation contains 1900
aerdes OF land. consisting OF many fer
tile valleys miles OF rolling przfries. and
considerable area OF rocky hills. a
greater part OF the reservation "a the
grazing purposes. the annual revenue AZ
Erezatfng sI7nsp. The reservation = SUE
ceptIble OF sustaining large population
The total white and Indian population
al present is between 900 and 1900 poo
PIE or the OsaEes alone there are i-ksa
persons. Of which more than ore-half are
mixed bloods zho win compare favorsbIy
With their white neizhbors Fl education
Intelligence and thrift TIE fun blood IL
also gradually Improving his condition
II the eastern part Of the Usage re-
servatior a large quantity % OF Is pro
ducsa and TIE number Of producing wells
IS Constantly Increasing Natural gas
wells are also heing found ard there are
ABUNDANT indications that the reservation
contains coal. lead ard zisc- There are
numerous Sowing streams 90 waser. Which
furnish water f. abupdaEee for live stock.
and the rain far Is sufficient 20 insure
good crops.
As has beez published b@foTe. after the
sfEosueut g Izzd<. thS oszxes VIII be
The rseaIzhsest p@opse. pe- capita. n th@
ertsre world They VII have ECO pr
czosta IL cold cab n addition 10 their
s.s,-scre land aIiosrzentz for each man.
woman ard esIiS q tbs tribe
IN DISTRICT COURT.