The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1903-08-24
PRESS COMMENTS ON SCANDAL

| IuhullNNN ANNtlA III NAnFARhn 'NAhA
ments and an investigation OF affairs
in Indian Territory is generally de-
manded. IL seems that President
Roosevelt has been contemplating an
examination into the affairs of the
Territory for some time past. Ex-
tracts from editorials from some
eastern papers follow. The Republi.
can of Springfield, Mass, asks:
And what Is to be done with the
men whose misconduct In office Is
thus reflected upon? Are they to con.
tinue In their places continuing also
in their money interest and official
management OF concerns whose ef-
feet Is simply one of robbery and
degradation OF the wards of the gov
ernment? They should resign one or
both OF these connections. or rather
they should be removed from the ser
vice OF the government. The investi-
CATION Of MIR. Broisus, an entirely
competent lawyer, who has devoted
his labors for a year to hnd out the
truth of the matter at issue made
strong prima facie case, and the pre-.
sumption of the truth OF mis- conclu.
sions is quite sufficient basis for a
demand for immediate measures"
The New York Evening Poat says;
"The most serious scandal affecting
the governments relations to Us IT,
dian wards which has become public
for at least decade past is now
foreshadowed by the report OF Sam.
uel w. Broslus, general aSent Of the
Indian Rights Association, in regard
to the land tenure in the Indian Ter
ritory With the old stories of the
cheating and robbing of Indians by
white men we are all too familiar. But
that trusted agents Of the government,
among them officials of the Dawes
commission, should be found to be
prohting by other connections than
those with the public service, Is both
discouragng and humillating. It was
hoped that the spirit which animate
the Beavers and Machens Of the pos
tai department had spread into no
other branches of the puJ.ie service
Now it appears that most 4 the Fed
eral officials of the Indian Teuitory
were either stockholders or officers
in a Tribal Development company
and a Title and Trust company au-
thorized to do business in the very
lands which these officials, or some Of
chem, were sworn to see properly al
lotted and distributed to the tribes
which are rapidly being made Ameri-
can citizens"
The Washington Times makes these
strictures Surface indications seem
to warrant the decision reached by
the president and Secretary Hitch
cock TO order an immediate and rigid
investigation of the affairs OF the In
dian bureau. In the statements con
tanned in the report made by Mr.
Brosuis Of the Indian Rights Associa-
tion are true, no time should be lost
in instituting a searching inquiry into
the conduct OF officials charged with
the administration OF Indian affairs
When such conditions as MIR. Brosius
describes can be unearthed by pri-
vate individual. It is impossible TO say
what might be discovered when an
Official probe delves into these mat
ters Such slow progress has been
made by the Dawes commission in the
allotment OF Indian lands that the fact
alone is justification for making an
inquiry into It's methods, and now that
it's present chairman is found to be
associated with several of the land
specializing companies, 1t is reasona-
BILE to suppose that the delay in wind
ing up the work OF the commission
has not been altogether due 20 the la
borious task It has been called upon
to perform"
The New York Times gives inter
osting information: "The scope OF
the investigation which II has been
decided to make into alleged frauds
committed by United States officials
in connection with allotments in the
Indian Territory is now under Goa
sideration by Secretary Hitchcock. Al
the Indian bureau nothing is known
as to how the inquiry will be conduct
cd. 1t is positively stated, however
that there Will be an investigation
Mr.. Smith. Mr.. Hitchcook's secretary
made the surprising statement tina
) from time 10 time, as the disclosures
were made known to the secretary
the facts In each case were turneC
|. over to the department OF justice an,
y - %