The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-06-11
UN PR E PARED NESS.
Unreasonable View of the Statehood
Proposition

"The oklahoman continues to Insist
upon single statehood for Oklahoma aud
Indian Territory" says the Southwest
World, OF Guthrie It then continues:
"The World would gladly fall in line
with our esteemed contemporary on
this proposition did we not know that
the Indian Territory is no prepared for
statehood at this time. nor viii 1t be for
four or FIVE years to come"
How does the World know that In.
dian Territory Is not ready for statehood
In what particu ar is il lacking or what
Is to prevent it from assuming organized
government BY what stan lard does q
measure that prosperous, progressive
section and find that il is condemned to
four or FIVE years more Of chaos and
earpet-bagismi
The situation in Indian Territory is
substantially this. The territory EN-.
braces the lands OF the five civilized
tribes and few small tribes, constitui-
ing an area about equal in size to Okla
homa. II is populated by about i25 900
whites and $1,000 Indians and negroes.
Outside Of the towns the lands are held
in trust by the tribes, but the Dawes
Commission Il nov settling up the es-I
tate. and aIlotsing the lands In severaity.
The work Of aliotsing is practically all
completed in two Of the Eve nations and
Is we'll under way In the other three.
Members Of the Dawes Commission say
tha, all aliotments viii have been made
within the next eighteen months In
addition to the lands allotted 10 each
Indian citizen. is the mineral lands and
the residue lands both Of which are TO
be dispo sed Of By the interior depart
meni for The benefit Of the tfibes and
the mopey derived from the proceeds OF
the sale apportiored to the members per
capita, the same as the funds derived
from the sale Of the townsite lands All
Of these lands are surveyed. Under the
Indian treaties. certain parts Of The land
allotted 10 tie individual Indian can be
sold. with the approval Of the secretary
Of the interior. and any Of il can be
leased on certain conditions The town
sites are siready surveyed and plated
and Tee Simple title can be had. All
tribal relations cease on March 4. 1916
There IS nothing apparent from this
condition OF affairs which would hinder
. the establishment Of organized govern
meut. The only thing lacking is an OPP
. portunity 10 make start. Under or
' ganized government, or pending lis es-
q tablishment, this Indian esiate-for that
Is what II practically amounts to--could
be closed up with as much facility and
equity to al concerned as under the
choalie conditions which now exist. IN
: fact, It could be settled up with greater
: facility Tie establishment Of county
= lines and the organization Il local self
: government would in no manner inter.
tere with any Indian citizen receiving
bis allotment and per capita payments
= nor with any 81 the Indian tribal insti.
7 tuiiona On the other hand, Il wo uld
y bring order out Of chaos and free the
2 white citizenship from the fetsers which
? bind them.
y As much Of this land viii be tax able
soon after allotment and ail ,he coal AMI
= residue lands taxable az soop as sold,
! together with all the city aud town real
6 estate and personal property. Indian
territory viii be abnndantly able 10 bear
. her fall quoto Of The burden Of taxaiios
! for the support Of the state
Il Is not apparent, Iberef re-. that IN
: dian Territory Is not ready for siateho q
I FOR four Or hye yeau to come. The
= World reitefstes this statement because
! Il has heard some federal appoinie,
= with long lease on the public crib Tier
ste It. aud assumes without irvcsiiga
ton that insufmountable barriers exist
II il will investigate conditions IN fndiai
Territory Tor itself. II will soon quit th'
tine too crowd.