The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-05-14
A FROST.
Secretary Hitchcock oifends mssko-
gees Chamber of Commerce.

the Kansas City Journel sent The
following account OF Secretary
Hitchcock's visit to the territory
Thursday:
"The Interior Department pro-
poses to use all possible haste con.
sistent with business principles in
opening up the Indian Territory
But in doing so the strictest faith
will be kept with the Indians.T
different treaties will be lived up
TO the very letter. The rights of
the Indians will be fully protected.
Our plan Of procedure may not
suit the promoters and schemers
butt we are not aiming TO please
them. In fact, we are trying TO
throw obstacles in their way and
checkmate them at every turn. By
doing this, believe the depart.
ment is protecting those who have
prior rights in this country"
This significant statement was
made to the Journal correspond
ent tonight by Secretary Hitch.
cock, Of the Interior Department,
who is now touring the Indian ter
ritory in a special train. The
party consists of Secretary L A
Hitchcock, his nephew, George
Hitchcock; his secretary, Scott
Smith; president Fordyce of the
Cotton Belt railroad; Congressman
Richardson OF Alabama, and Col
Jack shepley, OF st. Louis. They
are travelling in Adolphus, the pri
vate car Of Adolphus Busch, the
st. Louis brewer. They came in
from Hot Springs on the Choetaw
and transferred 20 the Missouri,
Kansas & Texas at South McAles-
ter. They only spent few minu.
tes at South town George Mans
field, the Choetaw attorney Joined
them by advance invitation and
came here with them.
The Muskogee Chamber of Com.
merce had a committee at the de.
pot 10 receive the party, but 1t did
not receive. The train arrived al
/ pm. For FIVE minutes after IL
stopped not a soul stirred 10 the
private car. Finally Secretary
Hitchcock saw Chief Burlington in
the crowd and came out to point
him out to a member Of the party
who wanted TO see an Indian. The
secretary shook hands with In
spector ZeveIey. Indian Agent
shoenielt, Clarence Douglass,
Chief Burlington and the mayor Of
okmulgee. But no member Of
the reception committee had thai
honor. Even the gate to the train
was not thrown open.
"Fine car" said one OF the re.
ceivers. Every fine car on the
ouleide," responded another,
"Feels like frost. don't Il? Yes,
believe it's going to snow"
The secretary announced thai
the train would back down 10 the
yards so the party could feed and
that be would be ready TO move ar
hour later.
The officials had a couple Of car
riagss al the train at 2 o'clock
but The train pulled out for fable
quAh. This was another surprise
to Muskogee. The secretary took
q sudden notion that he wanted
TO sea the new land Office In oper.
alton. He was accompanied ther'
by Tams Bixby and Colonel Need
les, Of the Dawes commission.
Alter visiting the land office anG
the Cherokee Female seminary
the party returned TO Muskogee
Chiei Burlington accompanied i
The secretary will remain here TO
morrow aud will take a dayligb
trip to Sulphur via Okmulge'
Saturday. He expects TO visi
Tishomingo and Ardmore an,
four places IN Oklahoma including
Anadafko and Guthrie. II
makes his intinerary as he goe
along from day to day
"How about Greek deeds 2 hi
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