The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-06-26
TRIBAL RULE CEASES
Five Civilized Indian Tribes Lose
Chiefs After 1906.
kwerican Citizens with All
Siights and Privileges
March 4, That Year.

Under present treaties tribal gov
ernments of the five civilized tribes
cease on March 4, 1906. After that time
there will be no more chiefs, no med
icine men, no great father, no reser-
vations to leave and no pipes of peace
to smoke. The Indians on that day
will become American citizens, with
the same rights as their white breth-
ren, and no more. Many of them rue
the proposed change. They know it
cannot be delayed. On account of
the early extinction of these Indian
governments much interest is mani
tested in Indian politics of all ma
tions at this time. In driving the
final bargains with the government
the various factions of the Indians
are especially desirous that their par
ticular side have control of affairs
in the closing hours of their nation,
says the Chicago Chronicle.
Pleasant Porter, present chief of
the Creeks, has served four years in
that position. He is up for reelection
this fall. He belongs to the pro-
gressive element, is a cattleman and
business man and is well off financial
ly. The fullbloods are making strong
fight. against him. They will run
Charles Gibson, of Eufaula, for chief.
1t will be a hard fight, but Porter will
likely win. This will be the last cleo
ton held in the Creek nation, as the
chief is elected for four years, and be-
fore the next term expires tribal gov
ernment will have ceased. Chief Por-
ter is a widower and has two accom-
plished daughters. They have one Of
the finest homes in Muskogee.
L. NJ. Burlington. present chief of the
Cherokees, goes out of office this fall,
his term expiring. He will not be a
candidate for reelection. He says
about all the next and last chief will
have to do is to sign what papers the
government shoves under his nose, and
he, himself, doesn't care for the job.
He is fine specimen of manhood. He
stands about six feet six inches in
height and weighs $50 pounds. He is
big cattleman and lives with his fam
lily at Vinita. He has been chief for
two terms. His successor will be the
last chief of the Cherokees, as the ma
ton goes out of existence during the
term.
Green McCurtain, chief of the Choc-
taws, was elected last fall. In that ma
ton chief is elected every two years.
So his term will expire in the fall of
1905, and another chief will be elected
for the remaining few months of the
nations existence. McCurtain is full
blood and lives ON farm near Kintah.
He is a practical business man, a cat
tleman and planter, and is wealthy.
He has big family.
Palmer S. Moseley, chief of the Chick
asaws, was also elected last fall for
term of two years, and another chief
must be elected in 1905 to serve until
March 4 of the following year, when
the nation dies by limitation. He is
planter and stock raiser, and has a
large family. He lives at Waupanuca.
He only goes to Tishomingo, the cap
ital, when there is any official business
to look after.
The Seminoles have a. afull-blood, Hull
putta Micco, for their chief. He will
be the last to serve that tribe. The
Seminoles elect for four years. Micco
was chosen last fall. He belongs to the
"hammer and paddock" element. John
F. Brown, a progressive Indian, was
chief of the Seminoles for 16 years.
He was up for reelection last fall He
ruled his nation with an iron hand and
thought there was no doubt whatever
of his election. In fact, he paid no at
tention to the election, taking it as a
matter of course that he would be
chosen. But the Indians had got tired
of his rule, and they picked up Micco,
an old town king, and elected him,
much to the surprise of Brown. Brown
Is one of the richest men in the terri
tory, having made his money merchan-
dising among the members of his own
tribe. Micco is comparatively poor
man, but is sagacious. He cannot
speak the English language, and in all
his dealings with the officials and
whites he uses an interpreter. Re-
Gently he visited the Indian inspectors
office here to discuss affairs concern
ing his people. He alluded to the In
dian inspector as "the finger of the sec
retary of the interior"