The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-05-08
AFRoST. A F
Secretary Hitchcock Offends Musko.
gees Chamber Of comWerce.

following account OF Secretar
Hitchcock's visit to the territor
yesterday;
"The Interior Department pro
poses to use all possible haste con
sistent with business principles il
opening up the Indian Territory
But 10 doing so the strictest faitl
will be kept with the Indians. Th,
different treaties will be lived VI
TO the very letter. The rights o.
the Indians will be fully protected
Our plan of procedure may mol
suit the promoters and schemers
but 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 thoss 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 special train. The
party consists Of Secretary e 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 Choctaw
and transferred 20 the Missouri,
Kansas 4 Texas AZ South McAles-
ter. They only spent few minu-
ties Al South town George Mare
field, the Choctaw attorney Joined
them by advance invitation and
came here with them.
The Muskogee Chamber Of Com
merce had committee at the de-
pot to receive the party, but It did
not receive. The train arrived at
p m. For five minutes after it
stopped not soul stirred in the
private car Finally Secretary I
saw Chief Burlington in
the crowd and came out to point
him out to member OF the party
who wanted to see an Indian. The
secretary shook hands with In
spector Zeveley, Indian Agent
Shoenfelt, Clarence Douglass,
Chief Burlington and the mayor Of
0kmulgee. But no member Of
he reception committee had that
honor. Even the gate 10 the train
Tes not thrown open.
"Fine car.n said one OF the re-
'eivers. "Very fine car on the
outside" responded another,
Feels like frost. don't it2 Yes.
believe it's going TO snow"
The secretary announced that
be train would back down in the
'ards so the party could feed and
hat he would be ready to move an
lour later.
The officials had a couple Of car.
iages at the train at 2 o'clock,
ut the train pulled out for Table.
uah. This was another surprise
0 Muskogee. The secretary took I
sudden notion that he wanted {
see the new land office in oper- I
ton. He was accompanied there 3
y Tams Bixby and Colonel Need
ss. Of the Dawes commission.
After visiting the land Office and
ne Cherokee Female seminary, h
be party returned to Muskogee. t
hief Burlington accompanied it. S
he secretary will remain here to. +
lorrow and will take a daylight
ip to Sulphur via Okmulgee !,
aturday He expects to visit q
ishomingo and Ardmore and G.
lur places in Oklahoma including n
nadarko and Guthrie. He u
akes his intinerary as he goes ,
ong from day to day.
How about Creek deeds ? he I.