The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-12-27
ShOenfeIt'S Plan
FOR STOPPING INDIAN
TERRITORY GRAFT
Wants 10 Revise Rules for
Leasing and Sale of
Indian Lands.

MHskooce, !, T., Dec. 2l- When All
is said and done the real meface TO
the Indian and his land Is the graft
-cr. land SPECTATOR or land shark ae
he is called, and the most important
question which confronts this agency
particularly with reference to the falc
and leasing Of lands and 10 goardian.
ship matters is how shall we check
the CRATER and put him out of bust
ness? The present and almost uni
lersal attempt % acquire Indian lands
for a song is little shori Of Wholesale
robbery. which heleye could be
checked. II net eiiripafed."
The foregoing statement Appeals IN
a report srhnitter by J. Blair shoen.
felt. Indian ageW at Muskosec. to the
commissioner ,of Indian affairs ar
Washington. IN which he outlines his
ideas OF tho most urgent needs of IN
dian territory end the kind Of leeisla
ton that would bring order out Of pres
tnt chaotic conditions.
"The first pcriirert question is'
continues TIE Indian agent, what are
the conditions which furnish the in
Gucemeni ser The erarter to stay and
ply his trade? If this question can be
answered and the conditions. when
determined. so changed as to no louger
contribute to his financial gam, then
the land spcculator viii geek other
fields and not before believe thas
The answer les in ;he present system
Of leasing indian lands and the sale
OF tho same"
After quoting the laws governing the
leasing Of Indian lauds in the five CIV
ilIzed natioqs Nr. shoenfelt continues:
The questions involved are not few,
for they have vexed the government
ever since the allotnent OF lands in
sevsralty was begun In 1900 the
CRATER lad alreaav Segpn his worl.
and was in unlawful possession Of
Indian lands throuehout the territory
In my annual report 10 The depart
ment OF thai year said IN my judg
ment the only remedy TO p-event
continuance o. this .unlaW ml occupa.
tion of Indian lands is for congress- TO
pass rigid law to protect lhe In
dian citizens AGAINST the encrcach.
ments ami graspine whites. Persons
Unlnwfuly In possession OF indian
lands should De made to feel and und-
erstand that the Indians of the Eve
civilized tribes arc s'ill the wards
Of the government and that the strorg
arm Of .he interior department can be
evoked In order to secure them their
rights rights which have been grant
ed to them by the government Of the
United States under solemn treaties.
II is OF bighest inpCv1ance that the
lands OF the Iniians should be kept
from further complications, or at least
until they have been allotted. and
ju1t and equitable laws should be
passed governing IN this territory.
These contracts should he approved
by trusted aean' before they shall
have any force or binding ip0a either
party entering thereunto. This lar.
Ruaee was true then ana is just as
applicable today
In my report fsr the vcar ending
June 80. 1902 in discussing the same
question ! said Some remedial meas
ure should be adopted 70 prevent the
continuance Of such unlawful practices
above clted and make clear a way for
Ihe legitimate leasing and renting Of
Creek allotments, especially the allot-
ments OF such allottees who are IN.
competent 10 transact and manage
their own Affairs
Mr. shoenfelt states in his report
that the provisions Of tho AtcSa agree
ment by which anottees are permitted
to lease their land ioi period OF fyo
years without depafnental euperv-
sion. have failed to meet the expecta-
iions OF the hameis Of sae agreement
ia that they are easily defeated by tie
CRATER, who takes a lease for FIVE
years. and es each year expires takes
q new lease for fye years and cance.t
the old one II IS of 20 avail to say.
as the agreement provides that such
leases shall not be valid unless rea-
fonable' compensation Is given. for the
average Indian allottee who leases his
allotment Is witAont means or inclin.
alton tc seek tho protection Of his
rights In the federal courts"
The indian agent here calls attep-