The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-11-17
The CHIEFS
MESSAGE.
Short and to the Point. The
Chief Deals With the Lead
ing Problems Confront
ing the Nation.

Chief Rogers delivered his annual
message TO the two houses Of the
national Council "Wednesday after
noon. With reference 20 the suit
with the intermarred citizens he
makes a statement rs follows.
"rhe Indian Appropriation bill
passed by congress and approved by
SHE President on April q, 1904, CON
tains a provision authorizing the in
tormarried whites Of the Cherokee
Nation 10 institute q suit in the court
Of claims Of the United States against
the Cherokee Nation, with the right
sf appeal 70 either party to the Su-
preme Court OF the United States
for disiributive share in the pay.
nent heretofore made IN accordance
with various per capita acts Of the
Cherokee Nation. The suit involves
approximately s750,O000O, or almost
sne-Nalf Of our,invested funds The
aherokee Nation having been sued In
this manner, and for such an amount,
I directed that preparations be made
for full defense. In my last mes
age TO the national council, atten-
zion was called to the fact that the
right Of this class TO participate In the
allotment OF land had been referred
TO the court OF claims for determine
non by the honorable Secretary OF the
Interior. Many OF the questions in
volYed In the suit authorized TO be
brought against this Nation by the
act OF congress Of April q, 1904, will
Of necessity arise and be determined
in the suit pending in the court OF
claims touching the right OF this class
to participate la the allotment OF
lands, therefore, have directed the
national attorney to Intervene for the
cation in the suit pending before the
eourt Of claims TO the end, that when
ihe judicial determination Of these
questions Is had, the interests OF the
aherokee Nation therein, may be
guarded and protected BY proper rep
resentation.
sPEcULAToRs AND 'GRAPrERs."
''Great dissatisfaction prevails
among a certain class OF our people
growing out OF contracts and leases
which they have been induced to
rake upon their lands, or which 9TH
- have made upon the lands OF their
children. There seems to be no doubt
but that spectators, By one pretsxt
- another, have swindled many Of
eur people. Those citizens unschool-
Il In business and financial affairs
must be protected. It should be
made clear 70 them that when they |
discover they are the victims OF mis- !
representation, or fraud, in making |
any contr act or lease, an ample rene
4 Is provided for their redress And
IN eases where agents Of oil companies.
81 speculators, have secured appoint
nents as guardian Of their children,
- when any other person in that c.
paclty Is not acting in the interest Of
lis wards, he may be called TO imme-
date account, and his removal OBJ
tained, by application 20 the courts.
Citizens who have grievances should
sake them known without delay to
the principal chief, and II we'll found
ed, quick action will lie taken for
their relief
FILING UP0R ALL0THEsTs.
desire 10 urge upon al classes Of
eur citizens the necessity Of selecting
tlleir allotments a. the earliest date
possible. The interests Of themselves
and family demand that this matter be
put of no longer. The energetic Cit
lzsns are rapidly selecting The best
land to tho loss Of those that remalul
at home and decline % tile Further
delay will only result In arbitrary Sc
lections being made for them By 9th
ers unaequainted with their interests
~ desires"
-