The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1905-02-23
THE srRwARr AnoMINATIoN.

The most important single matter thai confrouts "a
peOple Of ths Indian Territory al this time IS wlthou
doubt, what Is known as the Stewart amendment Thl
item Of proposed egisatIou vas St offered IN the forn
u bill and afterward embodied as an amendment 70 IA
pending Indian appropriation bll where il now ssands
the present session OF congress
The provisions Of the stewart amendment we're a
rSt considered wide of the mark Is matter Of intel
gens legislation that much attention was paid to IL
It developed however that Secretary Hitchcock Vores
such a measure, and that powerful combination VA
determined to enact IL into as and put II into opera
ton At in the Indian country OF al the bad sgs
lation that has been offered and much Of Il put intg
effect in resent years touching Indian Territory matter
The Stewart amendment Il the crowuing blundeE and
would bring disaster the fudan citizen than ans
other yet proposed senator Stewart and Secretary
Hitchcock 70 haso entirely sight of the rights
oi the Indians and propose arbitrarily take their
lands that Ner conveyed to them b patent b the gov
iog consideration and 20 practically eonasate
those lands b appnising and selling them without tho
consent of the allotteeS
The chefokees have rot iar from an average Of ~
acres EACH small homestead a. best, and this amend
proposes sell an 81 this save 20 acres "a outside
settlers without the consent of the aiotee This act Is
n violation Of treaties and agreements fron the very
issssaaas The ery IS raised Ia Washington that the
graftsn are getting the lands away from the indians
without jest compensation This IS not true 70 any great
extent II has been greatly oyentated The CRATER
wonld have less chance % aeece the alotee we're hs
title 10 al lands tile aotments 81 adults free from r.
,triconS The attempt 70 restrict the sale has had
tendency 20 reduce the value and sheu land is sold Il
does not bring much a. it would wore the owners a..
lowed an open and free market The aliotmens Of min.
should Of course be inalenabls during mnerty but
anger The ful 0ooded Indians should BE- permitted
to into the COURTS and when intelligent enough 20
handle their own property BE- allowed TO do 20
The commercial interests Of the territory would suffer
greatly should the Stewart amendment become lau,
but the people who would be ht the hardest woud b.
the Indians themselves Mans Indian families are eas.
ing their aotments for money with which they are eau
eating their children and this measure actually prohibits
the leasing Of any lands Tor agricultural purposes The
Indian with large family Of Young ehidren eoud bs
compelled 70 allow the land 70 grow up Ia weeds and to
giTc up tie yearly results that support the family
There are absolutely many defects in the measure
that u daeult knou where 10 attacs IL Il would
etart the development Of the country without benefit
ting the Indian The interests o. the people Of the IN
dian Territory nov lnteteoyen A. 70 make them
realy inssperable What good for the Indian IS also
good fof ais white ueighbor To hara4 and ~ear out
these Indian people By such legislation is outsgeoas
The writer Is n0t land buyer nor CRATER but viexs
the situation rather from The standpoint Of the Indian
ctizen and thinks he sees the ansh Of the Indian
should the Stewart amendment prevail This country
cannot be turned back Into an Indian country and there
fore Il ought 70 be developed IN the highest and best
sense consistent with the rights Of the ownsn of the
land the indians Il must go forward and not backward
aud legislation should BE- 70 this end
The maortyoi the people whose Interests are Involved
competent 70 handle their osn lands This ought 70
Be the test II any Of The citizens are capable Of taking
Of their lands they eaght not 70 b subjected 70 TIE
humiliation offered IN this proposed legislation Il would
le extremely unfortunate atths unctnre for congress %
'nact foolish and burdensoms piece of legislation
The sentiment IN congress Is radically wrong en- this
proposition Tle Secretary and senator Stewart an
ioabfedly have IN mind remnant Of a tribe of Wild
blanket Indians the hand and multitude of con
cienceless gnllen trying to rob them % The other
Neither : true Tiefe no blanket Indians here and
comparatively Iaw tat b designated fullbooas TIE
act Is The department Of le Interior IS dealing On tie
slele with community of eapahle side awake amer
an citizens that deserve more Intelligent and wltlia
better treatment
ne cllaans ot vaisa lase Just gone down ID their
lutAeiA ard dne up something ike tffv.sxa lsasaan