The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-19
NORTH CAROLINA
HAS AN INDIAN REPUBLIC NEAR
 BALTIMORE ESTATE.
Tribe of FuII-BlOoded Cherolxees Has Own Government and washipRton
 Mlnister-President is EIec- ted by Plurality Vote.
AshevilIe. N. C.. Special.

ASneVllIe. N. C., special
 Not far from the magnificent Bilt- more estate of George W. Vanderbilt and in the shadow of the miiItonaira's hunting lodge on Mt. Pisgah, near AsheviIle. in the recesses of the noun tains, there is a highly civilized band of Cherokee Indians who form nn- tion seperate and distinct from the State government and based upon the theories of Democracy
 The people who compose this nation are full blooded red men, though far removed from the savagery of their ancestors. The scheme of their gov ernment, while adhering to many tra- ditions of their tribe. Is far in advance of any existing among other of the original natives of the soil.
 The chief or president of the repub- lie is elected by plurality vote by the qualified electors of the country. He must be at least thirty years old and a native of his Indian republic. Ho holds office for four years. Should the president be authorized by his Con- gress to leave the country on public business his compensation is fixed at $4 a day and expenses, including rail- road mileage.
 This president, is not only the chief executive of the nation, but it's first citizen, and he is always regarded as the personal friend and adviser of his people in their individual capacity, and it is frequently the case that he adjusts disputes and settles contro- versies in order to save his subjects the expense of litigation.
 Ex-President Chalohih's daughter, who was educated in Boston, is said to have been the most beautiful and pop ular woman of the nation, and during his administration she was the Dolly Madison of the little republic.
 President Is a Farmer.
 Jesse Reid, the present incumbent, is no ordinary man. He is giving his small domain one of the best business administl ations 1t ever had. President Reid Is a prosperous farmer and stock raiser and he prefers his beauti- full home on the Soco River to resi- dence in the capital
 The Vice President of the Republic Stilwell Sanokin, is an interesting character. Durinf the war between the States in the eos, the republic espoused the cause of the South, and one of the red men, Standing Wall, rose to the rank of brigadier.
 His command was composed largely of his own people, and one of his most gallant and most trusted officers was Major Sanokin. Since the war the major has been noted for his enter prise and he is the most popular man in the nation.
 The legislative branch of the Repub- lie is vested entirely in one grand council or House of Representatives and this body Is almost omnipotent. It's members are elected biennially. They must be citizens and freeholders of the Republic twenty-one years of age. and during the time for which they are elected they receive one dol lar a day
 The Speaker of the Indian Congress. who elected by that body, has a com pensation of a dollar and a half a day. while the House Is in session.
 An Indian Minister.
 Matters of foreign relations are in the hands of the House, but usually the work Is delegated to a minister. James Blye. the present incumbent, is a remarkable man.
 There are few Americans whose use of pure and accurate English excels his. He Is possessed in a high degree of tho qualities of statemanship. and of these the most marked is his ju- dicial temperament. 3
 These faculties make of him min- ister whose policies are followed and not prescribed. He goes regularly to Washington every year to look af- ter the interests of his people.
 He also represents them at Raleigh. the State capital. when 1t is necessary for his people to transact any business with the Commonwealth.
 Speaker Joseph Cornsilk of last years Indian Congress. is a full- blooded Cherokee. ain able man and a fine presiding officer. It was through his efforts that the Indian subjects in the legislative body adopted the Reed rules.
 All real property is primarily vested in the government, but when an In- dian citizen reaches the age of sixteen man the right accrues to select any portion of unappropriated land. and upon application to the Legislature 1t is segregated, and the applicant be- comes it's owner to all intents and pur- poses except sale, which is prohibited, unless the purchaser he native: if the title is acquired by intermarriage with a Cherokee and she dies the title re. verts to the government. unless she leaves heirs. and In that case 1t de. scends to them.
 The Indians In this model republic have never been polygamous people and some of their most stringent laws are directed against plural marriages and desecrations of the Sabbath They are, perhaps. the only citizens living fin two separate and distinct re- publics.