Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-18
Indians to Relinquish Their Tribal Re-
] acknowledging Of the Territory
and Oklahoma Expected.
BIZ WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald

tive, and In two cases judicial also; but
practically. they have been under the pro-
lection and supervision of the Indian bu-
reau of the United States. BY common
consent and by act of Congress, this
anomalous condition expires on the 4th of
March next.
The inhabitants of Indian territory will
be merged into the body polite of the
United States the tribal existence of the
Five Nations-the Creeks, Cherokees, Choc-
taws, Chickasaws and Seminoles-expires;
their Independence ceases, and they will
he placed upon the same footing as Alaska.
unless Congress shall enact some legisla-
tfon before that time. 1t is confidently ex-
pected that Indian territory and Okla homa
will be merged and admitted into the Union
as single state before that date. But
unless there is some legislation; unless
Congress is more prompt in the perform
ance of it's duty than experience has led
us to expect, there will be anarchy here
for awhile between the expiration of the
old and the Inauguration of the new re-
gime.
Work Of the Dawes Commission.
The increase of population the inter-
marriage Of the natives with outsiders; the
development Of the vast agricultural and
mineral resources of the. territory created
such a complicated and novel situation that
some years ago Congress decided to put an
end to the anomaly and make the inhabi-
tants Of Indian territory citizens of the
United States, apportioning among them
the enormous amount of property they have
always held in common. Although it usual
~ requires several years to settle an estate
of few hundred thousand dollars, involv-
Ing the interests of half dozen people,
body Of practical American citizens, known
as the Dawes commission, after the late
Senator Dawes of Massachusetts,. who was
really the author of the plan, have identi-
fed more than 81 600 heirs and have dis
tributed among them more than twenty mill
lion acres Of land valued al hundreds of
millions of dollars, in less than eight years.
These gentlemen have made one of the
most remarkable and satisfactory records
known to history. Their experience has
been unique There is nothing with which
to compare it in the annals of any civilized
nation; and what Is most astonishing, their
judgment has been accepted In every case;
their decisions have been received as final.
and they will be able to close their duties
and be relieved from their responsibilities
on the 30th of June next without any pro-
tests on file against their action.
The existence of the commission expires
by law on June 30 and the body will be
dissolved: but a great deal of work re-
mains to be done in preparing and deliver
ing the deeds to the lands that have been
allotted and several other matters of BUSH
ness will require several months to COM
plete. This will be left for the chairman
Mr.. Tams Bixby of Minnesota, and Mr..
Beall of Washington. the secretary, to do
The force of employees. which now numbers
about geo. will be reduced about one-half
on the 1st of July and before the LIST Of
January it is probable that the entire force
will be discharged. Many of the officials
and employees of the commission will re-
main in the territory as private citizens.
There Ia great chance here for Young
men In all the trades and professions.
Inhabitants Of the Territory.
The population of the territory by the
census of 1900 was 39l $780, including "a. 5O7
Indians and rocco negroes. During the last
three or four years it has increased very
rapidly and has undoubtedly doubled. most
of the newcomers being white farmers and
business men from all parts of the United
states. 1t Is cosmopolitan population
Nearly every state and territory in the
Union and forty foreign countries are rep
resented by people attracted here by the
extraordinary natural resources and oppor-
tunities for business and employment. 1t is.
asserted that there is not an idle man in the
territory except a small percentage of loaf
ers who will not work Wages are high and
there Is a demand for every kind of Skilled
and ordinary labor, while business chances
for men of small capital and large energy
are unlimited The population of some Of
the towns has trebled and quadrupled and
there are $50 or eco thriving towns with a
population of three or four thousand people
each that did not exist when the census of
1900 was taken. The city of Muskoeee for
example. had less than 5,COO population In
1900. while a recent school population gave
1t more than 1900.
The members of the tribes. the full-blood-
ed Indians, descendants of those who were
brought from the states east of the Mfssis-
sippi. three-Quarters of century ago and
the descendants of the negroes who were
their slaves. and after emancipation were
admitted to the several tribes are the own
ers of all the territory According to the
legend. General Jackson told them that
they should always possess this land that
they should never be disturbed as long as
grass grew and water ran. But from time
to time before the civil war there were large
migrations from the southern states, and
many OF the brawny frontiersmen married
the native damsels. After the war came
the outlaws and Adventures. Indian terri
tory was Botany bay and an asylum for
fugitives from Justice. Many of these ad-
venturers became s"sQuaw men, also; that
IS. they took Indian wives and settled with
the tribes. Next came the ranchmen and
cowboys and the squatters and traders and
finally. az railroads were built the popula-
ton was increased by all classes Of the
sons and daughters Of men. None Of these
outsiders had legal rights but were adj
mitted to the territory on stiffrance by the
native owners of the domain, chiefly be-
cause the latter had no means Of prevent
Ing the invasion.
Many of the Foreigners" as the whites
are called, leased large tracts of grazing
and agricultural land, and although the en-
tire area was held in common ownership
&lic youngest infant OF the poorest FAMILY
having the same property rights as the
most powerful chieO, the laws OF, nature
permitted men of ability and strong char
acter to secure the best locations and the
largest areas. while the lazy and helpless
lived In shacks and cabins in the solitary
places. According to custom, a member of
the tribe could control and fence In all the
land ne was able to defend, regardless of
the title; and the consequence was that the
most available and valuable sections fell
Into the hands OF the rich and influential
The territory became divided into great es-
tates. controlled by the ablest and the most
energetic Of the Indians. while those of les
ser account worked for their greater brett-
rem.
Action Of Congress.
In 1852 Congress decided that 1t was tirns
that the Indians should become citizens
and appointed a commission to divide the
20,OOO.00O acres Of land among them Sew
orally. each man, woman and child to have
an equal share. not in ares, but OF value.
It wss lie tbs division Of . vast estate
amounting to 20OO0O00 acres of land and
hundreds of ntlltons OF dollars among
nearly 100000 claimants.
The commission begAn its work By at
tep1D<1n9 to Aaecura agreements With the
N4rtos14 tffpm for tho practical application