The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-07-18
INDIAN SUFFRAGE.

Can the Indians yote?' was a ques.
tion raised by the Washington CORES
pondents last week that will be-of In.
ierest 10 the people of the new state.
The reports say that the officials OF
the burea Of Indian affairs arfe in
quandary over the political status of
the Indians a result OF the peculiar
wording Of the statehood bill. Theen.
abling act says that the Indians may
vote for delegates TO the constitutional
convention and may be candidates for
election to that convention but II does
not specifically say that the Indians
shall be citizens OF the new state,
having the same protection and rights
as other citizens Yet the intention
Is plain. II y expected that the In
dians should have the same rights as
the white men In the elections In the
new state. Doubtless, further legisla
ton to that end is not needed. but
should II be. congress will not be slow
In passing Il. The question. Can the
Indians yote?' is easily answered. and
the answer must be in the affirmative
Oklahoma State Capital.
The Ardmoreite thinks this ques
tion Is most satisfactorily answered by
Hon 5. r. Bledsoe OF this city in the
following article. recently given the
press:
Il notice a statement going the
rounds OF the press that II Is doubtful
as to whether the Indians in Indian
Territory will have the right OF SUI.
frage I'm the new State.
Il have not been able TO find any
provision Of law that would Justify
such a conclusion On the 3rd day Of
March, 1901, every Indian IN Indian
Territory was made a citizen Of the
United States. and given all Of the
benefits and made subject 20 all the
laws both civil and criminal. Of the
United States The question Of who
shall bee entitled 10 vote I'm the State
Of Oklahoma will be- determined not
by the Congress OF the United States.
but by the constitutional convention
Of the State, subject only TO the pro
vision and limitations In the Consti
tuition Of the United States, and 10 the
sixth division OF the second section of
the Statehood bill which is as follows.
That said State shall never enact
any law restricting or abridging the
right of suffrage ON account of race,
color or previous conditions of seryi.
tude.
Certainly there Is nothing in any
act Of Congress that can be- construed
as contemplating the disfranchise-
moat Of the Indians In Indian Terri.
tory
when the right to create municipal
corporations In Indian Territory was
conferred upon the citizen thereof, It
was specifically provided that Indians
residing In the limits Of such corpora
tions should have the same right OF
suffrage as was exercised by the cit
liens of the United States This was
prior 10 the time that all the Indians
In Indian Territory were made citizens
of he United States. No one who
is familiar with the conditions in In.
dian Territory could for u moment
doubt but that the constitutional con
vcutIon will give the same rights,
privileges and immunitics. including
the right To vote, 10 members OF
the Indian Tribes. that Is given to 9th.
or citizens of the United States
To undertake TO deprive the In
dian ~ the right to suffrage on &C,
colut OF his race would be in direct
.coai'iyt with the sixth division of sec.
.ond section Of the statehod bin above
referred to. which section the new
state of Oklahoma is required TO IN
corporate in its constitution before it
can bee admitted to statehood"
Despite the Act Of Congress Cf
Aarch 2. 1901 referred to by 'ir. ne.
zoe. the Indians have been treated as
wa'ds by the Federal government. and !
so fer no actual benefit has accrued |
TO them by reason OF this law. Many |
Indians, notably Robt. J.. Owen, for /
mer Indian agent. contends that the (,
Act OF Congress relieves the Indians /
from the supervisory control of the |
interior department This the depart.