The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-05-11
PARADoXlcAL CONDITION IN
WHICH CONGRESS HAS PLACED
THE INDIAN.

F1E lNDlhNs
The failure Of congress so far this
session to provide for the removal
Of the restrictions on the sale or IN.
dian lands, brings out what is proba-
bly, the most paradoxlcal situation in
this country. Congress has declared
the Indians citizens. and is about 20
give them a voice in the national gov
ornment through the granting Of state
hood Yet e. Is willing to relinquish
none Of the government guardianship
over the red men
Congress gives t'lc Indians the right
To participate in the government OF
the nation and of others but refuses
them the ri ghtto govern themselves.
Congress admits that The Indians are
qualified for citizenship. but implies
that they are not capable of managing
their Dwn affairs.
Yet there appears 90 Doe "a vcoring
of sentiment m congress and doubt.
less before adjournment a law rcmov-
ing restrictions will be- passed II
will probably not be- upon The lands of
all of the indians, but only ON those
Of the less thar full.bloods" Under
the law these have more white than
Indian blood In their veins
There are many reasons why the
restrictions should De- removed and
a half victory Is better than total de.
feat a few reasons follow:
The restrictions are a check on the
development Of the towns and the
agricultural and mineral rdsources
pf the Indian Territory.
The restrictions cndangor the per.
mancnt prosperity q the Indian Ter.
ritory.
The restrictions should be removed
so that more land will be taxable for
tho state government
The removal Of restrictions through
the lowering of taxes and the i'm.
provoment of the country will In
crease the land values and the land
stil in the hands Of the Indians will
be worth more 10 them
The average Indian allottee mas
more land than he has the means or
inclination to cultivate and improve.
He leases a part or all Of his holdings
TO white men The rentals are low
and the Indians would realize more
II they could sell their lands and put
the money ont at interest
The lcssoos have no rights In tho
land. and max no Improvements.
where lands may be sold. the prss.
ont law provides that the surplus
may be disposed oi In three equal
parts In one. three and Eve years after
patents are issued This makes the
treats so small that they are not a..
irablc farms and are deprecated In
value In many cases the first sale is
made under contract that when the re-.
naming portions become alionable,
they shall be decided over, hut as there
are doubts about the legality Of such
contracts the value Of the land is
further deprecated.
Then the best argument FOR the re-
moval of restrictions Is that under
the present law the buying OF Indian
lands Is largely a speculation Instead
Of legitimate business transaction
and the Indians and actual farmers de-
string TO buy the lands FOR homes are
the losers while the lawyers and spec.
ulators and graftors are the ones grow
ing fat
Under HitchcocK's policy the In
dians have been bound hand and foot
So that they may be more easily rob
bed Secretary Hitchcock Is acting in
nocontly In the matter lie does nor
understand conditions In the Indian
Territory or the indian. But the many
discussions al Washington of subjects
pertaining 10 the Indian Is having It's
effect Tho government Is getting a
better understanding of things as they
exist In the Indian Territory, and he.
fore congress adiourns the restric-
tions will doubtless bee renewed on tho
surplus lands NJ those OF less than
full-bloods." and the SiNtioth congress
should see more general removal OF
restrictions Guthrie state Capital,