The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-08-16
OIL LANDS
IN TERRITORY
STANDARD OIL COMPANY ANH-
lous TO GRASP LANDS.
Secretary Hiteheoek's Determines
Policy to Keep Out the OIL Trust
is Heartily Conceded With
by President Roosevelt.
Ardmorcitc Special.

Ardmorcitc Special.
washington. Aug. 16.-Poworful IN
gueuccs are being arrayed in the con
tcst which will be of natiou-wide-al-
most worldwide interest The whole
of the vast influence, personal ana
financial. Of the Standard OIL com
psny Is being hurled against the gov
orumeut i'm a supreme effort to main
tain the standards prestige. Wheih'
pr the effort will be successful or un-
successful will depend to great eX-
tent on the nerve OF the representa-
tivcs of the government
For several years the Standard OIL
company. through It's representatives
has been acquiring tich oil lands In
the Indian Territory and In Okla
homa Territory which, in few
months will constitute the state OF
Oklahoma. The lands obtained by
the STANDARD belong to the Cherokee
aud Usage Indians. Secretary Hitch
cock of the interior department be-
came cognizant OF the intentions oil
the oil trust and, after a careful IN
ycstigation of the situation, decided
90 frustratc the Standards purposes
To acquire the lands at what evident
ly was ridiculously inadequate price.
Under the law the secretary imposed
certain conditions on which only the
lands could be leased by the Indians
IA tho trust. or TO anybody else.
Among the conditions imposed one
was that no person or corporation
should be permitted 10 lease more
tban $500 acres. I'm addition II was
provided that the lease should be pro.
tcctcd by a cash deposit OF $4,000 as
guarantee that the leasee would
opcratc the lands in good faith and
that It would not be held in any sense
for speculative purposes. Secretary
Hitchcock also provided that The lease
once obtained. could be transferred
only with the consent of the secretary
of interior. Every lessee was also re
CURED 10 present an affidavit that he
WAS not Interested In any other lands
held by the Indians IN the territories
The condition laid down by Secre
tary Hitchcock made trouble for the
Standard oil company. The state
mcnt Is made that the oil trust has
obtained leases on nearly two million
acres of the finest oil lands In the two
territories In airect violation OF the
regulations provided by Secretary
Hitchcock The lands are not only the
best oil producing lands in the west
but probably In the world They are
worth making a fight for. The Stand
ard, therefore is eXerting all of it'
tremendous power to induce Secretary
Hitchcock to modify his orders 81
that IL may continue TO hold the leases
Thus far he has declined to do so.
4 few days ago. therefore, the oi
trust sent one OF its agents directl!
to President Roosevelt. lie was ac
companied by former United States
Senator James X. Jones, who repre-
sents the Indians that are interested
The result OF their conference will
the president has not been disclosed
but there are reasons for believing
that the president will stand squarell
by Secretary Hitchcock. Indeed, the
president is known to have said tha
certain men, by violating the regula
uons imposed by Secretary Hltchcocl
In acquiring leases on to many acres
have forfeited their rights to further
consideration.
The Standard is calling into actor
the most potent influences, social anC
political, at its command While 4
may be possible to postpone definite
action on the part Of the government
until such time as the president anC
Secretary Hitchcock are satisfied alb
solutely OF the justice OF the govern
monts position, the likelihood rs tina
In the end the Standard will be forced
10 rolinquish its claim to the greater
parts of the lands which II has ac
quired through the leases from the
Indians.