The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-07-08
Dslrned, HENRY II FuRMAN
nr. Cruces Reply
Aramore. / T. Jlly Z. lsl

Hon. Henry Furman. Ada, ]. T.
Ny Dear Sir.-Replying 20 your
letter requesting a statemen, from we
defining my position on the veXatious
question Of removal % restrictions
from the sale OF lands Of allottees %
the Indian Territory. will state that
favor the removal Of restrictions
from sale OF lands Of all allottees of
the Indian Territory. whether they be
lnter.married citizens. Indians by
blood or Freedmen excepting only q
reasonable amount Of lands % full
blood Indians as a homestead
have never been able 10 recognize
as sound or Just the doctrine that an
Indian should be allowed 10 dispose
o. a portion of his lands while he IS
denied the right to control and man
age the whole estate. The position IS
/ contradictory within Itself toi eyi.
dently II the owner OF the property Is
competent 20 sell one.half OF his hold
( ings he Is competent 70 sell the re-
maiulng half II the question Of the
allottee's competency Is alone TO gov
/ orn IN the solution OF the question
/ then the restrictions should apply 10
an his holdings or none. The same
line - reasoning that would restri,t
him ln the sale % his real estate
would apply with equal force 20 all
his personal property That there are
incompetent allottees IS conceded,
,usf so are there incompetent persons
IN every state IN the union Bnt 20
say that an allottees IN this territory
are Incompetent IS an unwarranted
slander upon a large BODY of our
citizenship.
Congress has by solemn act con
ferred upon these people all ihe
political rights OF citizenship. II has
said they are capable OF holding any
once within the gift Of the people Of
this great new Commonwealth; that
they may exercise. without limitation
the right Of suffrage Now, 10 say they
are not % suficient intelligence %
manage their property in their own
way Is % place dollars above the
ballot: Is 20 exalt mans pecuniary
possession and debase citizenship
. hut there Is more 10 be considered II
the question than the mere matter O.
, competency or incimpetency Of allot
/, tees. Two important factors 20 be care
!. fully weighed are. first. the effect thi'
J policy has upon the allottee. and sec
ond. the eject upon the state.
10 The policy Of our government shoul'
, al all times be 90 develop and broad
p On is citizens. 20 try 10 bring out m
! best there Is In them. Th.s result oal
y never be attained by a resort 20 pa
S ternalism. The strongest character
4 lose much OF their power and useful
s ness when they are taught 20 rel,
n upon the strong arm OF the fedora
q government TO taAe care of their :
!. nancial Affairs Is IL . De wondere
I al that this policy pursued toward
o these people has the effect OF retardin
n their development and growth
2 there is 10 be found anywhere a pee
/. pie against whom the pathway q
:. promise has been efectually close
Il is the allottee Of the Indian Te'
4 ri,ory. 7 would remove every hi
4 drance and permit the man 10 e.
!. pand into a more useful citizen.
!. Again. the present policy OF IN
a government towards the allottee,
o continued. will infict upon this stat
e an injury well aigh iyreparable. Pra
tically one-half Of the lands OF N
state are non-taIable and oontribu'
e nothing 20 the support and maintel
e ance OF the state and county goyerl
e menis The money expended fC
n noada bridges and other improve
:. mepis inures largely 10 the benefit {
the land owner. yet under preses
a laws may contribute nothing towarc
y these improvements. The loss Of taH'
however Is no, the worst injury 70 a.