The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-03-07
0be Dailp Aromoreitr.
PASSING OF THE TRIBAL GOV
ERNNENTs.

year from March 4, 1906, has attracte1
considerable attention and those in
terested In tho Indians are anxious
10 know just what powers were exer-
clsed by the tribal governments and
the necessity for their continuance.
When the Unitcd States removed
the Cboctaws. Chlckasaws. Cherokee, 3,
Greeks and seminoles from cas-; cf
the Mississippi to their new homes in
the Indian Territory In 1895 II guaran-
teod 20 them IN the most solemn and
scored manner the right OF self.gov
ernment. and further that they should
never be made a part cf any state or
territory without their consent
With this understanding the nations
formed their various governments and
upon the same plan as that Of the
states ~ The union The principal
chiefs occupied the same positions
and performed the same duties as the
governor Of state In the Cherokee.
Creek. Seminole and Choctaw nations
ne Is oficially known as the principal
while In the Chlckasaw nation he Is
referred TO as the governor Their
upper and lower houses Of the lcgisla.
tive bodies correspond with that Of
the states. the members OF the upper
house being called senators and the
lower representatives, except In the
Greek nation where the high sounding
titles OF kings and warriors are used.
TO denote. respectively, to when
branch OF the house they are nc"cl.
tied. Their courts were modelled after
ours and their laws are printed. In
many OF the nations whipping was
fayorite and severe form OF puuls'i
ment They had but few jails and \
criminal. after having been trioo and
found guilty. was set at liberty until
his time Of punishment came There
are but few instances where they did
not come and give themselves up IN !
receive their punishment
After tac establishment Of the Unit
ed states courts In the Indian Tort.
tory in the spring Of 1899. tho whit IS
poured into the Indian nations Towas
sprang up as II by magic. railr - ls
were built churchci and school cs.
tablishcd. and what was formerly IN
Indian reservation ., on became Nv.
white mans home.
Many complaints were made ti.;t
the Indian governments were not run
properly; charges OF corruption and
fraud were openly made |, was CLAIM.
cd that the tribal revenues wee beiis
fast dlsslpatcd. and tLat the full hl,.l
Indian was not only being cheated ~.
Of his share OF the lands but that his
portion fthe tribal funds was fat.
ing into the hands o' favored few.
The Indian courts. II is alleged, were
farce and a disgrace Elections were
manipulated and corrupt politicians
ran the country. But what probably
did moro than any one thing TO break
up tribal relations was the holding OF
large tracts OF land by single indivld.
uals In the Creek nation. a single
pasture. owned and controlled by one
man. was larger than some cour:,es
In the states.
Valuable coal lands were operated
by citizens and no royalty paid the
Indian governments. The communa.
form OF holding lands had many OBJ
jectionable features There were ioo
many opportunities for the desigpidg
Indian TO take advantage OF his more
ignorant and slothful brother These
conditions grew so intolerable that In
1898 congress created commission
10 treat with the Indians and, II posi-.
BILE to induce them 10 abandon their
tribal governments and their system
Of holding lands in common and To- ac
cept allotment OF lands In severalty
This commission accomplished moth.
ing OF any importance up 20 1898. as
the Indians we're reluctant TO negoti.
ate with them Cougi ess was ap3il. -.
20 and the Curtis bill was passed June
rs. 1898. This bill was drastic In IT'S
measures and rather than accept II
the Indians entered into agreements
with the commission and these agree.
ments when ratified by congress D,
came laws.
The Curtis act remained "a fall
force and efIoct except whore by spe-
cial mention any part Of II was repeal.
ed or was In conflict with the agree
ments afterwards entered into. The
United States dld not dignity these
treaties with that name but called
them agreements.
One Of the provisions OF this act
was 90 the effect that tho laws OF the
various nations Of Indians shall not