The Washington times., 1906-03-19
CHEROKEE SACHEM
RETURNS TO TEPEE
Came to See Indian Com
missioner Leupp.
GRADUATE OF MICHIGAN
Says He Was Legally Elected Chief of
Nation, But Government Recog
nizes Another.
GRADUATE OF MICHIGAN

Indian nation. has gone back TO his
people without having been able TO Sc
cure the satisfaction he sought from
Indian Commissioner Leupp and Sec
retary of the Interior Hitchcock
Il make no criticism upon either the
Commissioner or the Secretary" said
Mr.. Boudinot, speaking 90 a reporter of
The Times. before he left for his home.
Il have every confidence they mean 60
do exactly what is right They have
been misinformed. They just don't
know.
Cherokees Have Constitution.
'T think Commissioner Leupp must
have been under the impression that all
Indians are exactly alike and that
when he thought OF me and my peo-
pie, he pictured us arrayed in blankets
and leggins and drinking firewater-
That does tie Cherokee nation an in
Justice. For a hundred years we have
lived under written constitution and
written laws, administered by our own
judges in our own courts.
Il am merely a representative Cher
okee- Many Of them are far more
cultured. far better educated than l.
Mr.. Boudinot drew himself up proud
ly. Evidently he invited inspection.
The observer saw a tail and swarthy
young man. whose face indicated acute
Intelligence and a vigorous enthus-
iasm. He Is a graduate Of the Uni
versity Of Michigan. The clothes he
wore came from good tailor and he
knows how to wear them. He does not
look. act or talk much like the blanket
Indian of the frontier tales and Con-
EressiOnai oratory.
Indignant at Treatment.
-'Commlssioner Leupp has treated me
as though ] were a small boy. deserving
a spanking" he said. He has never
even furnished me with his reasons FOR
refusing to recognize me as principal
chief Of ths Cherokee nation. though
was chosen at an election lawfully held
and the incumbent, whom the depart
ment docs recognize. has no valid title
whatever. His term has expired anG he
has never since been chosen at any
election whatever. have never been
able to induce Commissioner Leupp 10
furnish me with a copy Of his opinion
in which he negatives my claims 10 the
office. However. I saw Mr.. Leu2p to-
dav and he told me he would furnish me-
VIII a copy Pl the pplnlOl anu WOuAD
consider my case again.
Titles of Property at Stake.
w c. Rogers, who is recognized by
the Department OF the Interior. was
elected principal chief more than four
years ago When the time came TO elec.
a new. chief Rogers refused to call the
election. hut the election was held. un-
fier the election laws, and Boudinot was
chosen. Rogers Is just holding on and
the depa artment Is recognizing him.
Tron the incumbent Of the office falls
the duty of signing the transfers which
VIII give title TO s15.OOo.OnO worth of the
communal lands of the nation Rogers
wants 10 give shares OF this land 10
some 2.5o0 white men. who have married
Cherokee women. Boudlnot and his fac.
ton say these men have no right nor
title TO the land. The titles must pass
when the new State OF oklahoma. comes
into being.
Congress has passed joint resolutfc,
continuing the existence of the Chero-
kee nation until all its property IS dis
tributed