The Washington herald., 1907-09-22


saw Indians. like the children OF Israel,
have ceased 10 be a nation. and the last
session that Will in all probability be held
by that body concluded the final business,
and the two houses. both the senate and
legislature, sang Days of Aud Lang
syne." Like the children of Israel, they
must seek livelihood and mingle with
the white man who has come in their
midst to carve out an empire State
tFe heritage Of the Indian.
The body up 10 a few years ago held
full sway in their section Of the country
and enacted laws and legislation to gov
ern both the Indian and the white man
who sojourned with them Those laws
protected the natives and newcomers
alike, and il was with much reluctance
that the Chickasaw Indians gave up their
individuality as a nation.
The Chickasaws, Tor the past few years.
have not enacted laws, but could only
recommend TO Congress legislation that
they most desired. In an endeavor 10
protect the property Of the Indian from
the intruding whites, the Department of
the Interior did everything but the right
thing at times.
Lead All Tribes I'm Intelligence.
The Chickasaws are among the most
intelligent Of all the Indian tribes. and
never in the history OF the nation did
they live in tepees or wear blankets. but
have always been tiIlers OF the soil. and
believers in education. One Of the many
things that has displeassd the Chicka-
saws, and against which the nation has
protested most vigorously, is the fact that
the Federal government has assumed con-
troll Of the Indian schools. and furnished
as they claim, inferior teachers for their
children.
A committee Of the leading men Of the
nation. will, when Congress meets. be al
Washington and present a memorial call
ing upon Congress TO enact certain laws
that VIII be of benefit to the future
growth OF their country.
This committee viii consist of Gov u
II. Johnson the last Of the governors:
Martin V Cheadle. al one time attornay
general Of the nation. but the last pre-
siding officer Of the Senate. and Ben Col
bert, man prominent in Indian affairs
These men have been closely identified
with the affairs Of their people for the
last thirty years or more They are In
dians. and they know the needs Of their
people.
Government Holding Their Wealth
For years the government has had IN
its hands untold wealth which belong,
10 the Indians. This wealth the Indians
want turned over to them Instead OF
the present system Of schools, the Indian
wants his old system put in vogue unit
statehood is well under way. when IN.
state system viii then be adopted.
The most important matters that Con
gress viii be memorialized 10 do Will b,
the following.
Inc indian wants restrictions removed
so that he may sell mis- lands. eXcept IN,
homestead With the money he viii i'm
prove the homestead build homes. an.
till the soil II is the desire of the In
dian 70 have his restrictions removed 81
as 10 get from under the cloud OF tn,
CRATER The recommendation made h,
secretary Garfield. on his visit TO Indiar
territory recently is what the Chicka
saw Indian desires. The memorial alst
pleads with Congress that the segregated
mineral coal, and asphalt lands be sold
and the funds equally distributed amons
the members Of the tribe
Another important piece Of legislation
desired Is the sale of all the unalottef
surplus lands. The leased district claim
they want settled, and want the money
all over 5 cents per acre which the gov
eminent paid them for II, put 10 tn,
credit Of the Indians.
Lost Profits in Leased Lands.
The government leased a large quantit,
of land from the Indians. paving then
cents per acre and then afterwsrd,
leased the lands TO other parties al z
price ranging around sl25 per acre. Til,
Indians want this difference. and lool
with suspicion. on the treatment receiver
from the government on this deal The,
want Congress 10 allow them 10 establish
a bureau OF information in Washington
so the natioR-may have a representativ,
present 10 guard the interests of the In
dian This representative they want To b,
a member of the tribe, and recomment
Gov Johnson as the man.
The Indians want pay for the Jacl
Gordon Park Teservation-the 100000 acre,
of land which the government has en
deavoTed to get from the Indians TIL,
memorial also sets out that q distribution
per capita Of all tribunal moneys, treat,
funds, tOwnsite funds. invested funds. an,
funds otherwise due, be equally divide,
among the members Of the nation. an,
the affairs wound up at the earliest con
Venience.
AT the closing hours Of the legislator,
many Of the old fun bloods shed tears A
the final parting and the dissolution O.
the once proud, powerful and histori,
nation OF their fathers.
Demand Action, Not Promises.
It is the purpose and intention OF tn,
committee composed Of Gov. johnson. NJ
V. Cheadle, and B. H. Colbert. 10 stav Fl
Washington until some relief is assured
the nation. Promises will not be taken a,
they have had enough promises. but the,
want prompt and decisive action.
The Indians are tired Of so much re,
tape IN winding up their affairs. and +
seems that is the intention of the de
partment TO disregard their wishes. an,
let them suffer till it sees III 10 chang
its dilatory manner Of proceeding.
If the nation should not be accorde,
relief sooner, the committee will appea.
before the committees Of Congress an,
implore 10 be given relief at the earlies
possible day from their present distress
Ing and uncomfortable situation.