Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-02-28

WASHINGTON, ID. C., Feb. 28.-
One of the most dramatic scenes ever
witnessed in the senate was enacted
Oklahoma insisted in tragic tones
and with face showing much emo
ton, that the five civilized tribes of
Indians were dead and that he, as a
member of the tribe of Cherokee In
dams, was not under the control of
the secretary of the interior.
The event was rendered all the
more interesting by the fact that
Senator Owen was sharply engaged
in controversy by Senator Charles
Curtis of Kansas, himself a Kaw In
dian. 1t was the first time that two
men with Indian blood in their veins
had ever locked horns as senators
in the senate chamber.
The controversy arose in connec-
ton with the consideration of the In
dian appropriation bill and was pre-
cipitated with a motion on the part
of Senator Owen to have the bill so
amended as to recognize the citizen
ship of the five civilized tribes of In
dams by putting the word Late be-
fore this designation and calling
them the late five civilized tribes.
Senator Curtis sought to interrupt
Senator Owen before the Oklahoma
senator had concluded his first SEN
tence.
But" interrupted the Kansas SEN
ator, your property is under the
control of the secretary of the inte-
rior, and you know it."
81 do not" said Senator Owen.
Senator Curtis insisted upon his
view of the status of the Oklahoma
senator. He did not contend that
the property of the senator of Okla
hOma, aside from that owned as a
member of the Cherokee tribe of In
dams, was under control of the sec
rotary, but his tribes was. 81 think
you ought not to be under control of
the secretary, but you are" he said.
81 agree" replied Senator Owen,
with the senator from Kansas, that
l ought not to be; disagree with
him that l am"
Approaches Opponent.
The dramatic tone of the Okla
homa senator rather startled the
chamber, and the galleries leaned
forward to see and hear the wordy
battle Senator Owen left his place
in the rear of the chamber and ad-
vanced to the center aisle, where he
was within sight of every one.
The two senators of Indian blood
were now facing each other 90 feet
apart. Both appeared to have lost
sight of parliamentary rules and
were carrying on a personal COLO
guy
Senator Owen proceeded to say
that the supreme court of the
United States had declared that the
Indians holding allotted lands are
citizens of the United States. Rising
to his full height. his olive-colored
face showing that his pride had been
pierced by the suggestion that he was
under the control of the secretary of
the interior. and with tone most
tragic, Senator Owen continued:
The Cherokee nation can demand
no allegiance from me. l owe them
no allegiance. The only allegiance
I owe is to my government. the
United States, and to the state OF
Oklahoma. l say the supreme court
has passed upon this matter. and
shall insist that 1t is right that the
word late should be included in
that amendment
Indian Senators Fraternize.
Senator Owen went over to the re-
publican side and approached Sena-
tor Curtis in a friendly manner and
took seat by his side. The two
laughed good naturally and appeared
to be continuing the discussion sc
heatedly begun on the floor.
At the conclusion of Senator Me-
~ASaIs speech cendNoE owen maui
a comprehensive argument. with
many references to court decisions
to uphold the position he had taken
His contention was that his triba
property was at his disposal and ID
could give il away or do with it a
he pleased. After further debate. II
which Senators Owen. curtis, Ciapp
Mecumber and Lodge participated