The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-04-27

special 70 Daily Leader.
Washington April 27rhe present (
session of congress has been partlcu.
larly noted for the number of maiden /
speeches made by the so called new
members, but 1t Is safe TO say that
none attracted more attention and
made a deeper impression upon the
house of representatives than the
maiden effort OF Charles n Carter, a
democrat from OklahGma, his nation,
ality being seven-siXteenths Chicka-
saw and Cherokee Indian ami nine
sixteenths Sootch-Irieh He Is de
cendant of that Nathan Carter. Sr.,
who was captured while a small boy
BY the Shawnee Indians at the Wyom-
ing Valley massacre when all the 9th
sr members of the family except a
sister we're killed; afterwards traded
to the Cherokees and married full
blood Cherokee woman.
Mr. Carter's speech was a speech IN
favor of wider opportunities for the
indian and il was listened to most in
tently by both sides of the chamber
II was an earnest plea for the Indians
Of Oklahoma particularly, the bill
which called forth this maiden effort
Of seven-aixteenths Indian being a
measure providing for the straighten-
i'm out oil and conditions in the state
Of Oklahoma that VIII be equitable 10
all classes concerned.
| II was Mr.. Carter's contention that
! a very large proportion oil the In
dians in the new state are fully com.
lpetent TO take care of themselves and
that they are able TO stand up and
/ hold their own without the strong arm
Df the federal government to protect
/ them lie said that In round numbers
there were 2O,000,000 acres of land in
Oklahoma owned by the Indians and
those related TO them. This land is
non-taXable and inalienable, the bill
which prompted the very able effort OF
Mr. Garter providing for the removal
/ of restrictions on the surplus allot
ments OF the mixed blood Indian Of
! half or more than half Indian blood
and from the Iniian freedmen but
there the bill stopped leaving the en-
/ tire allotment of the full-blood Indians
/ and the homestead OF the mixed blood
indian Of half or more Indian blood
! "a status puu that Is to say these
lands are inalienable and non-taxable
with the exception that the secretary
Of the interior may remove such re-
strictions uDon a showing OF compe
tency by the Indian or whenever IN
ais opinion It will conserve the In
dams best Interest to have part OF
such lands sold.
Mr.. Carter made the statement that
! The Imlian whose restrictions are re-
moved by the bill which was under
discussion are as a rule iust such men
as he is He said that if one will go
I to Oklahoma you viii find that
/ great many OF these Indians are worth
/ ten times as much OF this worlds
goods as l. and il you will attempt TO
rake a few deals with them you Will
/ ,nd when you are through that you
are not worth as much as when you
started" a statement which caused
/ loud laughter through the chamber
lIn closing his address upon thebill and
4 which passed tho house by a vote OF
24g ayes and no nays Mr.. Carter said
The removal Of restrictions EN-
braoGf in this bin will not prove a dst-
riment but an advantage to an the
Indians whom II affects They are
thoroughly competent and n viii
place them upon their own rosponsbil-
lily. n viii give them an opportunity
80 handle their property TO the best
| idvantaRe without any interference on
the part Of the federal government or
any one else which as always resented
| by an intelligent person II viii place
all the burdens Of American citizen
ship upon them and why not, since
they receive All the benefits? Way
citizens OF the United States2 Listen
TO me. You place these Indians ON
I their feet, place them on their own
responsibility give them an equal
show with their white brother grant
them fullhedged American citizenship
IN al that the term implies ana mark
my words they viii measure up 20
the fun standard OF your American
citizenship"
Creates Three Court Divisions.
The Davenport bill providing for
the creation OF three divisions An the
eastern Judicial district Of Oklahoma
has met with favorable consideration
az the hands Of the department OF jus
tice This Is regarded az the FIRST stop
towards the enactment OF the bill into
law The fact that less taan thirty
days Of the present esssiOn Of congress-
remain may operate 10 defeat the
measure al this time but h Is regarded
as a i0regone conclusion that the bill
win be- enacted into law next session
! N the bin becomes a law n viii great.
IS facilitate business IN The courts IN
tne new state and VIII enable afior.
news 10 have their eases continued
frcm one conri ro another 10 the same