New-York tribune., 1908-02-28
INDIAN WAR In SENATE
HOT, BUT NO BLOOD SHED.
O,ern and Curtis Uicd perbat
'Tomahazch.s and ScaIpHg kn'res-
.yrom The Triouue Bureau.

i,, ,,,,i,-ee we're brandished in the senate to-
day when Brave owen. of Oklahoma. and Bravs
Curtis of Kansas CIashed over an apparently
innocuotIs amendment which the Senator from
Oklahoma sought with true Indian strategy. u
insert in the Indian appropriation bin. and
which if adopted would have probably made
clear the title of Mr. Owen to that S.0Oe-acre
ranch which with small sums Of cash and large
amounts Of persuasive oratOry. he has almost
procured <>ou. his brother Indians Just how
much actual money at stake wnen the
owen amendment being debated Senators
did not know. but there are some who estimate
that Mr. Owens three thousand acres must os
worth not less than $500 an acre. whicn wouid
bring the aggregate up TO 100000 Ihere are
others however. who. recalling Mr. Farwels
laconic comment Texas land declare enae
this is too liberal estimate for land so near
the Lone Star state.
Consideration of the bill had not proceeded fae
when a provision authorizing the Secretary OF
the Interior TO sell for the benefit of Indian
tribes lands and buildings belonging to them
but used for government schools was reached
senator Owen then proposed his harmless look
ing little amendment II read
.'On lands heretofore owned by the late Five
Civilized Tribes.
In seeking to have the word late" placed be-
fore Five Civilized Tribes he declared that he
wanted to record the death Of the old tribal
relations
SENATOR CURTIS AROUSED.
Senator Curtis the only other Indian in the
Senate saw the point and objected Then the
tomahayvKs brought out. and Tor IeN
moments II looked as if there would be 7iooo
shed Mr. Curtis pointed out that this Iahguas7
would operate 20 remove all restrictions now at
taching to the alienation of their lands by the
Indians
Mr.. Owen maintained that there were n"
longer anv .Lndians in Oklahoma, as they we're
now all citizens Of the United States.
Mr. Curtis sought TO interrupt again and MI
Owen brusquely declined TO yield the floor
The Senator from Kansas finds no objection
in the expression late Delawares' because th9
DeIawares have been absorbed by the Chero-
KEGS he said but the Cherokess have been
absorbed by Oklahoma and are now citizens 81
the United states and should longer suffer
the domination Of the Department Of the IN
terror
Here paieface from West Virzians- Nr-
Scott undertook pass the calumet-that lS-
he ATTEMPTED an explanation, which did noe
seem 10 r11row much light on the SITUATION
| "Ro,h Senators are undoubtedly right said Mr..
Scott. who loves the via media with passionate
| devotion. and he proceeded 10 eXp'siH- L" Ci'7
| ing he said
s.Novr that 7 have presented the proposition. 7
anraaI IN the Senator from Oklahoma to say #
| I am not right
You are not replied Mr. owen with noFe
| brevfty than courtesy There are no Indians
| in the so-Called Five Civilized Tribes Am l. =
Senator Of the United States. an indian. ward.
| an aIien?'
| Yes and rather a bad Indian" nurmured the
| literary member of the Senate. sotto voce-
| Then arose Mr. Gore the blind Senator from
oklahoma. Mr. President l move that tho
Senate Immediately recognize the beiligerent
| rights of the two beIIicose Indians he said
| and in the laugh which followed, the hour OF
arrived. and the AIdrich bill was laid before the
| Senate
| OWEN RETURNS To ATTACK
| When Senator McCreary had made a brief
speech on the financial bill. however. Mr.. Owen
returned to the attack. renewing his declara-
| ton that the Five Civilized Tribes had ceased
| to exist.
Mr. Curtis protested that they did exist. and
pointed To the fact that they had chiefs and a
| legislature of their own. Mr. owen brushed
these facts aside with a wave OF the hand
That merely proves that they do not enjoy
| their rights he said Their chiefs ap-
pointed by the Secretary of the Interior. Their
legislators are under his domination. Their
leaders are merely his clerks and he made an
eloquent plea for the relief of the Indians from
bureaucratic rule.
Senator McCumber. a member OF the Indian
Committee. then took the floor and proceeded
to criticise the Senator from Oklahoma
Il don't believe that any sympathy should bs
wasted on Senator owen" he said He's OBJ
viously able 10 take care of his own interests
/ do not believe that sympathy should be wasted
the white man. who. having from one-eighth
To one-twSntieth Indian blood in his veins.
boasts of it because of the homestead the gov
ernment gives him. True sympathy will go Tn
the fun blood Indian. of whom there are many
in the State OF Oklahoma. and who should
be protected in his property rights. because he
cannot protect them. cannot compete with the
white man. For him the government should 90
something because il has robbed him of his
heritage
Mr.. owen declared that the white man had
robbed the Indian OF more than his heritage-OS
his seIf-reliance and his self-respect The In
dian is seIf-supporting- He supported himself
before Columbus landed on these shores he de-
clared.
Mr.. McCumber made short work OF that ar
gument
As soon you robbed him of his land he
said significantly. his downfall began The
Indian belongs to the land You cannot elevate
him and cannot trust him with the property. or
the white the eighth blood will get il
After more protestations on the part OF Mr.
owen. and some debate on the legal effect ~
the proposed amendment. Mr. Lodge took the
floor and declared that this amendment would
effect a reversal of all the legislation of CON
gress, thoughtfu1Iy conceived and carefully en-
acted TO protect the Indians He pointed to the