Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-10-06
STANDARD OIL B;E:FcllRI
As Protector Of indians, Governor De-
mands Revocation Of Unjust Lease.
Failing Which, He Viii Lay Mat
ter Before conortss-virtuatiy Gre
ated a Monopoly.
tRv Associated 2ress1.

GUTHRIE, OKLA. Oct. 5.--ln an
open lctt:r addressed to President
Roosevelt today. Governor {, \.
Haskell asks the Pr sident to en-
plain certain transactions in connec-
ton with the granting of lease on
6So.00O acres of Osaga Indian LANDS
to the Prairie Oil & Gas Company.
in July 1906.
Governor Hask II says In part:
In a recent commr nication. re-
uuestCd OF you information concern
ing the granting OF lGase in July
1906, 10 the Indian Territory Illumi-
mating Oil Company. standard OH
lCcmpany subordinate OF 6SO,0Oo
iacres OF land belonging to the Osag
Indian tribe in this state.
President Failed to Reply.
In otherwise answ ring mat COM
m,hication, you entirely omit this
important question. From careful
invs stigatiCn. however, the facts as
they appear 10 me are as follows:
In 1906 a lease was made by the
Washington authorities to one Edwin
Il. 80 Fsstrr; covering practically the
entire Usage nation. At that time
there was no oil production or de-.
velopment probably nearer than the
state of Indiana, so that the lease
was mao for SO long n period as
ten wears. in order to give time tor
development Foster transferred his
rights TO the above named COM
rany.''
Virtually Created Monopoly.
Continuing Governor Haskell
traces the de, lOpment OF the OIL
land leasing industry as affected by
regulations promulgated by Congress,
with thr intention OF showing how
the granting of a lease en- such an
immense acreage OF land as 6S".o'S
was virtually the creation Of a mo-
nopOly.
, In regard 10 the passage in 1909
of a riGer on the general approprla-
ton bill. authorizing the President
, 10 make a new. or extended lease
the letter relates that number OF
conferences were held between Pres
ident Roosevelt and Msssrs. Gufey
and Barnes lale, OF Pennsylvania
Standard Oil ag n;s.
Refused to Hear indians.
Governor Haskell charges the Pres
il mt with refusing 10 grant Usage
Indian representatives a consultation
while negotiation at length with
Standard OIL agents.
The letter continues:
1T is a low estimate. Mr.. Presi-
! d Mt. TO say tina; you should have
obtained for them tthe lndiansp n
one-sixth royalty Of the production.
and. in addition TO that. ytry mod
crate estimate. at least s1.0oo,9o9
cash bcrus. or greater equivalent
ROYALTY: and fh"u their sub-IeasiIg to
actual operators in small tracts.
would have left III. Standard OIL
Company handsome profit. indeed. a
! fabulous sum beyond the c1mprehen-
sion OF ordinay minds. hid you get
:hrm any such sums No. YOU got
them only bare on eighth royalty.
Demands Al Accounting.
While Won are ihc chief guardian
| Of this particular property Of these
Osag"s. !. sir. an governor 81 Okla
houIa. Of which state these Indians
ar citizens. and cHtiil d 10 the best
| protection I can give their interests
IL IL my duty TO ace 10 II TO the
! fuIlesr extent possible that no Ciii
zns or agzr"gariJn 81 citizens o.
my sta shall suffer from iniiscrc-
lion OF rad judgment Of any guar
dian of their property. therefor
insisi that without unreasonable de-
lay. may ~ advised as TO the cor
r cin"Ss wi tho abcvr facts: and N
b"hai! Gf our people. the Osag"s.
deemed = r"vocsiion Of such unraT'
ranicd and uniuS; lease. and Big "a
sIvi.sr YOU nov that since this has
h como nv official duty. . shall car
Try I, 10 he next Congress Of the
Unit ID States. unless there is a
clear showing tina, M peopis have
no; been unfairly treated.
fsjxpcd, sincerely Yours.