Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-03-06
INDIAN SOLONS
In WORDY WAR
Owen, of Oklahoma, and Curtis, Of
Kansas, Have Wrangle.
DRAMATIC PASSAGES
Debate Between the Two Senators With
Indian Blood In Their Veins Enliveusd
Proceedings of Upper House.
DRAMATIC PASSAGES

4 Washington special says: One Of
the most dramatic scenes ever witness
ed in the senate was enacted Thurs
day when Senator Robert L. Owen, Of
Oklahoma, insisted In tragic tcies and
with face showing much emotion that
the five tribes of civilized Indians were
dead, and that he, as a member of the
tribe OF Cherokee Indians, was not un-
der the control of the secretary Of the
interior.
The event was rendered all the more
interesting by the fact that Mr.. Owen
was sharply engaged in controversy by
Senator Charles Curtis of Kansas, him.
self Kaw Indian. 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 connection
with the consideration of the Indian
bill, and was precipitated by an effort
on the part of Mr.. Owen to have that
bill so amended as to recognize the
citizenship of the five civilized tribes
of Indians by putting the word late"
before this designation and calling
them ''the late five civilized tribes"
/ Mr.. Curtis sought to interrupt Mr..
Owen before the Oklahoma senator had
concluded his first sentence.
But" interrupted the Kansas SEN
ator, your property is under the con-
troll of the secretary of the interior,
and you know it,
Il do not" retorted Mr.. Owen.
I Mr.. Curtis insisted upon his view OF
the status OF the Oklahoma senator.
He did not contend that the property
Of the senator from Oklahoma, aside
from that owned as a member of the
Cherokee tribe of Indians. was under
the secretary, but that his tribal prop
erty was. Il think you ought not to
be under control of the secretary, but
you are" he said.
II agree" quickly replied Mr.. Owen.
with the senator from Kansas that
ought not to be. / disagree win him
that l am"
The dramatic tones of the Oklahoma
senator startled the chamber. The
two senators OF Indian blood were
facing each other twenty feet apart.
They both appeared to have lost sight
of all parliamentary rules, and were
carrying ON a personal colloquy.
Mr.. Owen proceeded to say the su'
preme court of the United States had
declared that 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 pricked by the suggestion
that he was under the control of the
secretary OF the interior, and with tone
most tragic Mr.. Owen continued:
The Cherokee nation can demand nc
allegiance from me. owe them no al
legiance. The only allegiance | owe |:
10 my government of the United States
and to the state Of Oklahoma say
the supreme court has passed upoI
this matter, and shall insist that it Il
right that the word late shall b
included in that amendment"
Mr.. Curtis then took the floor "Wher
you made that statement about th'
Deiawares being absorbed by the Cher
okee tribe, of which you are member
you should have told how they wer'
swallowed up by the Cherokees. b
exclaimed, pointing his index fnge
at his antagonist
Senator Carter came to the rescu
Of the senate. and attempted to shov
that both senators were right II
said he did not wonder that the Okls
, homa senator resented the idea that b
, was under the control of the secretar
Of the interior.