New-York tribune., 1908-10-06
HASKELL AND POOR LO
Takes Up Qui.rotic Lance IN Letter
to the President.

Guthrie okla Oct 5-In an open letter ad-
dressed 10 President Roosevelt to-day Governor
Haskell asks the President explain certain
transactions in connection with the granting OF
lease on $50 00e acres Cf Usage Indian lands 10 the
Prairie Oil and Gas Company IN July. 1906 Gov
ernor Haskell says IN part
In a recent communication requested OF you In
foTnnon oo concerning the sTant1s OF 1sase n
Oh Company Il Standard Oil company subordinate.
Indar triba IN this state In otherwise answering
that communication you entirely omit this iupor-
tant question. From careful investigation. how
ever. the :acts as thoy appear TO me are as fol
lows; In 1895 lease VAS made y tne "asnlns- 1
practically the entire Usage nation At that time
abT nsare no than an e State Of Indiana 80 that tie
lease was made for 50 long Per1od as ten years IN
ferred his rights 10 the above named COMPANY
Continuing Governor Haskell traces the Develop
ment of the oil land leasing industry affected by
regulations promulgated by Congress. with the in
tention Of showing how the granting If lease on
such an immense of land es1.0o0 acres was
virtually the creation OF monopoly
| In regard to the passage in 1905 Of a rider the
general appropriation bill authorizing the President
10 make new extended lease the letter relates
that n number Of conferences were held between
President Roosevelt and Messrs. Guf1ey and Barns
! dale. Of Pennsylvania Standard Oil agents Gov
ernor Haskell charges the President with refusing
! 10 grant Usage Indian representatives consul
! ration while negotiating at length with Standard
OIL agents The letter continues:
| 1t low estimate, Mr.. President to say that
you should have obtained for them che Indians) a
one-sixth royalty of the production. and in addi-
ton to that very moderate estimate at least
$500 900 cash bonus. greater equivalent roy
aIty and then their subleastng 10 actual Op-
orators in small tracts would have left the Stand
ard Oil Company a handsome profit. indeed. a
/ fabulous sum. beyond the comprehension Of Ordi-
! nary minds Did you get them any such sum g?
| No: YOU got them only bare one-eighth royalty
Mr.. President. this question has passed beyond
the stage political discussion, as far as am
/ concerned While you are the chief guardian OF
this particular property Of these Osages- /. sir
am Governor OF Oklahoma. OF which state these
Indians are citizens and entitled TO the best pro
feCtion can give them; It Is my duty to see 70 il
! 10 the fullest extent possible that citizen or
aggregation Of citizens OF state shall suffer
| from indiscretion bad Judgment OF any guardian 4
OF their property l therefore insist that. without
| unreasonable delay. l may be advised as 10 the
correctness of the above facts, and in BEHALF OF
: our people the Osages. demand revocation OF
/ such unwarranted and unjust lease, and beg %
/ advise YOU now that since this has become my
offcal duty I shall carry il before the next Con
eress of the United States unless there Is clear
/ Showing that my people have not been unfairly
! treated You Will pardon for looking with
suspicion any acquisition Of franchises or prop
ertv rights OF such immense value when II seems
10 have been encouraged or brought about through
/ the management of the five men whose names