Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-15
INDIAN SCORED IN
HIS FIRST SPEECH
CONGRESSMAN CHARLES D. CARTER
OF OKLAHOMA COMPELLED AT
TENTION OF HOUSE.
PLEADED FOR HIS RACE.
New Statesman, Seven-Sixteenth Red
man, Says His Cousins Are Able
to Be Their Own Masters.
MEASURE LATER IS CARRIED

WASHINGTON, ID. c., May O.
Special. THE present session Of Con-
gress has been particularly noted for
lie number Of maiden speeches made
by the so-called new members, but it is
safe to say that none attracted more
attention and made a deeper impression
upon the House Of Representatives, than
Lhe maiden effort Of Charles ID. Garter,
Democrat of Oklahoma, his nation
ality being seyen-siXteenth Chickasaw
and Cherokee Indian and nine-siXteenths
Scotch-lrish He is descendant OF
that Nathan Carter, Sr., VINO was cap
tured when a small boy by Shawnee In
dams at the Wyoming Valley massacre
when all the other members Of the fam
lily except sister were killed. He was
afterwards traded to the Cher0kees and
married full blood Cherokee woman.
Spoke for the Indians.
Mr.. Carriers speech was a speech in
favor Of wider opportunities for the In
dian and it was listened to most intent
ly by both sides Of the chamber. 1t was
an earnest plea for the Indians of Okla
homa particularly, the bill which called
forth this maiden effort Of Il seven-siX-
fecnth Indian being a measure provid-
ing for the Strengthening out Of land
conditions III the state of Oklahoma
that will be equitable to all classes con
cerncd.
1t was Mr. Carriers contention that
very large proportion of the Indians i'll
the new state are fully competent to
take care of themselves and that they
are able to stand up and hold their own
without the strong arm of the federal
government to protect them. He said
that III round numbers there were 10
100000 acres of land i'll Oklahoma
owned by the Indians and those related
to them This land is nOn-t8xa6se and
inalienable, the bill which prompted the
very able effort Of Mr.. Carter providing
Tor the removal of restrictions on the
surplus allotment of the mixed blood In
dian or half or more than half Indian
blood, but there the bill stopped, leaving
the entire allotment Of the full blood
Indian and the homestead of the mixed
blood Indian of half or more than half
Indian blood in statu quo-that IS to
say, these lands are inalienable and
non-taxable with the exception that the
secretary of the interior may remove
such restrictions upon a showing OF
competency by the Indian or whenever
in his opinion it will conserve the In
dams best interest to have a part of
such lands sold.
Indians Shrewd Dealers.
Mr.. Carter made the statement that
the Indian whose restrictions are re
moved by the bill, which was under dis
is. lie said that if one will go out to
Oklahoma you will find that a Seat
many of these Indians are worth ten
times as much of this worlds goods as
/ and if you will attempt to make few
deals with them you will find when you
are through that you are not worth as
much as you We're before" 4 statement
which caused loud laughter through the
chamber In closing his address upon
the bill which passed the House by a
vote of 80 ayes and no nays, Mr.. Car
ter said:
The removal of restrictions embraced
in this bill will not prove a detriment
but an advantage TO all the Indians
whom it affects. Thov are thoroughly
competent, and it will place them on
their own responsibility. 1t will give
them an opportunity TO handle their
property to the best advantage, without
any interference from the federal gov
ernment or anyone else. which IS always
resented by an intelligent person. 1t will
place all the burdens of American citi-
zenship upon them. and why not. since
they receive all the benefits? Why place
these limitations upon competent citi-
zens of the United States? Listen to
me. You place these Indians on their
feet place them on their own response
bility, give them IN equal show with
their white brother, grant them full
tiedged American citizenship in all that
the term implies, and mark my words
they will measure up to the full standard
of your American citizenship"