The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-01-05
TO INTRODUCE IT TOMORROW
Speaker Of House Says We Must
Show Congress the Necessity
Of Removing Restrictions to
Obtain Legislation.

W III. IL alhl llg VIII lbuhAt INC
as substitute to the sen.
ate memorial, touching the removal
of restrictions when the legislature
reconyenes Monday:
He states that congress will not
remove restrictions for the mere ask.
ing, and that we have got to show
congress that there be not only no
intent to rob the Indians
of their lands. but that we
will positively protect the mequal.
ly with other citizens in their prop
erty. before any restrictions will be
removed. He believes that the re-
moval along the lines laid out in the
following memorial, II carried out
this winter. will be as much as
could be hoped to be DONE and in
fact. as much as the state ought
to desire at this time.
The section relating to roadways
is especially suitable to the Choctaw
anu NAlNhhNiN hAAlbho. W 'ilAblt 'lNl-
zens to open roads. especially In the
timbered and mountain belts, where
there are many creeks and rivers.
at the best place for road. there
/ by suiting the Indian and yet say.
| ing the country the expense of pur-
chasing roads. without this. amend.
ment. he maintains that there be no
way of getting roads other than sec
ton lines, and that even that would
be difficult; that true, most Indians
would willingly give up a road way
around their allotment, but in the
event of the necessity to build a
bridge, the county authorities would
be leary about eXpending money for
such permanent improvements. when
If the Indian allottee who opened
it should die, and the land be sold,
the purchaser might say to the
county: That is my bridge" because
it Is on his land.
\ full text of the memorial is as
follows:
4 MEMORIAL To the Congress of
the United States, touching the
removal of restrictions from the
lands of allottees of the Five Civ
iliZed Tribes.
To the Congress of the United
States:
We, We, your memorialist, the
first legislature of Me state or
honorable bodies, and declare as
follows:
Article /. That on behalf of the
state of Oklahoma, We declare il to
be. and pledge the continuance of
the fixed policy of this state to do
Justice 10 all dependent citizens
and peoples of this state. and espe-
cially to protect the lives. liberty
and prosperity of the resident In
dlans, within our borders. In part
proof of the same, We respectfully re-
fer to the constitution of our state,
which grants full suffrage to all
adult male Indian citizens of our
state, with the right to participate
in the election OF the governor
and all state officers. congressman and
members OF each branch OF the leg
islature, and all district, county and
township officers, and with the fur
ther qualification of holding any OF
said Offices, as evidenced by our
electing one senator and one con
igressman of Indian blood from this
state. to the United States con.
gress. and twelve members OF this
legislature from Indian membership
by 'blott of the Five Civilized
Tribes. together with numerous coun-
ty and township officers; that no dis
elimination, e. ther In the constitution
or the laws, has been made against
said Indian tribes, or any member
of them, but on the contrary we
have exempted certain of their land
ed property from taxation, agreea.
bly, to the laws and treaties made
with them and the United States
government.
Article 2. That II Is an imperative
necessity. both to the prosperity of
the Indian and the full development
of the state, that, In part. the re-
strictions placed on their lands
should be removed, for the reason
that the adult Indians. especially
women and aged and infirm men,
are unable either to clear, improve
or cultivate their lands, and being
unable 10 lease or encumber them
they cannot improve them without
such restrictions being removed
thereirom.
Therefore. We submit to your hon
orable bodies. the following princi
pies which should govern the re
moval OF restrictions at this time;
First. That restrictions should be
Immediately removed from all
ADULT allottees, OTHER THAN
INDIANS BY BLOOD. of the Five
Civilized Tribes, including home
stead and surplus. placing them In
the light OF the law. and the con