Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-03-05
CITIZEN OR ALIEN.
Senator's owen, Of Oklahoma, and
Curtis, Of Kansas, Have a Con-
trOversy in the. Senate.
THEY ARE BOTH INDIANS
Mr. Owen COMMENDED That Property Of
Five Civilized Tribes Was Mo
Longer Under Control Of
Secretary Of Interior.

WosnnBVonS Hep. eos Ono VI VI
most dramatic scenes ever witnesse
In the senate was enacted Thursda
when Senator Robert L. owen OF Oh
lahoma insisted in tragic tones an
with face showing much emotion tina
! the Five Civilized tribes OF indian
were dead and that he~ as membe
of the tribe OF Cherokee Indians, wal
not under the control OF the secretary
OF the interior. The event was rem
dered all the more interesting by the
fact that Mr.. owen was sharply en-
gagged In controversy by Senator
Charles Curtis Of Kansas, himself
Kaw Indian. 1t was the first time that
two men with Indian blood In their
veins had ever locked horns as sen
ators In the senate chamber. The con
troversy 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 Dill so
amended as to recognize the citizen
ship OF the Five Civilized tribes OF In
dams by putting the word late" be-
fore this designation and calling them
1.-THE Late Five Civilized tribes"
Mr.. Curtis sought to Interrupt Mr.
Owen before the Oklahoma senator
had concluded his first sentence.
But" interposed the Kansas, your
property is under the control Of the,
secretary OF the interior, and you
know it."
| 81 do not" retorted Mr.. Owen.
Mr.. Curtis insisted upon his view
Of the status Of the Oklahoma SEN
ator. He did not contend that
the property of the senator from
Oklahoma aside from that owned as a
member of the Cherokee tribe of In
dams was under the secretary but his
tribal property was. II 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. l disagree with him
that am"
The dramatic tone Of the Oklahoma
senator rather startled the chamber,
and people in the galleries leaned for
ward to see the participants OF the
wordy battle. Senator Owen left his
place in the rear Of the chamber and
advanced to the central aisle where
he was within sight of every one.
The two senators Of Indian blood
now were facing each other 20 feet
apart. Both appeared to have lost
sight of parliamentary rules and were
on,a personal colIoquy.
Mr.. Owen proceeded to say the SUI
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 col.
ored face showing that his pride had
been pricked by the suggestion that
he was under the control Of the sec
retary of the interior, and with tone
most tragic. Senator owen continued:
"The Cherokee Nation can demand ,
no allegiance from me. I owe them :
10 alIog1anCo, Inc OILY allegiance i {
I'VE is to my government the United
,tates and to the state of Oklahoma.
Way the supreme court has passed. !
nan This matter and shan insist that !
! a right that the word Late shan I
q included in that amendment" !
Mr.. Curtis then took the floor and t
,egon nv saving he had merely de-
trad N ,nterrunt the Oklahoma sen.
Tor so that he might be able to make
correct statement to the senate.
when Won made that statement abou, L
ha neIswares beine absorbed by the p
Iberokee tribe of which Won are 4 a
,erher von should have told how O
Aov wsra swaIlnwed nm nv tbe Chero.
COS he exclaimed nointinpI his ipdex =
MGR AZ his antaeonist
M Owen insisted that n man be-
,ns,no % ~ Ind,sn ,r,he 6 a snhor5L .
"as s - 49, ~ - liz rtStoS ~
~ " "a. s ~ 81 n,,.S 49,,
Alu was nOS SVmPosiuiS Will AuSAf