The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-28
Taunt Of Mr.. Curtis Arouses
Ire of Owen, Who Resents
Being Classed as Alien -
EXCITING SCENE ON
FLOOR OF SENATE
Forgetting Parliamentary Rules
and with Faces Showing Emo
ton, Men with Indian Blood
Have Interesting Colo
quy-All on the In
dian Bill.
. - -AsH1NGToN. February ~


NV N One OF the most dramatic
NV scenes ever witnessed In
" the Senate was enacted to-
day. when Senator Robert Il
owen, OF Oklahoma. insisted in tragic
| tones and with face showing much emo
tion that the Five Civilized Tribes OF
Indians were dead, and that he. as a
member of the tribe of Cherokee In
dians. was not under the control of the
Secretary of the Interior. The event
was rendered all the more interesting
by the fact that Mr.. owen was sharply
4 Engaged in controversy by Senator
Charles Curtis. OF Kansas. himself
kaw Indian. It was the first time that
two men with Indian blood in their
veins had ever locked horns as Senators
In the Senate chamber. Both Senator'S
show In their faces the fact that In
dian blood is in their veins. and the
fiery manner In which, each maintained
his side In debate to-day also indicated
the Indian.
To Recognize Citizenship.
The controversy arose in connection
with the consideration of the Indian
bill. and was precipitated by an ct.
fort 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 cal,-
ing them "the late Five Civilized
Tribes
-.r Curtis sought to interrupt Mr..
Owen before the Ok.anoma Senator had
concluded his first sentence.
But" interrupted Mr. Curtis. your
property is under the control of the
Secretary of the Interior and you know
Fit"
II 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
i the Senator from o.. akoraa. aside FROM
ithat owned as al 4n1ember of the Chero-s
kee tribe OF indians. was under the
secretary. but that his tribe property
was. II think you ought not to to
under control OF the secretary, but
you are" he said
4 "I agree" quickly replied Mr.. Owen,
|"wtth the Senator from Kansas that I
ought not to be. ! disagree with him
4 that 1 am
MIR. Owen Very Dramatic.
Y The dramatic tones of the Oklahoma
SENATOR startled the chamber. People
in the galleries leaned forward to see
4 the participants Of the wordy battle.
senator Owen left his place In the rear
i of the chamber and advanced to the
lcentral aisle, where he was within
] sight of every one.
4 The two Senator's Of Indian blood
were facing each other twenty feet,
lapart. Both appeared to have lost
4 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:
4 THE Cherokee nation can demand no
allegiance from me. owe them no
is to my government of the United
States and to the State OF Oklahoma.
Il say the Supreme Court has passed
4 upon this matter, and shall insist that
Iit is right that the word late shall
be included in that tamendment."
u Curtis Comes BACK.
Mr.. Curtis then took the floor.
When you made that statement
about the Delawares being absorbed
! by the Cherokee tribe of which you
Eare member. You should have told
: how they we're swallowed up by the
J, lCherokees." he exclaimed pointing his
index finger at his antagonist. 81
Mr.. Owen insisted that a man he-s
longing to an Indian tribe is a subo-dt-.
nate or ward and an alien, which he
!, said was not compatible with Ameri-
can citizenship. ...Am an alien?" he.
, exclaimed.
! Senator Carter came to the rescue
: of the Senate ana attempted to show
that both Senator's We're right. Flo
said he did not wonder that the Okla
homa Senator resented the idea that h,ss
g was under the control Of the Secretary
OF the Interior. His remarks relieved
the tension and laughter displaced the
, awesome state Of mind that had hith-
erto prevailed.
: ut would be wsll.' uggested Sana-i
: tor Gore, 'for the Senate to recogntzas
the helligerent rights OF these two
Indians
j Both OF the objects OF this sally
Joined In the laughter that alled tnsS
i chamber. S 4 II
Owen Stands Alone.
AT = o'clock the discussion Z was
. brought to conclusion by the un-3
. finished business, the .Aldrich currency
d bill, and Senator McCreary. OF Ken
tucky, proceeded to speak on that
q measure. Il Sj8 nj M s$
Senator Owen went over to the Rn-S
! publican side and took a seat by the
side of Senator Curtis, The two laughed
good-naturedly. and appeared TO DO
u continuing the discussion.
Upon the conclusion OF MIR. Me-
crearS's speech, Mr. owen again took
the floor and made q eompr el.enstve
argument With many references N
y court decisions to uphold the position.
he had taken. His contention MAJ
that his tribal PROPERTY was at his
!, disposal. and he could give it away
Tor do with II rs he pleased. Aftsr'