The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-28
MOST DRAMATIC
 SCENE IN SENATE Indian Senators Discuss Their
 Status as Citizens EXCITEMENT IS CREATED
Senator owen of Oklahoma Declares That Five Civilized Tribes Are Dead and That He Owes No
 Allegiance To cherokees.

most dramatic scenes ever witnessed in the Senate was enacted today when Sen ator Robert L. Owen of Oklahoma insist ed in tragic tones, and with face showing much emotion that the five civilized tribes of Indians were dead, and that he as a member of the tribe of Cherokee Indians was not under the control of the Secre- tary of the Interior The effect was ren- dered the more interesting by the fact that MT. Owen was sharply engaged in controversy by Senator Charles Curtis of Kansas. himself a Raw Indian.
 IL was the first time that two men of the same blood in their veins had ever locked horns as senators in, the Senate chamber The controversy arose in con- neetion with the consideration of the h. dian bill, and was precipitated by an ef- fort on the part of MT. Owen to have that bill so amended as to confer citizen- ship upon the five civilized tribes of h. dians.
 MT. Curtis sought to interrupt MT Owen before the Oklahoma senator had com pleted his first sentence. But" inter- posed the Kansan, your property is under the control of the Secretary of the Interior, and you know it."
 "I do not" retorted MT. Owen. Mir Curtis insisted upon his views of the status of the Oklahoma senator. He did not contend that the property of the senator from Oklahoma, aside from that owned as member of the Cherokee tribe of Indians, was under the secretary, but his tribal property was. I think you ought not to be under control of the sec retary, but you are,'' he said.
 T agrae," quickly replied Mir. Owen. ] with the senator from Kareas that I ought not to be. I disagree with him that I ann
 Galleries Startled. The dramatic tone of the Oklahoma sen- ator rather startled the chamber, and the people in the galleries leaned forward to see the participants of the wordy battle. Senator Owen left his place In the rear of the chamber and advanced to the cen- tral 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 parliamen- tary rules and were carrying on a per sonal colloquy.
 MT Owen proceeded to say the supreme court of the United States had declared that Indians holding allotted lands are citizens of the United States Raising to his full height. his olive-colored face showing that his pride had been pricked by the suggestion that he was under the and with tone most tragic, Senator Owen continued:
 The Cherokee nation can demand no allegiance from me. I owe them no allegiance. The only allegiance I owe is to my government of the United States and to the state of Oklahoma I say the. supreme court has passed upon right that the word late shall be in cluded in that amendment.
 MT. Curtis then took the floor and began by saying he had merely desired to interrupt the Oklahoma senator so that he might be able to make a cor rect statement to the Senate.
 MT. Owen insisted that man be- longing to an Indian tribe is a sub ordinate or ward and an alien, which he said, was not compatible with American citizenship. Am I an alien ?' he exclaimed.
 Carter To the Rescue.
 Senator Carter came to the rescue and attempted to sh ow that both Sem ators were right. He said he did not wonder that the Oklah oma senator re- scented the idea that he was under tn e control of the Secretary of the Inter- ior His remarks brought the Senate into better humor and laugh ter dis placed the strained state of mind that had prevailed.
 Senator Gore, the blind senator from Oklahoma, added to the relaxed tension by making a suggestion for a way olt of the difficulty.
 Tt would be we'll" he said, flor the Senate to recognize the belligerent rights of these two Indians"
 Both of the objects of this sally joined in the laughter that filled the oh hamber.
 Senator Owen later went over to the republican side and approaching Sen ator Curtis in a friendly manner took a seat by his side. The two laughed good naturedly and appearted to be continuing the discussion so heatedly begun on the floor. W sa
 After further debate, in which Sena- tors owen. Curtis Clapp, McCumber and Lodge participated. Mir. Owens proposition to designate the Indians as the late five civilized tribes was voted down, MT. owen being the only one to vote for it.
 nEHElNERc ARDnINrE