Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-05
sun SHINES AND WATER BUNS
BUT TREATY OF 1882 WITH IN
DIANS Is DEAD.
And Now the Red Man Wants Con-
gress to Explain and Order Com
mission to Square Things.

What shall be the future of the Ameri-
can Indian?
is he still ward of the United States
government? Or is he citizen of the
state in which he resides?
In order to determine the future and
the status of the red men Congress will
be asked early this week to appoint a
commission to hold sessions during the
recess and arrive at solution. of the
vexed Indian question once for all time.
A monster petition has been received by
officers of the Indian Protective League
requesting the appointment of such a CON-
mission. to be composed of senators and
representatives. The petitioners are men,
bers of the four civilized tribes-Creeks,
Cherokees, Chickasaws and Choctaws.
Reports from Oklahoma are that In
dians resent the methods Of state officers
in that portion of the state formerly
known as the Indian Territory, and that,
as many cannot speak English. it is diff
cult to make them understand the ways
Of the white men and their laws and sys-
TENS of taxation. The result is said to
be unrest and suspicion on the part of
the Indians.
1t is believed congressional commits
sion could arrange for the education Of
the red men and their gradual breaking
into the methods of the whites. 1t is
nearly SO ripe for citizenship as was
the negro at the close OF the civil war.
The negroes had been reared by white
masters and were in daily contact with
the customs Of the white race. The In
dams. on the contrary. are fresh from
tribal relations. widely divergent from
social forms of modern civilization.
Indians of the civilized tribes. known
Familiarity among themselves as 1.-The
four mothers cannot understand why
the government does not live up to the
treaty of 1882 which promised them pro-
lection and immunity from the ways OF
the white while the sun shines. water
runs and grass grows 1t Is for these
reasons the appointment of a commission
will be asked, that the present strained
condition may relieved by the body that
authorized making treaties with Indians
the Congress Of the United States.
Among Indians active in securing hum
dreds of signatures to the petitions aid
leaders Of the full-bloOd element In Ok
lahoma are Thlechum Fixico and Eufaula
Harjo, known as the orator OF the four
nations. After the petitions are presented
to Congress the Indians propose to send
a delegation Of their best men to Wash
ington to urge that their request for a
commission be granted.
While on a recent visit to this city Eu-
faula Harjo had a conference with the
dSSlSldHl dttcIHty ScucIdl AcI Tic lii
terror Department. Harjo says 1t is his
opinion that the controversy should be
settled by Congress.
He has also asked by what legislation
the Indians were constituted citizens of
state. He adds that if they are not
citizens but still wards of the national
government. by what right of law do the
officials Of Oklahoma impose duties of cit
iZenship upon them.
The matter presents several interesting
sides. 1t is the opinion OF certain white
men who are friendly to the Indian and
his cause that Congress cannot do less
than grant the request of the red men
once the owners of all this continent-for
a respectful hearing before the great law
making body with the view of finally set
ting the great and growing Indian ques-
ton.
Harjo refers with pride to saying of
President Roosevelt in addressing q dele
cation Of Oklahomans recently:
Treat the Indians with justice and
fairness. They are older Americans than
either you or I. They were here long be-
fore we came"