The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-12-09
SEN. OWEN ARGUES IN
INDIAN LAND CASES
MAKES PLEA IN UNITED STATES
CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS
IN SUIT OF VAST INTERESTS.

St Louis, Mo. Dee. S-ln a man
ncr as dramatic as that Of his Chero-
kee ancestors and with voice
chok,d with emotion and command.
ing the attention e every person
in the court room. United States
Senator Robert L. owen OF Oklaho-
ma today brought to a close the
argument in the Indian land cases
before the United states circuit
court cf appeas
The case involves the validity Of
deeds TO half the farming lands OF
Oklahoma, which the government of
the United States is attempting to
render void on the ground that they
were illegally executed by members
and heirs of the five civilized tribes.
The case affects over 100000 land
owners of the new state and Is on
appeal here from the oklahoma fed
I eral courts.
The attorneys of the goyernmo NJ
OF the United states say that the
descendants Of the oklahoma In
dians are not citizens, but wards"
he said THAT /, United States sen.
ator, defendant In this case, am
also a ward of the national govern
ment. That because my grandmother
was a member OF the Cherokee tribe,
| / am not entitled to citizenship to
dispose of the property which |
have inherited except as govern
ment ward.
My grandfather. although he led
the Cherckees in battle. was white
man and citizen of the state OF
Virginia, and as son of a citizen
Of the United States claim citi-
2enship. Under the fourteenth
amendment to the constitution of the
United States, claim the rights of
an American citizen.
Under the laws of congress, I am
no longer an Indian, but citizen
OF the United States, and these lOO.-
600 members and their descendants
OF the five civilized tribes have
been given the same privileges by
the act of congress of March 3.
1901. They are my people and |
am pleading for them"
Charles w. Russell. assistant Unit
/ ed States attorney general, repre-
senting the government, urged in
his closing speech that the national
government has not abandoned It's
guardianship over the Oklahoma In.
dians, as shown by recent congress
| sional acts. The last of these acts
was passed on May ~. 1908, appro-
priating $4,000 to the department
of justice for the prosecution of the
| land deed cases now on trial in
I which the guardianship of the Unit
ed states is outlined.
Judge Adams. who with Judges
/ Hook and Amidon are hearing the
/ case. questioned the assistant United
States attorney general closely re.
| garding the policy of the govern.
ment toward the Oklahoma Indians.
How long does the national gov
| ernment expect 10 retain guardian.
| ship over these Indians? As long
as the money Lasts" asked Judge
Adams.
Assistant Attorney General Russell
explained that 1t was the contention
! of the national government that the
/ department. of justice should be the
/ proper representative in court Of
| these Indians, rather than that they
| should appear in their own behalf
on the theory that the government
knew better what was to their inter
ests than they did themselves.
The case went to the members of
the United State circuit court of
appeals today. 4 decision probably
will not be rendered for some time.
Senator owen, representing the In.
dians, and Assistant Attorney Gen
eral Russell, representing the gov
ernment, departed for Washington
tonight.
Rich Mems Gifts Are Poor