The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1909-12-10
NOT CLEAR ON FACTS.

II the Tulsa Democrat had stated
the facts with little more accuracy.
the following editorial might have had
a little more weight:
II was not the Democrat which
started the cry thar the Indians had
been robbed The sanctmonious re-
publican press Is solely responsible.
When the sacroscanct got KAY this pa.
per merely called attention few
facts AS a matter OF fact had the
Indian been left Ia stand on his own
feet and work out his own salvation
as the negro is doing. the Indian would
be far better OF : The negro was rob.
bed right and left by the Freedman's
Bureau and other grating organiza-
tions bat he came out OF the struggle
the stronger and the better fitted for
civilization During the past genera
tion the negro has made wonderful
strides IN education and capacity 10
take care OF himself while the Indian
has practically stood still And this
il entirely and solely due 10 the inter
ference 81 government in the private
affairs Of the citizen The Indian, ac.
cording to congressional enactment.
has been a citizen Of the United States
since 1892 and yet he has never been
permitted TO exercise any Of the priv-
leges OF citizenship or attend 10 his
own business Until the admission Of
Oklahoma into the Union he was not
even permitted to vote And even
now the Indian is but ward of the
interior department. II he Is full.
blood No matter what his capacity.
no matter what his talent, the Indian
must depend on some satrap sent out
from Washington TO attend to his bush
ness for him and tell him what to
do. The position Of this paper IS that
the white man has some rights as well
as the indian and II the white men
and the Indian were left alone TO set
tie things this part Of the country
wouid be very much better on But
the sanctimonious and hypercritical
republican patriots viii not accept this
view and insist on whitewashing their
own grafters who have been in charge
Of affairs down here since 1892 contin-
oousIy and who are directly respons-
lble for whatever Of wrong the Indian
has suffered at the hands OF the white
man
The statement that citizenship was
conferred upon the Indians OF Okla.
homa III 1899. shows . palpable lack
OF knowledge Of Indian affairs for one
who attempts 20 advise reading pub
lie. upon conditions that affect large
percentage or the citizenship OF Okla
homa. especially in the eastern por.
ton, in which the Democrat is sup
posed TO have a clientele That the
Indians OF eastern oklahoma would
have Jared better had they been cast
upon their own resources, free from
the cumbersome regulations of the
government the Chieftain agrees How
ever citizenship was not conferred
upon the Indians Of eastern Oklahoma
until March 3. 1901. The congresslon.
al act Of 1892. which would have con
ferred citizenship upon the Indians.
was never enforced. and the govern.
ment never recognized the Indians as
citizens until after the passage Of the
act OF March 8. 1901
The Democrat has been engaged
in controversy With the Bartles.
vile Enterprise over the mis-.
treatment Of the Indians. at
the hands Of both the state and fed
eral government It might be said
right here that the Indian VIII be able
to look after his own interests and
VIII be able 10 cope with his palefaee
brother Ga any political contest in
which he has an even break