The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-04-09
Crazy Snakes Plea For Justice

Craxy snnkes Flea For Justice
 Tulsa, Okla. Special.
 The uprising of the Snake band of Creek Indians near Checotah. led by Crazy Snake. the famous leader of that clan, recalls the celebrated speech of cial Investigating committee of the United States in this city November l3, 1906. The committee consisted of Senators c p. Clark of Wyoming, c. gee of Connecticut; W. A. Clark. of Montana, and Henry M. Teller of Col orado. This committees came at the request of the Senate to investigate conditions in the Indian Territory as they affected both Indian and white settlers that an accurate report might be made which would govern some prospective legislation bearing upon The hearing in this city took place in the Elks' Club room on West Third street and was attended by large Snake spoke after dinner. David Hodge of Broken Arrow officiated as
 Clad in the garb of the white man with a red bandana handkerchief tied around his neck. Crazy Snake remind ed ever nearer of the wonderful In- snH. dlans depicted by James mes Fsni%Srs Benin Tales" as he begged of the committee that his people be respected by the Federal government In their treaty rights At times the old Indian grew with tears as he told of the wrongs which had been done the Indian. He said in part: %e4
 the Inhabitants of this great. country from 14s2. I mean by that from the time the white man first came to this
 aSsrs ans Sas po or Ary ts 6aSe ocean A man by the name of Columbus and he discoveed this country for the white man-this country which was at that did he find when he first arrived here7 Did lie find a white man standing on this continent then. or did he find Q black man standing there? I stood he say to the red man at that time?
 He was on one of the four great roads that lead to light. At that time that was given to him by my people. My ancestor informed him that he was ready to accept this light he proposed to give him and walk these four roads his direction. Columbus told him 1t was all right He told him, the land Is yours; the law Is yours will take tS troubles. H " 1 will take p tSese % troubles s away. I will stand before you and behind you and on each side of you and your people and If any people them away and you shall live in peace with me-" That Is what Columbus said. and we agreed upon these terms. He told me just as long as you see see this light glimmering over us, shall these agreements be kept. As long as the sun rises. 1t shall last; as long as the water runs, it shall last; as long as the grass grows. 1t shall last.
 That was the first agreement we had with the white man. That Is what Columbus said and we believed 1t.
 Coming down to 1888 and referring to the agreements between the Creek United States What has occurred since 1892. Then I lived in Alabama. our country away from us, and 1t was no use defending 1t. The great fath- CT made a treaty with us He said, rivers-the Mississippi and Arkansas& and select your land-what you want of it-and I will locate your people there and will protect you as long as the sun shines, grass grows and wa ter runs That was the agreement and I and my people came out here and we settled on this land. carried all points and violated none. I hear now that the government is cutting up my land and giving itAaway. never asked that 1t be dune, but l that the government is giving it away to black people. These black people who are they? They are negroes that came In here as slaves. They have no me and my people and we paid for 1t with our land back in Alabama.
 "If 1t was given to me, what right has the United States to take 1t away without first asking my consent? All that l am begging of you. honorable Senators. Is that these ancient agree ments and treaties. wherein you prom pie, be fulfilled"