The Washington herald., 1909-02-10
WASHINGTON CHAT.
By THE SPECTATOR.

Every winter delegations Of Indians
come from the various tribes throughout
the West to see the Great White Father
and leave their grievances before him
They doubtless have many grievances,
but their appetite for 5unkets is as fully
developed as though they belonged 70
Congress. and any excuse that VIII bring
them 20 the Capital and give them an op-
portunity to see the sights and dis7ort
themselves Is made TO serve. There IS
at present in town a delegation from the
Five Civilized Tribes Of Indian Territory
who come asking II their covenant Of
IS52 wherein they were promised that
they should be the wards Of the govern
ment. as far as protection went, but free
TO govern themselves. is TO be respected,
OF II they have. against their viii. De
come citizens of Oklahoma. ana expected
70 assume all the duties and obligations
that such citizenship implies.
These Indians have two OF their broth
ers IN the Upper House, who are able
and willing. anxious even. TO fight their
battles. for both Of them are loyal 70 the
blood that flows. through their veins
though they are often al swords points.
Ore Of them. Senator Owen, is Chero-
kse. the other. Senator Curtis. Kaw,
and between these two tribes there has
+ been an enmity for generations Although
/ Senator Owen was born in Virginia, MS
father. Robert L Owen. being az one
time president OF the Virginia and Ten
nessee Railroad, his mother. as IS proud
/ u set forth IN MS biography IN the Con-
gressIonai Record. was Narcisso ems
! holm. OF the Cherokee Nation, VINO gave
I him the name Of Oconestots, q Cherokee
+ appeIlation by which he is known IN hi'
/ tribe. for once an Indian, always an IN
dian, and no matter what p0sitlon hs
nav occupy in life he VIII be regarded
as q brother by those Of the same blood
. that flows in his veins.
The cell Of the blood was strong II
young owen, so strong that he left hi'
/ home in the East for the larger life II
+ the great West. and there his career ha'
/ beer made. a successful career, when al
+ Is told. although for awhile he was {
/ rolling stone and wes In turn teacher
/ editor. lawyer, banker. but always q poll
ticiaa, and from the beginning success
/ ful ore. When he was nominated the pri
mary gave him the largest vote Of am
( candidate in the field BY about 1900
which was a remarkable tribute TO hi'
popularity. Il was not. however, triout'
70 his popularity but sheer luck that CAV
him the l0nC term n the Senate H
and Senator Gore had been elected at IN
same tine. one TO serve the long, on
the short term. the matter 70 be decides
by two slips. a long and a shorter one
held by a blindfolded page. Owen insiste'
On Senator Gore. who is blind, drawin'
first, which he did. pulling out ;hs shor
slip. hence bis term viii expire the thir'
OF the coming March. while his more for
tunate colleague viii serve until 1913
Senator owen IS a born fighter. char
acter he inherited, doubtless, from hi
/ Cherokee forebears, and while he IS gen
I tie and sauve when not excited. he be
/ comes a whirlwind of passion in debate
He outraged all the traditions Of the Sen
ate IN his maiden speech last year, an
electrified the venerable solons with vhor
he Is associated BY his lack OF reverend
for their age and dignity, but already h
! IS becoming tame and tractabie as n
4 grave and solemn atmosphere OF the bod
Z 70 which he belongs