The Washington herald., 1909-02-08

thloc-cart e-h0sepit omar?"
This is the question that each year for
the last nine years. the representatives OF
the -Four Great Nations OF Indians. the
Creeks, Cherokees. Choctaws, and Chlcka-
saws. have journeyed ali the way from
Oklahoma 70 Washington to ask the Big
Chiefs OF the government The query.
translated from the Creek language. Is;
Has the Great White Father forgotten
the treaty OF 1927"
Eufauls Hsrjo. full-bIooded chief Of
the Creek Nation; his brother. Coear Fixi-
cochee. aad John Smith, an interpreter.
Of mixed blood. are IN the city 10 present
the desires OF the -Four Nations. OF The
-Four Mothers" as they are called IA the
Indian pnraseoiOgy.
To Go Before Congress.
They arrived Saturday. and spent yes
terdsy afternoon az the home OF Capt.
J. Walter Mitchell. in RandIe Highlands,
who is the representative OF the -Four
Nations in Washington. Capt. Mitchell
became acquainted with the situation IN
Oklahoma through Western friend, and
several years ago. at the solicitation OF
a number OF the prominent Indians OK the
four tribes, consented 70 DO what ne
could in advancing their interests in the
National Capital He has put the three
representatives IN touch with Representa-
tive MCGUIRE, OF Oklahoma and a con-
ference between the member OF Congress
and the red men viii be held early this
week
The primary object OF the visit OF the
Indians IS 10 have Congress appoint a
joint commission Of members Of the Sen
ate and House. 10 consider their requests
and present them fer action OF Congress.
Previous 10 the arrival of the delegation
Of three in the city. the -Four Nations sent
a petition containing the signatures OF
l600 full blc0ded Indians 20 Capt
Mitchell. II is now IN the hands OF Mr.
MCGUIRE. and If stretched out AZ length
would nearly cover the line OF march Of
the inaugural parade.
Treaty Rights DIsreEarded.
The -Four Nations conceive that they
have certain rights under a treaty con
cluded in 1ss9 between the United States
and them. which rights. they say. the
government has disregarded.
A representative o. The Washington
Herald went last night 10 the Rochester
Hotel. 90 r street northwest. where the
ENJOYS are staying. 20 have a look az the
men from beyond the Mississippi and
hear what they had 20 say. Their names
appeared IN beautiful handwriting on the
register. the handwriting OF John smith.
The even lines Of the pen. and the per-
fectly formed letters were better than
anything mat comes nowadays from the
white childreu's pubic schools.
Smiths manner Of introducing q guest
was as faultiess as his handwriting II
was a case OF shaking hands all around
Hussit hus-sOttin. We-Hut ni-nin.
Per-hit hOOnty sTtecaTt-as long as the
sun shines. OF water runs, or grass
grOws-thaJ was the way Il was said Ir.
the treaty. The government promised
that the -Four Great Nations should be
its wards. 10 I've OF the lands granted
10 them. and 70 be free from fnterfer-
enCe by the white men" said Smith
The government promised Us this be-
cause it had taken Us from our lands
east OF the Mississippi, and moved Us 70
the Indian Territory Now our lands
are being OveTrun by settlers The state
officers force our men 10 work on the
roads, and r they dor't, they throw
them into Jail. and fine them from SO
to IS. We are forced 70 pay road taxes.
and taxes on our lands and houses
Prohibition in Oklahoma.
"Oklahema is-vhst do you call It7-
a prohibition state. I don't know what
they mean by that. because whisky Is
everywhere our young men are invited
and encouraged 70 drink It. and are
then set 10 work by SPECTATORS 20 buy
their brothers lands cheap. and sell
them to the white men who make them
drunk. The government told our fathers
IN 1892 that this should not be. as long
ss the sun shone, the water ran. or the
grass grew We can understand how
one. Or two, or three white men can do
wrong TO the Indian. but how the gov
erument, the government OF al the white
people, can forget what & said in that
treaty. that we cannot understand.
Harjo then brought out two medals OF
silver, presented TO the Four Nations
when the treaty was made Both are
handsome pieces, struck of at the mint,
and are OF considerable weight One bears
date OF 1925 and a profile OF John Quincy
Adams. The other IS dated 1879. and has
on il a likeness Of Andrew Jackson. Both
have on the reverse side a tomahsEk
and g pipe OF peace, crossed. with the In
scTiption Peace and Friendship.
These were given TO US" said Smith,
"ss token Of the iastingness Of our
agreement. and ve were told that II a
white man came upon our lands he must
fail from the sky OF come out OF the
great water
A bundle, carefully wrapped IN s towel.
was then undOne, revealing six or seven
wampum belts Of great age. bearing the
tribal records Of the treaty. No price
would be high enough 20 buy these belts
from the Four Great Nations. They are
Of beautiful beadwork- Duplicates are in
the possession Of the government One
IS edged with black. and has a white
center running the entire length. At the
end IS an inclosUre. That represents the
White House The white center IS
Peace One black edge is the white
mans laws, and the other IS the Indians
laws
white Way of Peace.
Running his finger down the white cen
ter, Smith said:
We want to travel down that white
way Of peace, coming from the White
House. and midway between the laws OF
the white men and the old laws Of the
Indians"
The three ENJOYS have a busy. cosmo-
politan week ahead Of them. Wednesday
night HarjO. the orator. viii talk 10 a
joint meeting OF the Randle Highlands and
Twining City Citizens Association. and
the Indian Protective League, OF which
Capt. Mitchell IS president. Harjo ex-
pressed q desire TO speak. and Capt
Mitchell arranged his lecture tour"
Burglars ChIorOform Family.
Pittsburg. Pa, Feb. T.-CbloroformIng
NJ. J. Bash, his wife. and nine children.
~ their hnrne IN R.rs.iL-a h-.-.--a.. ren-