The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-07-18
INDIAN IN OUR AFFAIRS


ylic, discussions Indian affairs. and tie
Republican state committee has tried
to tie knot In the cord OF deception
,fJHhiakes rtiie Indian believe he sis
abcut- TO- be disfranchised, indian ar
: fairs: the part that race Is to play
in the uppuilding of thisastate. and
what are to be his rewards become
matters, OF proper discussion-his con.
dition worthy of public comment, that
condition demanding elucidation for
those. not IN proximity to him and VINO
know Tnaugns of the educated, pro-
eresl Indian.
The members OF the Five Civilized
Tribes (Cherokees. Seminoles, Creeks,
Choctaws and Chickasaws, with sucn
as the Wyandottes, Kansas. Della
wares, Ottawas and others affiliated
With one or the other of the Five
Tritesj have long held form of gov
crnment, and came into the new state
Of Oklahoma with vast properly
rights, asking only to be given an
equal citizenship standing with the
nbite man. This applied, also. to the
Usage and kindred Indians, with 9TH
ers scattered throughout Old Okla.
homa that are known to West Side
citizenship.
Insofar as constitutional and legis.
lative enactment OF the sovereign
state made possible, the Democratic
majority in the legislatures complied
with this sane and pre-enlinently
proper request of 40 red men.
Federal authorities, however, for
hade making this citizenship what
was demanded. Through treaties and
acts OF congress. the secretary of in
terror held guardianship rights over
fre Indians--refusing TO give up those
rrerosfiyes.
II has been the contention of the
ok1lhoma Democracy that Federal
control has been burden to the In
Glan; that IL has cost much more than
the exigencies of the occasion de-
manded; that those who would, If al
lowed to handle their own affairs be-
come paupcrs. because of their greas
minority, could be pensioned by the
progressiyes cheaper than to have the
hated guardianship extended over ths
races indiscriminately.
The Indians. satisfied Democracg
was 10 aid, sent some of their best
statesmen 70 the legislature. PROM.
nent among these was Z. NJ. Landrum
of Tahlequah, poet. literateur, lecIur-
a. rfr Anas 4.
history of his country and who sery.
&C bis race to its benefit and to Tho
t.gh credit of the entire people al
Oklahoma.
But state sovereignty was and is
handicapped by Federal slothiulness.
The Indian has been held back by bad
deals and imperfect guardianship
iaws-made to feel that hesis deem
! cd Incompetent by the Federal gov
eminent. Such conditions are r..
.3,ngnant 10 the Indian inspire disgust
lin those who know him. The Indians
ofthe state, nine out OF each squad nf
ten. are educated. high-minded. pat.
riotic, brave, progressive citizens, who
demonstrated their ability in
the race for sustenance by improving
<endf Ibhildihs even wiie n hampered
hy a guardianship that is a thous-
and miles distant
The wealth OF Eastern Oklah 80 4
Is largely in the control Of lndiahs--
rot ttHt they own half, but so vast
are their holdings and SO located, at
tempt 10 combine any great amount
sf real estate in many of the coun-
ties without including Indian propeT-
~ would be futile. And these hold
ings are, i'm many instances, not tax
able. The Indian Is willing to pay
taxes: has always been so, but nat
urally, with the land alienatioN he
wants all the other rights of the Acit-
izen- asks, as he has always asx-
ID, for no more or less than equal
opportunity for developing and dis
rasing of his property.
THAT answer that some would lose
f.leir all, is true.
so do some whites, blacks, yellows
aad criss-crossed people OF the man
tribe.
B,it the fact that one OF each hft2
you'd do that is no reason why 4
race should be held as children and
not allowed equal opportunities with
other races. ,eAa., N1. l4fYigNf5N
Democracy gave toathe Indian all
tie rights hat state can give 70
titizens--will. II in power, give them
equal rights by Federal enactment.
Republicans gave the Indian. IN
plain parlance. hell. and kept the
pitch hot from then until now.
The weakness OF now pretending 81
night IN alleged attempted Indian di'.
francbisement by the Republics1
state organization. properly makes
tshe feAiau mad feese IKE he has
heen ha,nstrung and that the power
dung that inhuman act is now laugh
ine At bis writhing
The Indians came into Oklahoma DE-