The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-07-03

Lee Cruce with reference to the
taxing of Indian lands, is achieving
for him success among all fair
minded citizens. Although other can
didates for Governor are siie-step-
ping upon this question, and refusing
to declare their position, it is evident
that the manly stand that Mr.. Cruce
has taken Is the only one that can
be Justified, either under the laN or
in good conscience.
In the act of 1898. Congress proyid-
ed. that when lands were allotted to
members of the Indian Tribes they
should be exempt from taxation for a
period of twenty-one years Statehood
came nine years later, and the new
state government was brought face
to face with serious condition OF
affairs. The expense Of State goyen-
ment had to be paid, but practically
all of the lands in the old Indian
leIIIOIy were tNtulpb AIOlh l"NHN''''
From all portions Of the State a
Clamor went up that those members
OF the Indian Tribe that We're ca
pable of taking care of their own
business, should have their restric-
tions removed from the sale OF their
lands. and such lands should be sub
iect to taxation.
IN answer to this public demand,
on the 27th day of May, 1908, Con
gress passed an Act which provided
that all members of the Indian
Tribes who were less than one-half
blood Indians should have the right
to sell and dispose of their lands,
the same as ether citizens.
The Fourth Section of this Act Of
Congress contained the following pro
vision:
"All lands from which restrictions
have been or shall be removed, shall
be subject to taxation, and all other
civil burdens, as though 1t were the
property of other persons than al
lottees of the Five Civilized Tribes
Almost Immediately upon the pas
sage of this bin, number of Indian
politicians formed an organization.
and raised a fund Of eighty thousand
dollars to try to defeat this law
and thus prevent the taxing OF their
lands. Gov. Johnston was one of the
leaders in this organization. They
employed j. F. McMurray, well
known Republican lawyer of McAles
ter, and W. A. Ledbetter, u well
known attorney of Oklahoma City,
and these gentlemen have procured
iniunctions from the Federal govern
ment, enjoinng the collection Of this
tax. These Indian politicians are
making a bitter fight to escape bear
ing their proper burden of taxation,
and the question must finally be de-
cided by the Supreme Court of the
United States.
If the State loses these suits, the
Indian landlords will escape bearing
their share of the burdens of State
Government, and the farmers who
pay them rents will have to pay their
taxes as we'll These suits cannot
possibly be determined until after
the Inauguration of our next Gov
ernor Under our law, the Governor
has complete control OF all litigation
in which the State is interested, and
can direct the Attorney General as
to what course he shall pursue with
reference to litigation. 1t can readily
be seen, therefore, that our next
Governor will have more influence
upon the result of this litigation than
all the rest of the citizenship Of
Oklahoma combined. II is extremely
important, therefore, that he should
be a man who is heartily in sympa-
thy with the collection of this tax.
Such a man we have in Lee Cruce.
He has declared in every speech
that he has made, that he is heart
lily in favor of the enforcement of
this law, and if he is elected Gov
ernor, he will put the entire force
of his administration back of this
tax suit and see that 1t is won In
the interest Of the State.
Thus far he is the only candidate
for Governor who has taken this Dol |
stand. His fearless position upon
this question has alienated all Of the
Indian politicians. Governor Johnston,
William Durant, Mack Moore, BIZ
Paul and other prominent Indian cit
izens are actively engaged in fight
ing Cruce and supporting the Hon.
Vim. II. Murray for Governor. Thus
far Mr.. Murray has refused to take
any open position upon this question,
although it is generally understood