The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-08-08
WAS ORGANIZED TO
PROTECT FREEDMEN
J. MiItoc Turner Says St. LouIsans
Financed Scheme to place Freed
men on Tribal Rolls.

Muskogee, Okla, Aug S.-The dis
covery of the existence Of an alleged
st. Louis syndicate which was organ
lied to finance attorneys who are seek
ing to get the Choctaw and Chickasaw
freedmen on the tribal rolls was de-
veloped here Saturday by the testi-
mony of ]. Milton Turner of st. Louis
IA negro attorney, before the congress
sional investigation committee. Tur-
ner was appointed by President Grant
as minister to Liberia and 1t was re-
mark made to him by General Grant,
according to Turner's testimony, which
started him on the track that finally
led him to become interested in secur-
ling contracts from the negro members
OF these two tribes Turner stated
that General Grant told him at the
time he appointed him that the welfare
of the negroes depended largely upon
This (Turner's) qualifications and his
fitness as minister
Il then started an exhaustive study
Of international law said Turner, "in
Iorder to fit myself for my position and
Tread all the treaties OF the United
States with other nations. then went
Into Indian treaties and It was then
discovered that the Choctaw and
lChickasaw freedmen and the freedmen
of the Cherokee tribe were not protect
ed properly. l then made up my mind
THAT upon my retirement as minister
II would go tc the Indian Territory to
TRY to secure for them these rights"
Turner testified that q number Of
Ibis people were not enrolled in the
choctaw and Chickasaw nations, al
though he believed them entitled to
lalIotments. and at his suggestion a
mass meeting of freedmen was called
and at this meeting committee was
] Iappointed which made contract with
Thin to represent the Choctaw and
IChickasaw freedmen who had been Left
loft the rolls. Turner stated that he
found he could not raise enough funds
/. lamong the negroes to carry on the
t litigation and to secure the Legislation
I necessary and he finally succeeded II
securing Crews and CantwelI Of St
Louis and other parties now out o.
the deal to form a syndicate to finance
: him while he was securing the legls
llation. Turner testified that he has IN
!, Idividual contracts with 10000 or II,
i 900 freedmen of the two nations ans
!, that he was to secure on-fourth OF th'
). proceeds of their property i he sue
: eeeded in getting them on the rolls
He stated that the syndicate has furn
ished him several thousand dollars t
promote the scheme, but that as ye
The has not received any fees from q
. Indians.
3 Judging the future from the past
8 will not get any. declared Turner
Turner also stated that he secure
i, about 100000 for the Cherokee frees
i men from the sale Of the Cherokee
s strip which they would not have 30
ten without his services, but state
that he never has secured his fees 70
such services. Turner testified that h
had individual contracts with th
: choctaw and Chlckasaw freedmen an
! also contract with the st LOU
8 syndicate and contracts with the Che
: okee freedmen which he promised
- furnish the committee. He stated ths
his living expenses now are being pal
by the syndicate" but for time :
+ was paid 500 week by the syndical
6 to defray the expenses Of securing co
y tracts from the freedmen