The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-12-01

ed in a meeting OF the Treaty Rights
association. This association was
organized in 1908 and Gov. John
,on has served as its chairman until
today.
Following the reading of the mes
sage of the chairman by Secretary w.
T. Ward. Governor Johnston volun-
tarily relinquished the chair and Dr.,
4. p. Howell of Davis was elected
chairman and w. T. Ward Of Tish-
omingo was reelected secretary. The
old executive committee Was retain
ed except that Sam Maytubby OF
Caddo was elected to fill the vacancy
on this committee caused by the death
of VIII Kersey.
DR.. Howell on assuming the chair
manship made a brief speech IN
which he showed his loyalty to the
Indians in their efforts to obtain their
rights at the hands of the federal gov
ernment.
The first work done was to appoint
committee of seven members to
draft resolutions. On this committee
the chair appointed j. Hamp Willis,
Ed b. johnson, T. l.. Griggs, Sam
Maytubby, Walter Colbert, Richard
McLish and E. H. McDuffee.
While the committee was formilat-
ing its report, j. F. McMurray, attor-
new for the Treaty Rights association
addressed the assemblage. Mr.. NC
Murray stated that for the past ten
weeks he had been in the settlements
mingling with the Indians. he was
telling them of their interest In the
leased district, in the coal lands and
other properties and was gathering
from them their opinions OF what
kind of settlement they should have
at the hands of the federal government
He dealt with the Indian tax case
and recounted the victory which the
Treaty rights association had won In
that court decision. In surveying the
faces of the intelligent assemblage or
Indians gathered in the court house
Mr.. McMurray stated that II they
stayed together and worked together
that there would be no such thing as
| failure. In answer to query, the
speaker stated he believed the freed
men would win their case but tha< he
| had refused to represent them in the
courts. But we are recounting what
| has been done, the thing which inter-
ests us most is what are We going 10
do 2" He said that if others had the
III Ioperty the Indians have and were
not allowed to use it or were likely
| to never obtain it there would be a
greater activity and he urged each
member of the association to become
acquainted with the treaties and TO
write members of congress and to in
duce ther friends TO get busy in the
same work.
| Mr.. McMurray's speech dealt prin-
cipally with the leased district claim
The lands involved in this district
are those lying between the 9Sth and
Tooth Meridian west longitude and be
tween the Red and Canadian rivers
in southwestern Oklahoma and in
Guiding five and half millions o.
acres. His contention is that this
great section of country was leasee
from the c hickasaws and Choctaw:
for specific purpose and when ina
use to which the land was purchas
ed that the title reverted to the In
dians. He states that the govern
ment sold these lands to settlers ant
placed the money in their own treas
ury: that these moneys belong to thu
Iidians there is no question. Congress!
he SAYS. is ready to admit that the
Indians have been relieved the us'
of their money and are willing to pay
asking what amount the Indians are
willing to settle for.
The attorney stated that the leaset
district was worth more than the Goa
lands of the two tribes of Indians
He contends that the government
should return to the Indians th'
amount of money received for th'
lands together with the value OF tn
school lands hich were no, dispos
cd of for money and with four pc
cent interest on the principal sum
This will aggregate from seventeen
to twenty millions of dollars. Mr.
McMurray says the great government
of the United States is honest, tina
a great quickening OF the conscience
of the people has taken place withil
the last five years and he has NJ