Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-18
Secretary Fisher Accused of
Attempt to Coerce Indians.
TROUBLE OVER OIL LEASES
Department Heads Action Said to
Have Favored the Standard.
MAKES REPLY TO CHARGES
Cabinet Officer Declares Attempt Is
Being Made to Grab Land Rights
by Fair Means or Foul.


Charges that Secretary Fisher had at
tempted to cOerce the Usage Indians into
leasing valuable Oil fields to the Standard
OIL Company, and a counter charge by
the Secretary that the Uncle Sam Oil
Company had attempted to acquire the
fields under circumstances which were
threatening proceedings by Attorney Cen
eral Wickersham, were aired today before
the House committee on Indian affairs.
Meanwhile, seven Osages, members of
the tribal council. who were removed
January by Secretary Fisher, because
he said it had been found they had been
'unduly influenced in making a lease
to the Uncle Sam Company, went to the
District Supreme Court and got out a
mandamus calling on the Secretary to
show cause next Tuesday why they
should not be reinstated. Certain leases
to the Uncle Sam Company have been
thrown out by the Secretary and a bill
is now pending i'm the House to compel
the Secretary to validate them.
Oil Company's Charges.
Albert l.. Wilson. representing the In
Gle Sam Oil Company. i'm a brief, declared
that the STANDARD Oil Company is en-
deavor1ng to block the efforts of the
Uncle Sam company to secure this lease.
because the Uncle Sam company could
then become a competitor of the Stand
ard OIL Company subsidiaries in the field.
But the Uncle Sam company he con-
vice known to the Oil trust and has
met with the constant. persistent un-
reasonable and unwarranted opposition of
the Interior Department
The Secretary of the Interior, for the
purpose of intimidating and cOercing the
Usage Indians into electing a new coun-
Gil which will obey his instructions, has
published and caused to be published
statements intimating that many of the
Indians would be arrested or indicted
upon. some charge because they were in
favor of the leases of the Uncle Sam Oil
Company.
The stockholders of the Uncle Sam
Oil Company have fought a long, hard
fight against the Vaccinations of the Oil
trust. The oil trust has had the ad
vantage of having the assistance of
former President, cabinet officers, the
Post Office Department. the Interior De-
partment, some federal judges. a federal
district attorney and many other lesser
federal officials. but they have fought the
fight to establish their company as
genuine, independent oil company and
aclual DOna nOe cOmpeutOr Oh the OIL
trust
Secretary Fisher Replies.
Secretary Fisher replied to the charges.
He said:
1.-THE negotiations for the so-called
leases have been reported to the Depart
ment Of Justice and an investigation is
being made by the Attorney General"
The Secretary added that the Uncle
Sam leases would work grave injustice
to the Osages, and would encourage pro-
moters to exploit the lands Of the In
dians. and that a majority Of the Osages
were opposed to the granting of the
leases to the Uncle Sam Company.
II regard an attack from the Uncle
Sam Company as badge Of HONOR de-
clared the Secretary. 1T is conclusive
recognition of the fact that 1 have eff
fectively checked the attempt of this
concern to acquire an immense Oil field
cumstances which have been investigated
by special agent of the Indian Office.
AS a result of this report / removed the
entire tribal council and referred the re-
port to the Attorney General, who will
take appropriate action just as soon as he
can decide what the action should be.
Refused All Along Line.
1.-The Uncle Sam Oil Company. having
been turned down all along the line from
the superintendent of the Usage agency
through the commissioner of Indian af-
fairs. the assistant secretary of the in
terror, myself and President Taft, Is re-
sorting to extreme measures to try to
bring about its purpose of getting the Oil
lands by fair means or foul. It's evident
purpose in coming mere now and present
ing this petition to Congress is to in
huence the election of a new tribal coun-
Gil, which has been ordered for next
Wednesday. January Or
AS to the charge that he had been aid
ing the Standard Oil Company in trying
to secure for that corporation Usage Oil
land leases, Secretary Fisher declared
that the reverse was the case. All pipe
lines, he said. had been prohibited from
bidding in the competition for these
lands. Furthermore, the regulations pro-
Vided that no company or person could
obtain more than 2J,COO acres, whereas
the Uncle Sam Oil Company wanted 2UO-
coo acres, and three individuals supposed
to be affiliated, he said with the COM
pany had each applied for a like amount.
Mandamus Action.
The proceedings in mandamus in behalf
of the principal chief and assistant prin-
cipal chief of the Usage tribe of Indians
and the eight members of the tribal coun-
Gil were instituted by Alpheus ii. Brown,
a member OF the tribal council.
Brown seeks not only to be restored to
the offices to which he claims he was
duly elected. but wishes to prevent, if
possible. the new election ordered by
| the Secretary to be held next Wednes-
day at Pawhuska, Okla.
The court is told through ATTORNEY
| Andrew Wilson that at the regular
biennial election held last June Bacon
| Rind was elected principal chief and
Henry Red Eagle assistant principal
chief, and the petitioner with seven other
members of the tribe chosen as the
| tribal council.
Order Termed Illegal.
The order of Secretary isher removing
| the incumbents and ordering a new eec-
ton is claimed by Brown to be illegal
and to have been without notice to the
Indians
The positions carry honor. emolument
and prestige. Brown says. and may not
be taken from the incumbents without
authority of law. The claim iS made that
Secretary Fisher lacks the authority to
| remove the chiefs and tribal council. and
I vs