The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-04-25

the estate he, with others, obtained
for the Mississippi Choctaws.
Although Senator Owen is OF IN
dian blood, he is not Choctaw, but
a Cherokee, asi il was while pressing
the claims or the eastern Cherokees
for whom he recovered 100000 in
1906. that the battle for the Missis-
sippi Choctaws was first taken up.
So his brief sets forth.
A number OF other attorneys nave
interviewed in the suit now pending.
and the total OF their claims, II al
lowed by the court, would exceed Sl5,-
600 900 al which the entire properties
OF the tribe are valued. In other
words, after winning their claim from
the government, worth that amount,
they would still be owing their law
yers.
Oven pleads that he and his asso-
ciates, Charles F. Winton, James X.
Jones, former senator from Arkansas
and former chairman of the Demo
cratic national committee, and Wal
ter A. Logan, took up their work for
these Indians when the latter were In
IAN extremely impoverished condition,
doing the hardest day labor at very
low wage. chopping wood making
rails. building fences, blowing and
hoeing cotton, under conditions al
most Of quasi peonage."
There was another condition or
these and other Indians which Senator
Owen does not recite. and that was
that they were so beset by lawyers OF
various degrees of professional stand
s,..x hot In Tow
passed an act making void any con-
tract entered into by the Mississippi
Choctaws, these including several
hundred made with the Choctaw Cot
ton Co, company organized by
Owen.
The passage of this law made IT
necessary for Owen and his associ'
ates to secure the passage OF an act
by congress letting them sue in the
court of claims. In 1905, they tried
to get it, but failed, and Ow&n's brief
saws, pledged and contracted 10 pay
20 per cent OF their compensation in
order TO obtain the jurisdictional act
OF 1906"
Senator Owen says this was pledged
10 James X Jones. whose term as
senator from Arkansas had expired
March 4. 1908. For this contingent
fee. Jones undertook to lobby for the
passage OF the bill. Jones Is now
dead. as are Logan and Winton. the
other associates Of owen In this al
fair
The next year. congress passed the
law letting Owen and his associates
sue, and Owens brief enrolls Jones
as one OF those who now bring
claim against the Choctaws for their
services covering the period OF 10
years. during all but three OF which
Jones was a member OF the United
States senate. Thus, Owens brief
puts Jones, now dead. in the anoma-
lous position OF claiming large sum
OF money for services rendered as a
lobbyist for the Mississippi Choctaws
while he was United State senator.
Owen says Considering the re-
suits accomplished In obtaining for
the Mississippi Choctaws a high So
cial and political status In Oklahoma,
improved school privileges and church
privileges, all OF which they did not
enjoy in Mississippi; salubrious eli
mate instead Of the swamps OF Mis-
sissippi: considering the gigantic
property rights obtained. the extent
OF services through 10 years OF unre
hitting activity. and the expenditure
by the petitioners OF approximately
$4,000 OF money, which would have
more than doubled in value II invest
ed In Oklahoma. etc. II Is respect
fully insisted that the court allow
fee OF Is per cent OF the value OF
such estate. valued at Sl5.000.000.'