The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-08-11
INDIANS TO COLONIzE
CHEROKEES WOULD SELL LAND
AND BECOME INDEPENDENT
Relieve They Should Have the RlSht
of Freedom to Worship in ANY
Manner They Choose.

dian problem is one Of the 1mportdh'
ouestions confronting congress To-
day. Many Indians believe theV
should be given property and MADE
free from the protection OF the IN
dian bureau. The younger and bet
fer educated Indian, on the oIher
hand believes the solution OF the
Indian problem is to let eacn lndlah
v,,ort ont his own destiny. He has
no faith in the tribal relations, the
cid customs and methods OF living,
the influence of the chiefs of the
tribes. and the assistance OF the gov
eminent. but is DESTROYS OF having
his people adopt the ways OF c17lIl-
Zation.
Secretary Lane of the interior de-
partment wants to aid the INDIAN
and with this purpose in view mas
solicited the opinions of Indians Oh
the scattered reservations. He, too
believes the Indian should solve MS
own problem, and he has invited
them to tell him just what they think
the governments policy toward them
should be.
Each to Get About $15.
On July a delegation of Indians
led by Chief Red Bird Smith Of tire
Kee-Doo-Wha Society Of the Chero-
kee tribe in Oklahoma came to
Washington in the interest OF their
people. The Cherokee nation has
recently been dissolved by act Of con-
gress. Their tribal relations have
been discontinued and it has been
decided by the Indian office that the
funds of the Cherokee nation be DIS
tributed among the members of the
tribe, who number about $500. I'm
der this distribution each Indian
would receive about SIS.
The Cherokees are dissatisfied
with their inability to conduct wor-
ship as prescribed by the customs of
their nation for many years. They
are prevented from thoroughly COOP
Grating in the interest of the men,
bers of their organization, being
scattered to the four winds among
the whites and negroes of Oklahoma.
The Cherokees ask of the Indian
commission that they recommend to
the senate that they be allowed to
DISPOSE of their allotted lands and
their homesteads, and that they be
allowed to use the money gained
from such disposition elsewhere,
where they may be segregated in or
der that they may conduct their re-
Hgious worship as they desire. and
to cooperate for the benefit of each
member of the society. They wish
to establish colony of their own
people. and toward this end Chief
Red Bird Smith and three other Of
fcers of the Kee-Doo-Wha Society
visited Washington.
''The society is a religious one and
we ask the governments permission
to colonize wherever it is possible,
so that we may live up to the ancient
customs of our people" said Chief
Red Bird, when asked his purpose in
coming to Washington.
Chief Red Bird Smith is typical of
the American Indian in his passive
science when in the presence Of 9th
ers. He is small Of stature, with
wrinkled features and copper-color-
ed skin.
Because of his excellent command
of the English language John r.
Smith, the son, was asked if he had
been educated in an American col
Iege. No." he replied, Il educated
myself by acquiring common horse
sense He spoke English fiuently
and discussed the wants of his peo-
PIE with the air of one skilled in
diplomacy.
With Chief Red Bird and his son
we're Jim Wickliff and Oslo Hawk
Shooter. They left Washington for
Oklahoma this week. On arriving
at Illinois Town, the meeting place
of the Indian council, they will pre-
pare for the seven days conference
with their people concerning the in
formation received at Washington.
The Cherokee Indians are among
the most industrious, hard working
and prosperous Of their race in the
country. Capt. ]. Walter Mitchell
has been among them at intervals
for the last ten years, and he says
they are thrifty and anxious to be-
come civilized and to learn how to
cultivate the soil.
They do not seek protection from
the government, nor do they seek
money" says Capt. Mitchell. AL
they desire is that they be allowed