The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1914-11-18
INDIANS
ARE ROBBED
SAYS KATE
MISS BARNARD SAYS PROP
ERTY VALUED AT 200
MILLION STOLEN

Washington, D. c., Nov. 1S--CatC
Sells, Commissioner of Indian Affairs
said today that the charges made by
Miss Kate Barnard, State Commits
sioner of Charities of Oklahoma, &c
the effect that Indians, and particu-
larly Indian children, in that state
had been robbed of lands worth at
least 100000 600 were in the main
true. Mr. Sells declined, however tc
discuss Miss Barnard's story Of the
alleged Wholesale wrongs perpetrat-
ed on Inndian children in Oklahoma
and her criticism of the Indian Of
ficers. All that could be said by the
Indian office, Mr.. Sells added, was
that the cooperation of all good peo-
pie ought to be assured in such a
righteous struggle to protect the
weak and helpless.
1t was freely admitted at the In
dian office that a systematic robbing
of Indians in Oklahoma had been
going on for long time and the Of
flee was at work trying to get at the
bottom of the criminality. Conyic-
tions of scores of crooked admins
traitors have been obtained and hun
dreds of thousands of dollars In
money recovered and restored to the
Indian children to whom it belonged.
Soon after congress meets in De-
cember the crookedness that has been
going on in Oklahoma will tie brought
to it's attention lily Commissioner
Sells in special report, which will
tell that much has been accomplished
and that great work is progressing
with gratifying results.
The policy insisted on by Miss
Barnard is that the United States
Indian office shall provide a number
Of special attorneys in Oklahoma to
take charge of the probate business
involving Indian children. They are
to look after such cases of adjusting
estates as may arise and also to dig
up all the wrongdoing in cases al
readN disposed of and institute
criminal prosecutions where neces-
sary to bring defaulting and thieving
administrators and executors to JUS
tice. This, it will be said in the re-
port. is being done as rapidly and as
as the circumstances will
permit.
Today one of the special attorneys
telegraphed to the Indian office that
he had lust obtained a judgment ol
81 800 against a defaulting admins
traitor, who had moved to Phoenix,
Ariz.. after robbing a number of In
dian children in Oklahoma. Similar
are being received almost
every day. The work. it was said, IS
tedious and will require years to com
7lete. The Indian office has insisted
on employing attorneys of high stand
ng and the most scientific and rigid
ules- are enforced as to the conduct
of their work.
Commissioner Sells said he thought
he men he had chosen We're making
good. One rule that the commissioner
said he had enforced was that these |
attorneys should keep out of politics.
N the matter of the tribal attorneys,
he commissioner has laid down new
'ules, which are placed in the con-
racts with these lawyers. They are
hereafter to be required to give their
whole time to the litigation connected
With the Indians and can not take any
outside business.
They also must keep out Of politics
md they are forbidden to spend their
ime in Washington, as has hereto
ore been the practice, interesting
themselves in Inndian legislation. The
ontract requires them to assist in
he probate work for which the
pecial attorneys are employed.