The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1915-02-11
WOMAN'S FIGHT FOR IN
DAMS.
Miss Kate Barnard is Seek
ing to Secure Passage OF
Laws in Oklahoma to Pro-
tect Redskins From Being
Robbed and Cheated.

Miss Kate Barnard, VINO became 1amOu
as Commissioner of Charities for Oklahoma
is carrying on campaign for the control
the next legislature. Her object is to Sc
cure the passage of laws protecting the in
dams against those who are seeking to gail
nossession of their great wealth in coal, OF
and gas lands.
Miss Barnard led the State Democratic tic
ket in Oklahoma by several thousand vote:
in 1907 and again in 1910. She was offeret
the chance to run again without opposition
but she refused in order to make this fight
BY KATE BARNARD,
State Commissioner of Charities for Okla
homa.
The Department OF Charities of
Oklahoma has been wrecked. This
is only one step in a plot which
reaches all the way fron Oklahoma
to Washington, D. c., involving
millions IN money and land and
threatening the future of race. A
plot wherein smooth but determined
grafters have laid their plans 10 grab
the vast coal fields now belonging to
the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indian
nations and multiplied millions in
oil and gas lands now belonging to
the Chickasaw, Creeks and Chero-
KEGS. Two hundred millions is a
low estimate Of the money prize at
stake and the success of the plot
means misery and POVERTY for 10. 600
Indian mothers and the unborn babes
of coming generations.
This wealth is now in the hands
of 80, 900 restricted Indians, most Of
whom are ignorant and helpless and
cannot read and write. The re-
mainder of the 100. 900 Indians have
already been robbed. These In
dams are all Government wards,
placed under the protection of Okla
homa by confiding nation which
believed in the honor and honesty
of the people of this State.
- These Indians constitute One-thlrd
Hof all that are lett-a weak, helpless
remnant of a race which once pos
sessed the American continent
Shall we in the evening of the lite of
this people rob the last survivor be-
fore we pass with him down into the
common silence of eternity? Shall
we send the last orphan af this dy'
ing race penniless pauper back to
our common God! Shall it be said
There is no justice for the weak in
Oklahoma?'
Listen while unfold the plot.
Six years ago progressive and
definite plan to dispossess these
1000 Indians of their estates was
initiated.
The first step in the programme
was accomplished when by urging
the doctrine of State rights the Fede-
raj Government was induced in
1908 to surrender its supervisor of
Indian minors and full blood heirs
and place this authority in the Pro-
bate Courts of Oklahoma.
The next step was to wreck the
Department of Charities of Okla
homa, which had sole jurisdiction
over the Indian orphans a! home,
and was the only arm Of govern
ment, State, or national, clothed
with power to protect their lands in
the Probate Court. This step was
taken by the last Oklahoma Legis-
lature.
In order to weaken to the minimum
the protection of the civil service
force of the Federal Government the
plotters. with the help of the Con-
gressional delegation from Okla homa
and the Indian Bureau in Washing
ton, brought about the consolidation
of the Union Indian agency at Mus
kogee, Okla, with the office of the
Commissioner Of the Five Civilized
Tribes, commonly known as the
Dawes Commission. This they did
about four months ago by special
act of Congress. They also remov-
ed the Office so consolidated from
under the civil service rules and
placed it under POLITICAL rule. They
also reduced appropriations necessary
to pay district agents and others
whose duty It has been to 60 into
the homes of full bloods ard half
breeds and personally help to super
wise the estates of ignorant Indians.
At the same time these influences
aided in an effort to abolish the
Board OF Indian Commissioners at
Washington. This board is nom
partisan, non-politlcal body, the
members of which serve without
pay, purely in the interest of justice
to the Indian. They also pretended
they were seeking additional protec-
ton for Indian minors in the Probate
Courts OF Okla homa, and secured
an appropriation of $4,000 Of the
peoples money to employ Federal
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