Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-04-20
Important Tribal Meeting
To BE Held at DWant
Beginning Tomorrow.
LOCKE IS FAvORITE
Congressional Delegation
Favors Choosing the Man
Tribe Selects.

! Special to The World
M'ALESTER. April 17-With The
actual right Of tribal elections abol-
ished apd the oklahoma delegation in
congress divided upon the question OF
obtaining the appointment of sue
cessor 10 victor NJ. Locke, principal
chief'of the ChoCtaw Indians, il seems
now to be al matter OP conjecture,
| largely, as to hCw far the vote OF the
IChoctaw convention to he held at Du-
rant tomorrow will have influence in
| bringing about u change in tribal lead
ership.
50 far as the question Of winding up
the affairs Of tribe Is concerned, there
will DO no dispute. There may be
differences of opinion as to methods
to be pursued, but the Indians them-
! selves as well as all members of the
| Oklahoma delegation are of one mind
on The advislbility OF dsposing Of
Choctaw affairs, in their segregated
relationship with the United States
\ government and Of distributing among
individual Indians the property now
| held in common.
Continual delays in the final winding
! up of tribal affairs which was prom
/ iSed i'm the Atoka agreement of 1898.
I a second successive failure to obtain
| from congress an appropriation for a
! per capita payment and the recent in
lection of fight to reopen the Choc
/ ItaW rolls for the benefit of so-called
/ Mississippi Choctaws have been re
| spOnsiblc for the call for the Durant
convention. The adyisabiity Of bring
ing mandamus action against the sec
iretarY Of the interior and thereby
transferring the fight from congress
! to the courts viii be the principal is
| sue to be discussed, relating to bring
| ing about a final settlement of Choc..
taW affairs.
70 Elect Chief.
A new issue was injected into the
convention hail. however. when the
election of a principal chief was
. named as 'one Of the objects OF the
Durant meeting.
| For a half century or more, after
| their removal to the Indian Territory
| the ChoCtaw5 elected their own gov
ernOr and, council had tribal courts
modelled after those in state govern
ments, maintained full quota of tri-
bal officials and conducted a govern
ment Of their own in which they were
allowed a large. measure of freedom.
| The beginning of the end Of the tribal
! government came with the ratification
I
| 1898. Tribal elections continued un-
til 1904 and tho tribal council contin-
ucd to meet every year until 1912, al
though matt ars Of legislation were
| limited to such acts as might be ap-
! proved by the president, but those
members Of the council who were
elected I'm 1904 continued to serve un-
| til they died or resigned from office
This continuance in office. both for
members Of the council and for the
principal chief, was provided for by
a ruling Of the department Of the
interior under authority Of m act Of
congress approved April 90, 1906
When. under the terms of that act.
tribal courts went out of existence I'm
1907 and tribal offices. with the excep-
tion of governor and council mem
bers, were abolished, the Choctaws
lost interest in tribal elections and
settled down 10 await the winding up
of their affairs.
Locke Appointed by Taft.
Without protest. then when Gov
erEor Green McCurtau died in 1911.
Victor VI. Locke of Antlers who was
McCurtain's private score tary, was ap-
pointed by President Taft to succeed
to the vacancy.
The delays in carrying out the terms
Of the Atoka and supplementary
agreements, however, have brought
brought about renewed demand for
pa voice in tribal affairs and, relying
upon the hope that the secretary Of
the interior will listen to the recon-
mendations Of a mass convention. IL
is proposed to elect a principal
chief. with the request to the secre-
tary that the man selected be ap-
pointed. 1t has been suggested by
some Of the leaders of the tribe that
congress be requested to re-establish
tribal elections. but the majority of
those In charge OF the convention
movement object TO this plan on the
grounds that it might mean a longer
continuation Of the tribal government \
and consequent postponement Of the
settling up of tribal affairs. If reeog-
niticu is granted at all. It is argued,
the voice Of the convention will be
heard and through the influence of
the Oklahoma delegation I'm congress
the man whom the Choctaws select
will receive the presidents appoint
ment.
To obtain 4 forecast. then. as to
how far the vote of the Durant con-
youfiOu will have cipnfGeaura tho Nc