274

Carlisle, Pa., May 7, 1901.

Hon. W. A. Jones,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
C/O Indian Warehouse,
77 & 79 Wooster St.,
New York.

My dear Mr. Commissioner :-

The enclosed letter is from Sam Sixkiller, a Creek Indian whose father many years ago was a chief of police among the Creeks and a terror to evil doers. In executing his duty in the old times when thieves and murders were abundant, he killed several of the most noted rascals that ever burdened any community. "The rascals finally made a combine, found he was in Ocmulgee, I think, and came into the town in considerable numbers and began shooting at him right in the street. He fought bravely, but was killed. That was some twenty years ago, and he was known as "Sixkiller". On the urgency of a friend of mine, Mr. Robb, then living at Ocmulgee, and a full statement of the facts, and the consent of the Department I accepted of Sam as a student here. He was then a small boy. He passed through the school and returned home. I have kept track of him and have been pleased to know he has made a manly effort to maintain his character and standing in the world. I cannot of course say whether he has the requisite qualities for the place he seeks, but if he has I am sure there will be no mistake in giving him the appointment he is working for.

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NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OR REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF
THE YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

279

Carlisle, Pa., May 7, 1901.

Mr. Levant. L. Mason,

Jamestown, N. Y.

My dear Levant:-

I am dreadfully sorry to say that it will be impossible
for me to go with you to Canada. You know I wrote you that Mr. Stan-
ding was to go away the last of this month and I expected to get in
my absence before he went away. He intends to leave on the 27th,
and I expected to take the 10 days from the 14th to the 25th to be
with you on the trip. Mr. Standing was laid up with inflammatory
rheumatism last Friday and it has been a pretty serious matter; his
limbs and joints are swollen and he has suffered a great deal of
pain. The Doctor now informs me that it is not likely that he will
be out for two weeks and it may be much longer. Under the condition
of affairs just now, this practically makes an absence impossible.
I cannot tell you how gravely disappointed I am in this but there
seems now no possibility of reversing it. I have waited several
days hoping that the attack might be temporary and Mr. Standing on
duty.

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282

Carlisle, Pa., May 8, 1901.

Karl T. Thompson,
134 Upper Mountain Ave.,
Montclair, N. J.

Dear Sir :-

Your letter calls for a great deal of information that is not in print. You ask how Indians can become citizens on their reservations. So long as they are on reservations they cannot become citizens, but they can become citizens by removing away from the reservation and declaring their intentions, paying taxes and holding themselves ready to fight for the government as other citizens do. No special form of procedure is required. Our boys here at Carlisle after graduating sometimes remain as employees. When they choose they pay their taxes, vote, and exercise the functions of citizens without opposition from any quarter.

Quite a number of reservations have been divided and land allotted in severalty to the Indians, and the remainder sold. I recall just now the Omahas and Winnebagoes, Nez Perces, Oneidas, Cheyennes and Arapahoes in Oklahoma; the lands of the Kiowas, Comanches and Apaches in Oklahoma are just now being allotted and there is much excitement in that section of the frontier. Thousands of people are waiting to invade the reservation as soon as it is opened, and take up the lands that remain over after allotment. The Indian Territory has been partially divided, and already a territorial government exists over the region comprised in Oklahoma. It is proposed now to include in that territory as soon as the allotments have been made, the

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-2- Karl T. Thompson.

land covered by the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole
reservations, and erecting the whole into a state. There is suffic-
ient population in Oklahoma now to make a state of it but statehood
is delayed in order to include the whole.

The young people graduated at Carlisle are mostly employed by
the government either in the schools as teachers, instructors, disci-
plinarians, etc. or at the agencies as clerks, assistant farmers, and
other subordinate places. Many of those who have not graduated are
also employed thus. Quite a few remain east for higher education.
Upwards of thirty of our young men have gone into the army and navy
in the last two years, being received in regular companies and on
ships the same as white men.

Trusting this will meet your wishes,

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284

Carlisle, Pa., May 8, 1901.

U. S. G. Plank,
Haskell Institute,
Lawrence, Kans.

Dear Sir :-

I am just in receipt of your voucher and letter, and note
what you say about the position of visiting agent. I have to advise
you that there has been no change, and so far as I know there is not
likely to be a change in that position at this school.

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