The Indian Chieftain. (Vinita, Indian Terr.), Vol. 15, No. 38, Ed. 1, Thursday, May 20, 1897 Page: 2 of 4
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Indian Chieftain.
01. BO JTsw Xar Xn Advaaot
rablltheit Thnrtdtr b
Th Chui-taik Pratumito UoxrANY.
H. N. MARKS Miter.
M. E. XILFOKB. Manager.
ViHtTA Ind. Tkii. May 20 1897.
Whatever arrangement is made
relative to townlols it is to bo
hoped that porfcct titles will bo
made so that a salo can bo mado
to a citizen of the United States.
It would certainly bo a pornicious
pioto of folly to tie up to the towns
hy making the tltlo to town prop-
erty inallenablo for any length of
tlmo. Lot tho tltlo to town prop
erty bo absoluto bo a salo may bo
mado to any ono and our towns
will enter upon an era of prosperi-
ty unprccidentcd in this westorn
country.
There aro somo oxtonslvo town-
lot owners in this and othor towns
who ono way and another have
como into possession of hundreds
of lots very few of which ornono
practically speaking lmvo boen
improved as to tho law requires.
In a spirit of all fairness wr sub-
mit that such intorests arc Jing
to bo hard to protect. In fact it
is tho Chorokeo nation that needs
protection and not tho townlot
monopolist. Those lots brought a
very small prlco in tho beginlng
and many of thom havo boon sold
ropoatedly for hundreds and somo
for thousands of dollars each.
Every legitimate efiort should
bo mado to protect tho rights of
thoso who aro in possession of
townlols throughout tbo Ghorokoe
nation having placed tho legal
amount of improvement upon the
eamo. Wo would suggest as an
equitable settlement that ten por
cent of tho present appraised value
of occupied lots bo paid Into the
treasury by tho occupants and
they be glvon doeds for tho same
absoluto and alienablo and that
all unoccupied lots bo resold after
appraisment and the monoy paid
into tho Cherokee treasury accord-
ing to our prosont law which pro-
vides for that disposition of them.
It has boen suggested that a
meeting of tho executive commit-
tee of tho Indian Territory Press
association be called at South Mc-
AliBtor Juno 5 to arrange for tbo
1897 convention. If this proposal
meets approval of most of the
members of tho commiltco the
call will bo issued by the president.
There is a general desire for a
good meeting this year for effec-
tive work. It is not a state sccrot
that members of the association
aro exchanging information every
few days to the benefit oi their
business and it cannot bo doubted
that very much more could bo ac-
complished if tho organization in
cluded overy honorable newspaper
man in the Indian Territory.
The Dawes commissions have
doubtless been able during tho
last fortnight to hear a greater di-
versity of opinion touching Indian
governments in tho tarritory and
moro especially in tbo Cherokee
country than has hitherto been
affordod it. The invitation was
given to all Cherokeo citizens to
come in and be beard and all
classes and conditions if accounts
bo true havo availed themselves
or the privilege. Tho townlot
enthusiast whoso name has sud-
denly become legion was on hand
with a multiplicity of plans ns
also wero the mineral leaBo and
quarry men. Tho fullblood from
the hill country was there to tell
tho commissions that ho resided
in the timborod portion of the
country from choice and had not
been driven back as has bcon so
often asserted and also to state
that ho wanted to bo allowed to
remain right where he is now lo-
cated. After all parties havo been
heard negotiations proper will be-
gin. While tho disposition of town-
lots seems to eclipse overy other
proposition connected with the
pending negotiations with the
Unitod States government there
is another feature of paramount
importance to the masses of Cher-
okeo citizens that has in a measure
boon lost sight of or absorbed by
the prominenco or persistence of
tho persons urging tbo townsito
matter. It is relativo to the limit
that is to bo placed upon the final
alienation of allotments of land
among tho Cherokee cltizons If
the tlmo is not fixed far enough in
the iutuN wbon a sale and transfer
oi the title to allotments can be
nade parents will bo selling the
inheritance of their children to
tin uaoneytd classes of our citizen-
fcip and theso Cborokee children
will b turned oui homeless when
they beoma of legal ago Already
jHHne of the large land holders and
rHcbnaen havo surrounded them-
mIvm with the lazaronl of their
kindred in order that they may
through ttoera coutinuo to hold and
utiliw th VMt tracts of lands now
is thlr hftBM It the agreement
mhmU a system of lone time
I stir tfe moofHli4 will con
NOW A C9XBITI0N NOT A THEORY.
Tho citizens of the Cherokeo na-
tion aro at last brought face to face
with tho problem of allotment of
land tho thing which has boen
talked of and dlscussod pro and
con over since the first organiza-
tion ofthetribo into a civil gov
ernment. Tho idea of common
ownership of land is as old as the
human race. In tho law glvon to
Mosos from Sinia Qod said:
"Tho land is mine and may not
bo sold but shall bo n porpottial
habitation for my peoplo." But
tho greedy graftping Anglo-Saxon
had not then appeared upon tho
scono. So far as we know tho
samo reasons for forcing allotment
upon a nation or upon a pooplo
did not exist then. When Abra-
ham and Lot separated on tho
plnltiB of.Moroh tho lattor turned
his oyes to tho oast and the vast
valloy of tho Jordan was spread
out beforo him and to Abraham
was left all that ho could eco to
tho south' and tho north and the
west. So land was plentiful and
overy man had as much as ho
wanted. So It was in tho early
days of this nation; tho land like
tho wator and tbo air and tho bluo
sky over bead was freo as tho sun-
light and no ono monopolized or
attomplod to monopolize it.
But as tbo country became moro
thickly populated and at land
was sold oft from time to titno
pieco-meal and tho country thus
narrowed down it aftor a whllo
becamo simply a question of finan-
cial ability as to how much land
a citizen would occupy. Great
monopolies sprang up; especially
was it so in tho northern and west-
ern portion oi tho Cherokee na-
tion. Tho broad sweeps of fine
prairie grass became an attraction
and an allurement to tho cattleman
from Toxas and tho west. Stock
was poured into this country at a
rato that completely dumfounded
tho Bleepy natives. Tho outlying
domain was quickly licked up and
it was soon discovered that a very
largo portion of our people were iu
a fair way to be left homeless in
their own country whero all wero
supposed to have equal rights.
Tho attention of the government
at Washington was at length called
to tho stato of affairs hero and up-
on Investigation became unwilling
to contiuuo a system so manifestly
unjust to tho poeror classes. So
tho Cherokee nation finds itself to
day in tho nltitudo of being a party
to its own demise. Tho Dawes
commission is here negotiating an
agreement providing for the final
division of tho tribal land.
One of the principal features of
tbo forth-coming agreement will
be tbo allotment of the lands of
the tribo and individual owner-
ship of tho same. Incidental to
and in connection with this comes
tho final abolition of tho Indian
government.
GREAT DANGER MENACES US.
Mattors of strictly local interest
when antagonistic to the welfare of
the public at large have never
found an advocate in The Chief
tain but when the public docs not
have to suffer thero 1b absolutely
nothing too good for Vinita or for
thoso who are investing their mon-
oy with ub and we aro always will-
ing and ready to do battle for such
a caueo. Thero is a danger men-
acing tho lot holders in our town
at the present timo which should
it materialize will damago overy
man woman or child who owns a
dollar's worth of property in or
around the town to an extent that
actually cannot bo estimated. Our
views on the abstract proposition
of the title to townlots in the Cher-
okee nation aro based upon tho
constitution and the laws of the
Cherokee nation and will bear
scrutiny and will stand tho toBt of
investigation by either our govern-
ment or that of tho United Slates
or both jointly. But if tho equi-
ties of the holders to town proper-
ty in Vinita aro not amply pro-
tected by tho agreement that is
about to be made our town has
or will have sustained its death
blow. If townlots in tho town of
Vinita are to be appraised and
sold at their full market value or
half or even one-forth Buch value
the town will never recover from
the effects during tbo lifo timo oi
the youngest child in its borders
at the present timo.
Had no brick blocks nor costly
residences beon built In Vinita
many of its now enterprising citi-
zens and business men and pro-
fessionals would not bo hero.
Had not our moneyed friends in-
vested in the city of Vinita largely
wo would today havo been a strag-
cling way station on the railroad
instead of the thriving bustling
town that we aro with our schools
and churcbos and mills and other
institutions of industry and push
and progress.
The conferenco committeo of
the United States senate and houso
of representatives has at last
agreed to all tho items in tho In-
dian appropriation bill and it now
only remains for the president to
ipa it for it to btcome a law.
AGAINST AN AGREEMENT.
THIS IS TERY CLEARLY THE HtOS-
TECT ATI HIS TIME.
Tbo Fullblood Marin? fio Perception
of the Situation as It Exists Assorts
Himself and Declares Dainty Against
Any Agreement With tho Dawes Com.
mission VTatt Duncan In Command.
TAnLIQOAlI T. T May 18 1897
Ono moro week of discussion of
tho Chorokeo situation rogardlng
negotiations with tho Dawos com-
mission for allotmont olo.rovoa1s
somo very startling developments.
First it roveals tho fact that
tlioro will bo no agrcomonl bo-
twoen tho Chorokeo and Dawes
commission looking to tho break-
ing up of tribal autonomy.
Second it roveals tho fact that
tho fullblood clomont aro horo in
force "dead set against a trado"
and that thoy furthermore "havo
the wrong sow by tho ear" so far
as tho idea of negotiations aro con-
corned. Notwithstanding the fact
that thoy aro horo in great num-
bers they are nevertheless igno-
rant of tho truo situation that con-
fronts them. Imbued with that
old traditional idea that tho full-
blood rules tho dostinies of tho na-
tion tho fullbloods havo asserted
thcmsolvoB as a power in tho Cher-
okeo nation and thoy havo said to
tho koen observer that no negoti-
ations shall procoed at present.
And of course the politicians of
tho Cherokeo nation do not daro
opposo this sentiment because
(according to tho fullblood idea)
there Is an election at hand and
tho fullbloods always bavo and
(they think thoy are as potent as
over) always will namo tho suc-
cessful candidates. Now this idea
runn rampant with tho fullblood
and tho fullblood is here to say
that no agreement may bo ex-
pected until after tho election at
least.
Yesterday was taken up in
specchcs(7). Ridge Pdschal and
Dave Muskrat spoko and tho only
percoptiblo difference between tho
two speeches was that Muskrat
made a regular Bryan "hit" and
Paschal's logic fell as flat as a pan-
cakeon the cars of tho fullbloods
at least. Paschal reminded his
listeners of his own interests and
patriotism and then advised In an
extremoly patriotic strain that tho
Cherokee abdicate from tho throno
of tribal relations and hop in as a
state an independent state of tho
union. Paschal plead his case for
an hour or more and when he con-
cluded not a -single sound of ap-
planso grcotcd him. Tho audience
outeido of tho two commissions
were mostly fullbloods and their
silenco was a sufficient rebuko to
his remarks. John Sharp and
other fullblood leaders looked at
each other and smiled in derision
as much as to say: "Ob what
fools these mortal white men bet"
But Ridgo doesn't claim to be a
whito man and that's whero tho
joke struck him. Ridge thinks he
is one of tho original aborigines
or at least a lineal descendant and
to prove it ho insists on dispensing
with tho wearing of suspenders
and letting his hair grow rather
long. But withal Ridge is on the
right track as little as it may be
appreciated but ho is nevertheless
on tho losing sido of tho present
contemplated negotiations.
Davo Muskrat is tho acknowl-
edged leader of the Flint district
Cherokees. He is a fullblood of
tho fullest blood but ho neverthe-
less is a leader of bis people. Ho
is what wo might denominate as
ono of tho sensible ignorant full-
bloods. He is sensible naturally
and traditionally but he is not
"up-to-dato." lid said in his
speech ho had "been deceived by
tbo delegates to Washington" as to
the situation as it was now repre-
sented to him and he would nover
submit to tho tyranny proposed.
He Bald he would dio as his fore
fathers had died before him cro ho
would submit to the propositions
of the Dawes commission to break
up the traditions and common gov-
ernment he had been raised to lovo
and defend. Those who know him
say Davo Muskrat is tho leading
fullblood of Flint district. He will
name tho representatives from that
district to the next national coun-
cil and as a natural consequonco
his power is felt arid feared. His
speech surprised tho Dawes com-
mission and tho majority of tbo
people of Tahlcquah but it did not
surprise to a few who have mado a
close study of tho ideas and senti-
ments of the fullbloods of tbe"tim-
bered districts" and tho peculiar
adherence to thoso who aro next to
the public crib. Tho "limbered
districts" means a majority of tho
Cherokeo voters. Thoy comprise
Tahlcquah Salino Flint Illinois
Goingsnake northern half of Se-
quoyah and (he southern part of
Delaware The districts that scorn
to favor a trade as oxpressod by
publio sentlraont as interpreted
here aro Cooweescooweo Cana-
dian northern part of Delaware
and southern part of Sequoyah
Now that is (ho way the fullblood
J and bla "official" friend has got
ratoana
tho thing fixed up. And on thoso
linos it may bo depondud upon
that negotiations will bo defeated.
V
Thoso members of tho Cherokeo
commission who havo entertained
a hope of bringing about an agree-
ment whoreby tho dire disasters
of congressional compulsion might
bo avortod are discouraged. C.V.
Rogers told tho writor this ove-
ning that for tho first timo ho no
longer hoped for a trado. Tho
fullbloods aro in the saddle and
tlioro seems no prospect of unhors-
ing them with Watt Duncan and
Wm Eubnnks tho commission's
interpreter as their leaders. And
Duncan and Eubnnks aro tho ho-
roee of tho present crisis so far as
tho fullblood and tho Chorokoo office-holders
aro concerned. Thoir
patriotio "talks" aro wlnkod At by
tho vampires and condoned by
thoso who hopo to get moro than
thoir sharo of tho invested fund.
V
But withal when tho real senti-
ment nf tho people of tho district
is fathomed asido from tho aspir-
ants for offico in tho August oloc-
lion it is absolutely with Rogers
Ross and Bushyhead who aro in
favor of doing something. Tho
citizen merchants want a change
and as a gonoral thing thoy are
outspoken and freo in tho expres-
sion of their preferonco. Tho com-
raon citizen is also in favor of a
chango. Ho sees tho investod fund
going faster and faster as tho days
go by and ho desires to havo tho
extravagance and official robbory
arrosted in ordor that ho may
get his cquitablo shore. Tho com-
mon citizon wants statehood from
tho very start and ho wants tho
Cherokeo commission to ncgotiato
for it now. But tho Chorokoo
commission will do nothing of tho
kind. This fact may bo stated
definitely.
The pllgrimago to Tahlcquah
of tho "special interest" citizens
still continues and tho patienco of
both commissions seems raarvol-
lous. Everybody who has any-
thing to say now has tho opportun-
ity and now is the time to object
or hereafter all must hold their
peace. It has however trans
pired that this country is not half
big enough to satisfy all the differ-
ent interests and tho townsites
moro especially aro proving far
too small.
The Fairland Bee is crowding
tho Checotah Enqulrorquito close-
ly for first placo as the prettiest
little paper in tho Indian Terri-
tory. Purcell Register.
Thero aro a largo number of
nicely printed and creditably edit
ed nowspapers in tho Indian Ter-
ritory now. In comparison with
a low years ago thero has beon a
marked improvement. But thero
is still room for further advance-
ment. There is an element of
power in a united and intolligont
prcsB that is irresistible but that
power should never bo used to ad-
vance any scheme that has in it tho
elements of wrong or a tendency
to evil.
In tho town of Vinita thero are
six hundred and twenty-Bbven lots.
All have been sold by tbo town
commissioners and tho prices
range from two dollars up to 8330.-
00. Tho lot upon which tho Cobb
hotel stands was tho highest priced
one and was purchaeed in tho fall
ol 1871 by Johnson Thompson.
The whole of block -18 consisting
of eight lots 100 by 200 feet was
purchased by J. 0. Hall for $29
or less than 81 per lot. As late as
1870 whole blocks sold for less
than 850 and ;at that timo na-
tional certificates wore selling for
twenty-fivo cents on tho dollar.
Aftor 1P33 lots in Vinita gradually
came up till when the last lots
were sold in tbo summer of 1891
pretty stiff prices wero paid.
Comparatively few of tho lots have
changed hands sinco the original
purchase A few days ago a resi-
dence lot sold for 82250 cash
that was purchased from tbo Cher-
okeo nation in 1872 for 820. Givo
the occupants of those lots abso-
luto titles to them and within five
yoars thoy will sell for more per
squaro foot than was tho original
prico paid to tho nation for an en-
tiro lot.
Stock Tax or I'ermit Men.
A Bubscrlbor desires to know the
law rotating to tax on stock held
by porsons under permit. Section
581 page 294 of the 1892 complla-
tlon of the Cherokee laws reads:
"All persons residing in tho
Cherokeo nation under permit
shall bo requirod to pay one dollar
I
lor head monthly on all
lorses held upon tho publio do-
main. Provided that thero shall
bo exempt from taxation for the
use and benefit of the above named
persons five head of milk cows a
reasonable number of mules or
work horses and oxen and such a
number of hogs as they may keep
within an inclosuro." (December
8 1881.; Provided that the In-
crease of work horses shall be ox-
ompt from taxation until ..such
Increase is threo yoars old (De-
cember 81 1890.)
The lands of tho Chorokeo na-
tion shall remain common proper-
ty until the national council snail
request tho survey and allotment
of tho samo. Cherokee Constltu
tlon.
A HALT BUOQBSTBD.
Foars That Tho Hnllroada Will
Boouro Thoir Ooveted Grant.
Editor Chieftain: Thero has
beon a continuous series of efforts
moving on part of theso railroad
companios over sinco their charters
woro granted in 1860 to porfect
thoir title to tho land covorod In
tho grant by boating the Indians.
Tho oncroaulimonts by which theso
corporatluns havo pushed them-
selves upon theso Indian people
and trampled their rights undor
foot is bo high handed and cgrogi--ous
that it 1b difficult for an honest
mind to think of it without foot-
ings of roBentraont. Of course tho
railroads worofrom tho beginning
a necessity; but to plant thom in
this country it was not necessary
to rob and oppress tho people who
lived thoro. As it is thoy consti-
tute a glorious stop forward in tho
progress of civilization mado
through tho filthy ovonues of groed
and fraud.
Whon this railroad agitation be-
gan in I860 the tltlo and owner-
ship of thoso lands as is vory well
known wero abiding in tho Chero-
kees; (by theso terms wo mean the
mon women and childrot. who
composo the Chorokoo trlbo of In-
dians ) In 18G0 congress by tho
influence of capital and tiio man-
agement of poworful lobbies watt
induced to promlso thoso compa-
nios that just as soon as tho title of
tho Indians should becomo extinct
they should have ovory nltornato
section of land within a strip ol
territory twenty miles wido run-
ning through tho ontiro length of
tho Chorokoo country. Now thoro
was nothing wrong in all this so
far: for thoro is nothing moro fa-
miliar in history than tho extinc-
tion of an Indian trlbo dying out
undor tho crushing heel of civiliza-
tion. Congross might vory reas-
onably look forward to a timo in
the no distant futuro when thero
would be no Indian to own theso
lands. Moroovor it is agreed in
tho troatles between theso Indians
and tho United States that when
tho former censed to bo the own-
ors of theso lands thoy should then
becomo tho property of tho latter;
that is to say they should becomo
tho publio lands of tho United
States to bo disposed of as othor
federal domain. Now thero was
nothing wrong in all this so far.
But hero comes tho tug and tus-
sle: Tho Cherokeos wero a Hu-
morous and poworful tribo; thoy
woro evincing a wonderful degrco
of vitality. Indeed as a peoplo
thoy woro bidding fair to prove in
tho long run quito as unextin-
guishablo as the Jews themselves.
Moro than that it came to bo re-
garded by whites negroes and all
other races both an honor anu a
privilege to becomo Cherokeos;
and thousands who bad not a drop
of Cherokee blood in.their voins
woro rapidly coming to bo recog-
nized in law as veritable Chero-
kees. Under such circumstances
these corporations of course saw
that their chances for succeeding
over to the estate thus conditional-
ly granted were hopeless; and
their cupidity might in an indefi-
nite flow of years chafo itself to
death unrequited. To relievo the
situation a flank movement had to
be mado.
The Cherokees had unfortunato-
ly abandoned their ancient tribal
form of government and had or-
ganized themselvoB into a consti-
tutional body politic modeled af-
ter tbo government of tho United
States. It was obvious however
that this must needs bo quito an
ephemeral affair. All tho forces
of civllntlon might be easily mar-
shaled against its existenco for
any creat length of timo. Iicnco
if the so-called Indian tltlo to theso
lands wero only vosted in this
body politic a beautiful vista
would be at once opened up into
tho futuro that would enable tbeso
corporations to seo vory clearly
tho timo when thoy would have
tho chanco to lay their hands actu-
ally upon the coveted prize.
Ilenco a big and earnest work was
inaugurated by tbeso corporations
the purpose of which was tosocuro
tho transfer of this Indian title
from the Cherokeo people and in-
vest it in this Ichb enduring crea-
ture called tho Chorokeo nation
tliis feeble frail and dying body
politic. To aid thom in this work
they enlisted many poworful forces
both in congress and out of con-
gress. Long and tough was tho
struggle 1800 to 1890. At length
tho supremo court of the United
States in its lato decision of the
freodmen's case was inducod to
admit that tho desires of theso
corporations were right. The lan-
guage of the court in that caso is
this: Although the tltlo of these
Chorokeo lands was originally
and was understood to bo both by
the Indians themselvoB and tho
United btate. in tho peoplo com-
posing tho Cnorokeo tribe never-
theless when they organized
themsolves into a constitutional
body politic this same title some-
how slipped out of tho pooplo and
crept into this body politic and
permanently invested itself there.
It Ib not our purpose horo to crit-
icise the common setiso of this
dictum; it Ib our aim simply to
show what an accommodating
thing it is for tho convenience of
these corporations
Now in view of what has bcon
said let us seo what'is tho situa-
tion. 1. We tho Cherokeo peoplo
havo agreed that whon we cease to
own this land it shall becomo tho
properly oi the United mates.
2. The Bupromo court of the
United States has held that tho
titlo of this land is not in tho Chor-
okeo peoplo but in tho Chorokeo
government.
3. Under this decision there
is nothing to provont this title from
vesting at once in tho Unitod
States but the slnglo fact that it
is detainod in tho Cherokeo gov-
ernment by virtue of this decision
4. But tho United States has
already conveyed by charter ev-
ery alternate section of these land'
to tho railroad corporation tho
grant to tako eflect as soon as the
Indian title is extinct.
5 Now at this degreo of con-
summation in the general scheme
hero coiros tho Dawes commission
and by them wo aro asked to con-
sent to an annihilation of our body
politic tho only and lost sofoguard
left for our titlo to theso lands.
Now in tho midst of this Btato
of factB lot us supposo a case; Bup-
poso wo accodo to tho ovorturos of
the Dawes commission and today
abolish our Chorokeo nation: let
thoro bo no moro a Chorokoo body
politic; what thon? Why all our
Chorokeo publio domain would at
onco becomo by virtue of our own
agreement tho mibllo lands of tho
United States government. Thero
would not bo a slnglo Chorokeo on
earth owning an Inch of soil in his
own right. Tho only way ho could
Bave his homo would bo by a grant
from the Unitod States which is
tho legal ownor. Moreover tho
title of tho railroad company to
tho altornata soctiona within thoir
grant would bo comploto; it would
take this slmplo Bhapo to-wtt: A
grant by tho United States of
Unitod States publio lands to tho
railroad corporation; a tltlo which
would bo unquoetionablo.
You seo whero wo aro going to;
is it not timo to call a halt?
D. W. 0. Duncan.
Action of tho lteprescntfttlTCS.
Tho preliminary conferonco hold
at Tnhlenuah bv roDreBentatlvcB
of tho Chorokeo Creek and 8eml-
nolo tribes prior to the meeting of
the Dawes commission adoptod
tlio following special report.
"To tho Commissions of tho
Crcok and Chorokoo nations in
conferenco. Gentlemen: Your
committeo to whom was roferred
certain inquiries respoctlully re-
port in regard to tho first that:
"Tho bill in congross is design-
ed if it becomes n law to forco
tho Gvo tribes of tho Indian Tor-
ritorv. or at loast thoso who hesi
tate in coming to terms with tho
DawcB commission to negotiate
within a few months or loso tho
main element of their nationality.
In this bill if it should pass tho
United States has plainly discov
ered to tho Cherokeo and Creeks
tho changes desired by tbo United
Status to bo mado in government
and land titlo. Not only so but it
is clear that tho chango in our
manner of holding land is moro
desired by the United States than
to abolish our governments; for
tho bill roforrcd to provides in so
many words that if a satisfactory
agrecmont is mado beforo January
1893 with tho United States that
provisions of tho act will bo can-
celled so far as it may conflict
with tho agreement. Othorwlso
our local tribual jurisdiction will
be practically extinguished thence-
forward and forover.
"In regard to tho second and
third inquiries entrusted to your
committeo it is tho opinion that
tho common interests of the (Wo
tribes of this territory wero well
understood indicated and design-
ed to bo defended by the confer-
onco of tho commissions at South
McAlestor Inst November. Your
committee think that the views
expressed in tho resolutions then
and thero adopted wore sound
cquitablo and practical at that
timo and continuo to bo so; and
that allowing for tho variations in
tho applications of tho principles
stated in thoso resolutions as tbo
circumstances of any particular
tribo may render noceseary thoso
principles should bo adhered to
by tho Crooks Seminoles and
Cherokees when they shall como
to make tho agreements demanded
by the United States. Respect-
fully W. A. Duncan chairman;
P. Portor C. V. Rogers Wm. Al-
oxander committee.
What Thij Are Hero For.
Tho townBitors nro hero this
week in Great numbers. They
came in droves from Vinlla Claro-
moro Pryor Creok and other
places and thoy camo on business
too. Thoy havo vast interests at
stake and they aro here to look
after thoso interests boforo tho
Dawes and Chorokeo commissions.
Thoy aro horo to oxplain to theso
commissions why their town lota
should bo exempt from allotment
in tho final winu-up and why they
should bo given deeds for thoir
numerous holdings which thoy
purchased in good inith from the
Chnrokoo nation. Thoy havo been
oxplaining theso things to tho
commissions in joint session and
on tho streets lor tho pant fow
days. Thoy have been working
up fiontimont in their favor and in
so doing havo also aroused no lit-
tle opposition among tho cllizons
who havo hut ono lot or no lot at
all. Tho opposing forces 'say
there is as much monopoly in town
lots in tho Cherokeo nation as
thoro is in lands. They also say
it would be unjust to the nvcrago
citizen when tbo lands are divided
to exempt tho townsites and leavo
nearly all tho lots in possession of
a fow individuals. As an cxamplo
of tho monopoly that now exists
in town lots thoy refer you to the
following named Cherokeo citizens
and tbo total number of town lots
they own as shown by tho records
in tho executivo oflico:
V. E. Halsell 300
h. V. Uuffington 215
0. M. McClellan 180
V. T. Whltakor 108
W. 0. Patten 88
J. 0. Hall 80
0. W.Poole 07
And thero are others who do not
own quito so many' yet a groat
deal moro than their sharo if town
lots aro to be considered common
proporty in tho division that is
proposed.
We havo boon hearing a groat
deal during tho last few years
about the monopoly of tho publio
domain by a few Individuals. In-
deed the monopoly of lands has
no doubt been ono of tho prlmo
factors in hurrying on allotment
but this is tho first wo have heard
of tho monopoly of town lots. It
Is ovldent howover that such a
monopoly exists and although we
may nor proporly understand tho
mattor it eoems to us that to al-
low a fow individuals to own all
tho town lots would bo just as un-
fair to tho common pooplo as to
allow tho Individuals who have
Improved vast tracts of farming
land to retain all of it because he
ha; expended large sums of monoy
in t.r'ting it in cultivation.
TL re may bo a difference In
the monopoly of town lots and tho
monopoly of farming land but wo
can soo nd difference. It is all
common property according to
tho constitution and laws of tho
Chorokeo nation. At least that
was tho way it wob construod
when A. J. Blackwoll laid off tho
town of David and commoncod Boil-
ing lots.
This town lot question is a very
knotty one at least nnd it is tho
Important duty of tho Dawes and
Chorokoo commissions to setllo it
with justice to tho common citizon
as woll as tho lownsitor. Hawk-
oyo. RED
ROUGH
HANDS
Itching eatjr blading ptlms shljxlcM Dtlll
aod palatal Ongtr cadi plmpltf blexhtd
oily aolhj (kin dry thin and filling hair Itch-
log.icmljr rcalpf. all jl.ld qaleklyto warm bath
with Cuticciu Boar ud gtntla anointing
with Odticciu (ointment) tha great ikln car.
(uticura
IfMl4tt.Knlbetav0TU. romiDBvaxroCsttf
Coir. ftoterrer.
Coir. fMfl Fret 11
eon nun uuu- in .
ITCH1HQ HUMORS 'tiSSUSSLi?
John T. Qunter
Conducts a
General Livery Stable.
llo lias tho best rigs in tbo Cher
okco Nation and bis prices are rens
onablo always. Careful attention to
boarding horses.
I'tuntgrafkr by Bcnn
Pitman and Jerome D.
Howard. A perfect self-
Irutructor. Over 300000
told. Sold by all book-
tellers or we will tend it
by mall with the Fhmt-
grafAle XtjJrr and the
for Jt.35 cloth or St. 15. boardi.
THE DENN PITMAN SYSTEM
his for 43 years been the standard. Called
by the U.S. Bureau of Education "The Amer-
ican System." First prite World Fair. Full
Information and complete catalogue free.
THE PHONOGRAPHIC INSTITUTE CO.
CINCINNATI OHIO.
Mammoth Bred
Black Jaoka
It tola hands high) ex-
tra fluo; lro registered
XI American Jnclc Stud
Hook. Terms! choice of
8 lu-ad now Dl for eervlco
V.ix duo when colt Is
foaled or mare trans-
ferred or removed.
Also four Ilnmblctonliin stallions. Choice
of 3(Vtcacli thuothcr f 10; snmu torrov Pas-
ture for all marcs left for brcudlng at roas-
ouablo rates. D. S. WARRBff.
oprtm.
7 miles southeast ot Vlnllu. 1
.T0WmTEl
ShomhakdiI
K
BRIGHTEN UP YOUR HOME....
..With a Fow
-DF'TTDEl.II'TXJaFUES!eoe-esj t n
W. W. MILLER
A Car Load Just Unpacked
....From Which
Goods and Prices Will Suit.
Screen Doors Windows and Fishing Tackle
Ouye Baody
President.
J. a
First
vrrsriT-A.
CAPITAL AND SURPLUS $94000.00.
Your Business Solioited.
SXXlEOXORBs
B.S.Cobb Oliver Bogby
is. Kalclill M. E.
J. O. Hall W. E. Halsell
CASH WANTED
FOB.
Q
W
H
Z
Hardware
Stoves Tinware
Spring Goods
Farm Implements.
Furniture Beds
Wagons Built
at
Housekeepers'
E
Good Goods Not at Cost
But Goods Cheap for Cash.
D. 5. Currjrrjips Adair I. T.
Show a Full Line of Coffins Caskets & Trimmings.
ntmyMT&H;
mwifo
HUT lotUlHSBm. 1M(
"55SE
He Is Curing Some of the
Worst Chronic
Diseases..
OFFICE CROWDED
EAOH VISIT
Dr. J. D. H&pby
The Ernln?nt Specialist.
IJIi next visit to Vlnltb.
Tuesday Juno l'97
At Cobb Hotel one day only returning erery
Fonr Weeks.
if yon infer Iron dlsesse yon want the best
treatment that can be procured. Justice to
yourself demands that yon should consult the
leading most skillful most experienced
most successful specialist In the United
States.
Dr. Hinbr has no snuerlor In dlsinoslnx
dlsetse. He will give you 50.W If he cannot
tell your dlsesse and where located In lire
minutes. Uemember thlr. Doctor only accepts
curable diseases. If he ctnnnt cure you he
will tell yon so. Consnltstlon end examlna
tlon Ires. Omce days Krlilsjs Saturdays and.
Sundaye or earn week urace locstea orer
Ft. Smith National Honk UOce boursi tto
13 a m.2lo5p m. Sundays 10 toll a.m.
I treat all cnrable. medical and surgical dls.
eases scuta and chronlo catarrh diseases of
the ere ear nose throst and lungs dyspep
sla might's disease dlabells kidney liter
Mulder chronlo female and sexual dlseeste.
stomach and bowel troubles rheumatism
aenrslgla sciatica dimness nervousness.
Indigestion obesity. Interrupted nutrition
slow growth In children and wasting dlssasss
In adults. Many cases of deafness ringing In
the strs loss of eyesight cataract crosseies
etc.. that have been Improperly treated ot
neglected can be easily restored. Deformi-
ties clnb feet curvature of the spine diseases
of the brain heart disease dropsy swelling
of the limbs etc. properly treatod. niood
and akin dlsesses eczema varicose veins
varicocele stricture open sores pain In the
bones glanular enlargement and all acute
and longstanding diseases. Dr Hanby de-
votes special Interest to the removal of can
eers. tnmors. mo.es warts wens birthmarks
granulated sore eyts. facial blotches red
nose pimples and superfluous hslr on race
or neck.
xriLirsronriTSCcntD rosiTivxiiVAniKTia.
I'lles. flslnle and rectal diseases tiromptly
enred withont cutting. Young and middle
axed men suffering from Inipslred vitality per-
manently restored to normal condition Won
derfnl cures effected through correspondence.
Write for question blank enclosing stamp to
Insure reply- Consultation examlnatlen and
opinion In every ease given free. All corrss
pondenee answered promptly. All business
strictly confidential. Address
Dr. Hanby Ft. Smith. Ark.
Livery Feed Sale 'Bus
...And Transfer Stable...
COUCH & RAINES
Proprlotora.
'Ilus and bagftsge orders left at Cobb or Green
hotels
111 rrceive prompt attention.
hEic.Ucq. Rigs at Reisoqable RaUs.c-
Wanted An Idea
Who f An think
of doom itmpto
thine to pu?nt?
rrott Toor l1J (! n7 bring you wvslUi
Ififrv WMbtnrton. I. O-. for thWr liSU prli oiler
w liat 01 on ihonitod !uTntlon wanted.
writ JUiin wftunKiiuuun iu.. I'tieni Alter
Plocos of Now....
t so
to Make Your Selection.
T
L'VkVvVlt4
IUll n. 0. Cook
vlce-Prcsldent. Cashier.
National Bank
nsrr. ter.
B. P. Fortner Q.W.Beck
Milford W. A. Graham
E. B. Fraysor H. 0. Cook
9
z
Wagon Material
Iron and Steel
Farm Wagons
Paints and Oils
Spring Mattresses.
to Order.
Outfits a Specialty.
AUoliUif iim
Af&udbM InJ UeoA
JKelUt. rioi iV.niaul on t&rtb.
iMIUtsun Kfld EmrLUh la Tiu.
jylUb la TfiM. lienU ot Kj
tookf nnd rontl UrJ (IUt WmUcU) eoA itu
uni41Mtth .!
ww puiKuwi who wofuif ftu omm ).-.
imnm r nrra w aMUfMcoa.
rvwmr
A l
1
i
I WSjWUP
m Mwf
-MnMRb.
T
id
""' 'Mi i..m)Mmn m& m?m.vmi$ikiiiiti.
' n i
I
fJl(W-
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L.
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Marrs, D. M. The Indian Chieftain. (Vinita, Indian Terr.), Vol. 15, No. 38, Ed. 1, Thursday, May 20, 1897, newspaper, May 20, 1897; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc71490/m1/2/?q=War+of+the+Rebellion.: accessed June 21, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.