REDSKIN POLITICIANS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8306, 10 June 1907, Page 7

REDSKIN POLITICIANS.

American telegrams published by the London newspapers describe a ] very pretty political development in the new State of Oklahoma. Following the decision of Congress, delegates from Oklahoma and Indian Territory have met to consider a constitution for the new State which is to include the two territories. The convention met at Guthrie, Indian Territory has fifty-five delegates, Oklahoma fifty-five, and the Osage Nation two. The sensational development was the capture of the convention by the Red Indians. The whit© men. sent their hardened politicians, with cut-and-dried schemes for easy dispatch at the convention according to their desires, anticipating no difficulty in d&aling with the redskins. When the Indians arrived, however, it was found that they were the best types that could have been selectededucated, progressive, and skilled in commerce. They were speedily joined by the two Osage men and a discontented section of the Oklahoma delegates, so that they had no difficulty in obtaining all the important offices at the convention, and in dividing up the counties so that Indian" Territory can secure a majority in the first Legislature. Previously the liquor traffic has been barred in Indian Territory. Now the Indians have resolved that prohibition shall be part of the new .constitution for the whole State, much to the chagrin of the white brewers of Oklahoma. The most difficult question to be considered was the race qvWstion, and it i 9 a little instructive to find the Red Indians bitterly *'&§tenting suggestions that the negroes should be on an equality with them. An attempt was made include "Jim Crow" clauses in? the constitution, but this, of was contrary to I the Federal constitution, and could : not be permitted. It is certain, how- ; ever, that the Indians and the Democrats will combine at the first elec- ! tions for the State Legislature, and that the restrictions upon the negroes will be enacted as statutes. There was a time when the Creek Indians and the negroes intermarried, but nowadays the Indians are aristocrats. Moreover, they are red and the negroes are black, and they have learned to draw the colour line.