Table of Contents

When the print is so faded that it cannot be read <.....> will be used . All transcription will be as found in the paper, misspellings and all

Page 6 of the fragments - column 1

The Democratic Club.
      According to announcement made last week a number of Democrats met Monday evening for the purpose of organizing a club. The meeting had been advertised for the Forsythe hall, but later it was discovered that the hall had been rented for a dance, and the meeting was therefore moved to the city hall. Several Democrats failed to learn of this in time to attend, and in view of all the circumstances it was thought best to effect only a temporary organization and adjourn for one week, at the expiration of which time another meeting will be held and a permanent organization made, Accordingly some committees were appointed to look after the matters of by-laws, attendance, place of meeting, etc., and an invitation was authorized to Col. Marcum to be present at the next meeting and deliver an address, ... will be next Monday night. ... meeting will be held at a ... when the moon will be riding ... and it is hoped there will

 A Railroad Bought.
The Frisco Purchases a Portion of the Santa Fe System.
     Caney Patriot: - We are informed that a deal was made last week between the Santa Fe and Frisco roads wherein the Frisco purchased from the Santa Fe the chartered right of the Santa Fe from Caney to Blackwell, Okla., running directly southwest from Caney. The purchase price was $110,000. The Frisco will start from Blackwell and build from their line at Cherryville. The only points designated so far are Caney and Pawhuska, in the Osage country.

 Page 6 of the fragments - bottom of column 3, top is overlapped.

The Democrat costs you nothing - the price of subscription being returned in this issue.

Jno. Privett and wife, of LeRoy, Oklahoma were in Tulsa Monday.

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Relief Promised
Congressman Curtis Talks on Indian Affairs.
      A Washington dispatch to the Kansas City Journal says - "Yes, my attention has been called to the deplorable conditions existing in Indian Territory," said Representative Curtis, of Kansas, "and soon after New Year with Mr. Sherman, of New York, chairman of the committee on Indian affairs, I will hold a conference with the Secretary of the Interior, the Commission on Indian affairs and Mr. Zevely, special inspector of Indian office, who has been investigating conditions down there, and will be ready to report by that time. The bill which I presented last season and which is now law makes ample provision for educational facilities for the people in the towns of the Territory. The town governments are authorized to levy taxes for improvements of all kind and character, especially for schools, and as a large majority of the whites lives in towns, this provision will be sufficient for them. We must now learn what is necessary for the education of the whites on farms. As soon as that is determined efforts will be made to secure legislation, and I anticipate quick relief whenever it is required."

The club will be a source of entertainment during the winter and spring, and you should be a member of it.

Get the price of subscription to this paper this week by clipping the coupon in another place - worth $1.

 Page 7 of the fragments, bottom of column 2

A Winning Hand.
      A very mean man has started the following on a Tulsa couple who were out driving Sunday afternoon: They had come upon a fine stretch of road, "Do you believe in palmistry?" said he - "the reading of one's hand." "I believe," she said, "that if I could see the lines in only one of your hands I could foretell that we have a very pleasant drive," He grasped the lines in one hand and the situation in the other.

New Paper.
      The Eufala Gazette, a neat and newborn paper, full of advertising has found our desk. Makes no less than a dozen new papers started in the Territory within the last three months. It is always cheaper and better to buy an old paper than to establish a new one - and the old ones can always be bought, too. Those who have tried it know something.

Important Decision.
      The Court of Appeals for Indian Territory has affirmed the judgement of the lower court in the case of Maxey, et al, vs. J. George Wright. This case was known as "The Lawyers Case," and, the decision is adverse to the lawyers.

Page 7 of the fragments, bottom of column 3 & 4

Why Trusts Flourish And Prosper
      There is plenty of law to put down the trusts if it were enforced. The gun is loaded and the bear is in sight, but the president shoots in the other direction. Then he shouts for more law, more ammunition. He wants to make the people think that he is in a frenzy to kill the bear, but all the time he winks the other eye, and the bear smiles broadly. It is a beautiful farce, and some of the people, as honest Abe Lincoln said are fooled by it. But not all of them, and for the benefit of the people I will describe the trust law next week.
      Yours for Success,
      H. J. Hanner.
      Catoosa, January 6.

Hank Skidway's Advice.
      We stole this piece from the Ft. Gibson Post. We changed a few words to give it local application, and it is hoped the advice will be heeded. [a poem follows but it has been torn in half and not enough remains to tell what it says]

 Page 8 of the fragments, column 1

Vinita Leader: - Creek cattlemen are leaving the Nation [tear] do better in the Osage and Comanche Nations or in Texas. This means a big loss to Creeks who rent pasture lands and who raise corn for sale.

Phoenix: - The office of Chief Pleasant Porter, in the new Turner block, has been fitted up in comfortable and elegant though simple style, and it is a popular meeting place of those interested in Creek affairs. General Porter is systematizing the records of his office so that hereafter there will no guess work about matters which should be preserved for the Nation. Will Fears has been assisting in the work.

Journal: - The Eufaula cotton gin mill will close up its season's work in a few more weeks. The mill has been turning out the marketable product about two months, finding a ready and stiff market at home and abroad. The cotton seed hulls have bed and are still feeding thousands of heads of cattle in this vicinity. The mill is a success in every particular and under the supervision of Mr. Goldsborough will continue to be a paying investment for its stock holders and Eufaula.

Bartlesville Magnet: - Bartlesville may soon have a minature water works system. A movement is on foot asking the Santa Fe for the privilege of tapping their main pipe for water to the business part of town. If the petition is granted the pipe will be tapped on West Main street and then carried east on Main to the business part of town. The stores will each have a hydrant and thus the old system of carrying water from a neighbor's well will be relegated to the past. The water will be purer than that in most wells for the immense filter at the pump ... will clarify it to a queen's ... <tear> .. water to advantage. This is a right move and should be pushed.

Arrow: - Since the authenticated rolls of the Cherokee Nation have been surrendered to the custody of the Dawes Commission it is now stated positively by the Commission that work will commence today transcribing the names. The field work will begin about the first of April of this year. The commission will set in each of the districts to make the enrollment and ample notice will be given of the dates. It is probable the entire summer will be consumed in this work. L. B. Bell and W. W. Hastings have been appointed to represent the Cherokee Nation before the Commission. J. C. Starr has been appointed stenographer and W. B. Wyley and John Parks will serve as sheriffs.

Wichita Eagle: - Reforms instituted at the payment of the Osage Indians' last payment are said to have a good effect. At annual payment of the Osage Indians at Pawhuska last week, the government refused to pay the annuity to those whose children have not attended school regularly since the last payment. The same rule applies to mixed bloods. The collection of debts outside the Reservation was prohibited during the payment. The annuity was also withheld from showing the least sign of being intoxicated.

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Pardon for Convicts.
      The Cherokee legislature passed an act granting absolute pardon to all Cherokee convicts, the act to take effect immediately if it is approved by President McKinley. The act was passed to enable the Cherokees to release convicts and stop expense in the Nation, which was not provided for in the Curtis bill, and on account of their not being allowed to appropriate money to keep up the institutions, and the United States having no authority over Cherokee convicts, nor power to try them for any act committed in violation of Cherokee law prior to January 1, 1898.

 Supreme Court in Session.
      Phoenix: - The supreme court of Indian Territory is now in session at South McAlester, with all the Territory judges in attendance. By the retirement of Judge Springer the Hon. Wm. H. H. Clayton becomes chief justice. Judge Gill, the new district judge for the Northern district, who qualified Monday last, is on hand and familiarizing himself with his new duties and becoming acquainted with his new associates.

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Tollett Enforces Law.
The Commissioner Gives Law Breakers a Severe Setback.
      Tahlequah Republican: - Commissioner Tollett gave one of Tahlequah's citizens a rather hard setback last Saturday. He was charged with violating the law with reference to selling liquor, and after an investigation the commissioner came to the conclusion that $1,000 would be about right for his bond. Two chargers were lodged against Eli Wilson - one for peddling the "joyful" and the other for appropriating other people's property. The evidence was strong enough to warrent the commission hold him to await the ... next grand jury ... furnish a bond and was therefore committed to jail. Deputy Marshal Payne has been busy of late "rounding up" law violaters. Last Saturday he brought in two brothers by the name of Youngpig who had been peddling "juice" and took them before Commission Tollett who held them for the action of the grand jury in bonds of $500.00 each. They were unable to give bond and of course were taken to Muskogee and lodged in Uncle Sam's boarding house.

Page 9 of the fragments, column 5

... a Chickasaw marriage license and marry a Chickasaw woman, and thereby become an intermarried citizen of the Chickasaw Nation. This bill was passed by the legislature on account of a great many white men who were going into the Indian Country and marrying the Chickasaw girls, many of them with a view to obtaining inter-marriage citizenship and a share in the rich lands of the Chickasaw Nation. Any non-citizen who marries a Chickasaw now, without the required residence of two years can only marry under the laws of Texas, Arkansas, or any other surrounding states, and is entitled to no privileges or rights not given to other citizens. Of course the wife will secure her allotment of land, but the husband will have no such share.

Too Bad.
      Osage Journal: - Tulsa is mighty afraid that Sapulpa will get that court. Tulsa will have to look pretty close to her interests. If Sapulpa gets the court and Dawson the extension of the Bartlesville road, Tulsa will be made a flag station sooner or later.

Page 10 of the fragments, column 1

Vinita Leader: - Creek cattlemen are leaving the Nation ... and the Secretary of the Interior as to work of the Commission for the coming year.

Capital: - Delegate Flynn, of Oklahoma, has a bill providing for the opening to settlement of the strip known as the "neutral strip" which contains about 2,700 acres of fine land. Mr. Flynn also wants the Comanche, Kiowa and Arapahoe tribes to open their reservations to settlement.

Tahlequah Republican: - When you see a dandy appearing chap walking down the street with a college strut and a far away look in his eye, you must tip your hat and give him the road, for very likely he is a new Federal appointee that has come to fill a position that rightfully belongs to some citizen of the country.

Chandler News: - Miss Bessie Barnes, daughter of the governor, and Carl Havighorst, teller of the Guthrie National bank, eloped and were married in Oklahoma City last Saturday morning. It is said that the parents of the bride had planned a more ambitious marriage for their daughter, but when they learned what had happened they telegraphed their forgiveness and blessings.

An Ardmore dispatch of the 2nd says: - The agricultural land leases which expired yesterday will be the cause of the filing of many suits this week in the United States court. Citizens will sue for possession of their lands held by lease holders. The suits will be fought on the ground that their renters have made valuable improvements, and they also allege former contracts. The Curtis bill interferes with all these contracts, wherein it provides that all leases are void after January 1.

South McAlester Capital: - Judge Gill, himself an outsider man, on coming to enter upon his duties brought his clerk and three commissioners with him. This is imperialism. There is plenty of good commissioner timber in the Territory standing around going to waste, yet Judge Gill imports these important functionaries. He is under no obligations to those who reside in this Territory. Such is politics. Perhaps some of our boys will get a small job in the Philippines.

Page 10 of the fragments, column 2

... the swift current overturned his wagon, in which were his wife and three children. In attempting to rescue his family he found that it was impossible for him to save is wife, so he turned his attention to his children, whom he succeeded in saving. When the sad news of the drowning of his wife was made known to his mother the shock was so great that she swooned and fell and expired in a few minutes.

Page 10 of the fragments, column 3

A Claremore special to the St. Louis Republican has the following to say about this case: - Robert Crone, a stockman, who was shot Friday at Nowata, I. T., presents a remarkable case in the annuals of surgery. A 44-caliber ball entered his right temple and came out of his forehead on the other side of his head. About a half teacuplful of his brains came out, and his skull was trephined about four inches to better clean out the ragged wound, yet he has not once lost consciousness, and is doing well and will apparently recover. When shot he fell from his horse and immediately got up and caught the animal. He is perfectly rational, and told his attorney where he had hidden his own shotgun, a short distance from the scene of the shooting. He gets up from bed and walks around when he feels like it, and talks as if nothing had happened. He apparently doesn't feel the loss of a half cupful of brains. He is under the care of a local physician.

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Another Chance to Get Warm.
Indian Agent Does Not Think Cutting of Wood A Violation.
A Policeman Was Called Down.
An Incipient Trust Sat Upon - Bristow Man Gets a Ruling - Covers Quail Shooting Also.
      From the Bristow Record: - Bristow has been upon the verge of a wood trust for the past few days. Two or three persons who were on the inside thought they had a monopoly of the wood business in sight. Edmund Harry, the Indian policeman, had been led to believe it was part of his duty to prevent the cutting and sale of wood for fuel, but Mr. Purdy believed differently and wrote to Indian Agent Shoenfelt about the matter. The following reply was received:
      Muskogee. I. T. Dec. 30. - A. H. Purdy, Sir: - Referring to your communication of the 26th inst., transmitted to this office by J. George Wright, United States Indian Inspector, I have to say that I have this day advised Policeman Harry that he should not interfer with parties who are hauling stove wood into Bristow and selling the same, as this office recognizes the necessity of the inhabitants of Bristow to be supplied with wood for their stoves and do not desire to annoy them, especially when the wood is cut from down timber.
      It is not considered a violation of the law for parties to shoot quail and small game for subsistence only, and I have also written Policeman Harry to cease interfering with hunters who kill game of this kind. - J. B. Shornfelt, U. S. Indian Agent.

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Resolutions.
      Whereas out little friend, Doughdie Mitchel, was a faithful scholar of our Sunday School, always evincing a great deal of interest, for a child of her age, being only 6 years old when our Heavenly Father whom she was always taught to love, took her to join the blessed Sabbath school above where she awaits papa, mama, brothers and sisters to join her and a little brother and sister who preceded her to the mansions of light. Therefore, be it resolved:
      First, in her death our school sustains a loss which is keenly felt;
      Second, that we tender to the bereaved parents, brothers and sisters our heartfelt sympathy in this dark hour of sorrow.
      Third, that we urge every member of our school to be always found at their post of duty, so that when God calls them from time to eternity they may join the company of the redeemed of God and be happy forever; and,
      Fourth, that copies of these resolutions be given for publication, to the Indian Republican, The Tulsa Democrat and the Indian-Okla Methodist.
      Gussie Pruitt; Febie Matthewson; Mettie Gibson; Ada Allen - Committee

The Dollar Coupon can be found nowhere but in The Democrat - subscribe for it.

... yesterday. The Vinita ...byterian church in Bridgeton, New Jersey, and last Sunday in a Presbyterian church in Chicago.
     The proposition of Indian Territory Synod to support me in the Philippines was very gladly accepted by the Board in New York City. The Synod received great praise for its laudable desire to have its own missionary in the Philippines. Two missionaries from our Board are already at work and report a most hopeful outlook. Another missionary is now en route to Hongkong, and I am the fourth. We are now looking for two more.
      I am enjoying A 1 health in spite of the fact that the cold snap in the East was rather more vigorous than a Tulsaite was accustomed to.
      I feel now that I am really on the way to my distant field of labor, as my passage has been secured to Hongkong.
      My thoughts and interests are still with you in Tulsa, and I always expect to have a very deep interest in all that goes on there. - Yours faithfully, Leonard P. Davidson.

Page 14 of the fragments - column 1

Freight Receipts and Shipments
     The receipts and shipments at the Tulsa depot for the past week are as follows:
     RECEIPTS: 1 car emigrant goods
     SHIPMENTS: Wallace & Co., 1 car cattle, car hogs, Sunday night to St. Louis; Lou Appleby 2 cars hogs, Sunday night; Luckey & Perrin, 1 car hog Monday night; Wallace & Co 1 car hogs Thursday night; Wallace & Co 1 car hogs Saturday night; C M Forsythe, 1 car cattle, 1 car hogs, Saturday night.

Page 14 of the fragments - column 4

Our Motto.
     The Democrat has adopted a motto. It will be found under the heading on the title page. The motto is original and has cost us great study and thought to evolve it. Its purpose is twofold. First we wanted something to go by, and secondly we wanted something to hide behind. We expect it to serve as a shield or armorplate protection against the irate subscriber who does not like the reference made to him in the last issue. Then, too, it will protect us when the gentle reader calls with a club in his hand to pound us a few times for what we "writ" about him the day before. When he comes in we can just point to the motto, and with that sweet milk countenance of ours and that bland manner that has characterized us in standing off the grocer, say it was told to us thusly by a man now in California. If this racket will not win we can name some poor man nearer home who is almost dead with the consumption, and whom we can lick if he desires it. Hereafter "We can not tell what the truth may be, but give the story as told me." and if it is not acceptable the offended one can jump on our informant and thrash him.