’I’he Commission, 1889-1893 Berlin E. Chapman The Cherokee Commission was the most important com- mission in the federal management and disposition of the lands of Oklahoma Terri!ory. From May, 1890, to the dis- solution of the commission on November 7, 3893, that body made eleven agreements with Indians for dissolution of reservations in the Territory, all of which agreements were approved by Congress and incorporated in the United States Statzctes at Lccr.clc. The agreements involved more than fif- teen million acres and wer\e all negotiated on the part of the United States by David H. Jerome of , Warren G. Sayre of , and Alfred M. Wilson of . Going behind the political scenes, we find that seven othei men, all Republicans, were appointed to serve on the com- missim, two others were asked to serve, and several hopeful applicants of both political parties were not appointed. Section fourteen 01 the Indian appropriation act of March 2, 1889, provided for the appointmmt of the Cherokee Commission to negotiate with the Cherokee and with other Indians owning or claiming lands lying west of the ninety- sixth degree of longitude in the for the cession to the United States of all their titles, claim, or interest of every kind or character in and to said lands. For this purpose the President was “authcri;:ed to appoint three commissioners, not more than two of whom shall be members of the same political party.”’ In other wolds, the commission should consist of two Itepublicans and one Democrat. For the first time in eight years the Republicans controlled both branches of Congress. Strangely enough, Alfred M. \Yilson, Democratic mem- ber of the commission, was the only person to serve through- out the entire life of that body. It appears that the most potent factor in his securing the ;Ippointment was the follow iiig letter which Representative Samuel W. Pe’d of Arkansas addressed to the Secretary of the Interior, March 21, 1889: In connection with the application of the Hon. Alfred &I.Wilson for place on Cherokee Commission, I desire to say that he is one of the first men of the State, is a man of acknowledged ability and un-

1 United States Statutes at Lavge, XXV, 1005. Questioned ability and unquestioned integrity, resides at Fayetteville, Ark., in 25 miles of Cherokee Territory and has resided there for over 40 years. \Vas District Atty for \\’estern District of Ark. for many years and knows much of these Indian people. Many of the most prominent mere educated at the Home Town of Mr. U’ilson and know him well. Amongst the prominent Indians of the Cherokees educated there are the Boudinotts [sic], ROSSS,Ridges, Adairs and Bells. There is no man within my knowledge equal to Mr. Wilson for this particular duty, bcii:g a good lawyer, fine judge of such property, and familiar with the various treaties with these people, peculiarly fits him for this place. Besides all this Mr. Secretary, as Chairman of the House Committee on Indian Affairs I drafted and placed this Commission on Indian appropriation bill, which was amend- cd in the Senate, and in conferences it was mutually understood be- tween conferees of both Houses that Senator Jones and myself at least ought to be allowed t3 name the Democratic member of the Commission and we then made it known that Hon. Alfred M. Wilson was the name we would pyesent. This considered with Mr. \Vilson’s high character and superior qualifications, I must respectfully and earnest[ly] ask his appointment.2 Wilson filed no personal application For the appointment, but during the fortnight before three appointments for th. commission were made on March 28, his supporters pre- sented rather. a formidable front. The following letter was signed by Senators James K. Jones and James H. Eerry of Arkansas,‘ and Peel and addressed to the President on March 14 : ‘LForthe democratic member of the Commission. . . .we beg to rlecommend the Hon. A. M. Wilson of Fayetteville, Ark. Mr. Wilson is a man of age and experieme, once being U. S. Dist. Atty. fov Western District of Ark. Knows much of Cherokee people. lIis ability, integrity and good moral character is first class.” About March 20, the iollowing sentence, in the handwriting of Jones, was addressed to the President: “We respectfully yequest the appointment o€ Hon. A. M. Wilson of Arkansas to be a member of the Corn., lo negotiatcl with the Cherokees for the sale of the .” Appended thereto arc the signatures of Jones, Peel, Berry, and Senators, R. L.

2 A Miscellaneous File is in the National Archives, Appointment Division, Department of Interior, in which may be found in alpha- betical order the papers of several persons who were under consideration for membership in the Cherokee Commission. Unless otherwise stated, this file is the source from which material was taken. Letters of cndorsement were usually written on official stationery, apparently in considerable haste. Jones was a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs; Berry a member of the Senate Committee on Public Lands. Gibson of Louisiana, James R. Beck of Kentucky, Charles J. Faulkner of West Virginia, George Gray of Delaware, John S. Earbour of Virginia, W. E. Eate of Tennessee, and D. \$‘. Voorhees of Indiana, all Ilemocrats. On March 22, Poinclcxtei- Dunn, recently a Representa- tive from Arkansas, wrote to the Secretary of the Interior saying that Wilson had resided all his life in the immediate neighborhood of the Indians and the lands in question, was strictly hon’est, and that the department would be fortunate to secure his services. On the same day Representative Ben- jamin F. Shively, Democrat from Indiana, and Representa- tive E. W. Perkins, Republican from Kansas and chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs, each wrote an endorse- ment for Wilson. Anothw endorsement on that day carried the signatures of W. P. Taulbee’ of Kentucky, and Reprc- sentatives W. S. Holman of Indiana and Eenjamin €utter- worth of Ohio. John F. Erown, “Principal Chief of Seminole Nation and Delegate” and Pleasant Porter, Delegate of Creek Na- tion, wrote a letter from Washington to the Secretary ol‘ the Interior on Mai-ch 24, iwommending Wilson for “the democratic niember” of the commission. Two endorsements for Wilson came from Fort Smith, Arkansas, on March 25. One was a four-page letter by Judge J. J. Parker on sta- tionery of the “United States Coui-ts.” The other, from E. C. Boudinot, Cherokee lawyer, was as follows : I think I am authorized to say in behalf of the Cherokees that the appointment of Alfred M. Wilson of Fayelteville, Arkansas, as one of the commissioners to treat with the Cheiokees for a cession of the of the United States, would he eminently satisfactory to all the Cherokee people. He is well known to them as a just, honest, and very able lawyer, and gentleman. President Harrison on March 28 appointed George I). Robin- son as chairman of the commission, and J. Otis Humphrey and Wilson as members of it.?

4 Taulbee was a Rcpresentative from Kentucky, whose term ex- pired March 3, 1889. Peel and Shively were members of the Com- mittee on Indian Affairs. Perkins replaced Peel as chairman. Holman, a Democrat, was a member of the Committee on the Public Lands. 5 On March 27, E. €3. Harrison, businessman of Fayetteville, “an Ex Union Soldier and a life long Republican,” sent the Secretary of the 1nteri:r a vigQrous endorsement of Wilson, saying that it was written without solicitation (or even knowledge) on the part of Col. Wilson.” March 30 brought U’ilson a belated endorsement from Representative John H. Rogers of Fort Smith, which closed with this sentence: “I can not say more of any one, than of him.” From archival rccoi.ds it appears that Wilson’s chief competitors were three Democrats, none of whom made direct application for. appointment. Hernando De Soto Money, former Congiwsman from Mississippi and a Washington lawyer, was endorsed by the petition of twenty-four Demo- cratic senators, and by Republican Senators John Sherman, John P. Jones, Henry \V. Blair, William M. Stewart, and John H. Mitchell. J. W. Throckmorton, former governor of Texas, was endorsed by Senators Richard Coke and John H. Regan o€ his state, and by prominent Republicans of his home town, McKinney. Also he had the endorsement oi Senators J. N. Dolph, C. C. Farwell, 11. M. Teller, and Pres- ton E. Plumb, chairman (JE the Committee on Public Lands. J. C. Jamison, who had been for four years the Adjutant General of Missouri, on March 6 wrote to John B. Hender- son that on the pi:evious day the Republicans of the Senate and House of the Missouri legislature did me the grateful courtesy without my solicitation to unanimously united in a request for my appointment on the Commission. . . .Since a Democrat must be appointed under the provisions of the bill, I feel that my claims are as just as those of any other Democrat’s and if my Republican friends will stand to me I will get it. On the same day a petition for Jamison’s appointment, signed by eight state senators and 32 representatives, was addressed to President Harrison. D. P. Dyer wrote cn the petition that Jamison “was a brave soldier (on the wrong side during the war) and is a good citizen now.” The fact that John W. Noble, Secretary of the Interior, was from Missouri probably made the outlo3k more hopeful. Jamison, as one of his €riends put it, was “true blue; is capable; is out of eni- ployment.” Within a few days a dozen of his friends had written Senator Francis &I.Cockrell of Missouri, or Noble, urging his appointment. Cockrell recommended the appoint- ment on March 14. On the outer edge of the group were aspirants, more or less able, who lacked the political drive to gain the prize. True, they carried a party label and some local influence. M. H. Levinston of Kansas City, Missouri, a financial agent, interested in loans and rcal estate, sent his application to Harrison on inauguration day. On March 12 he wrote Noble, saying in part: Have been a long resident of this City-and can give, if desired, any amount of bond or references, relative to ability, character, standing etc.,-also references both financially and commercially. Mr. J. S. Harrison of this City-a brother of the President, is, I think stopping at the “Ebbett House” and will, no doubt, be glad to recommend me. Although many office seekers 1eai.ned that Benjamin IIar- rison “sweats icewater,” the President could haidly be accuse.1 of being immobile to r8equests of his family. The name of, “Maimaduke,” was well known in Mis- souri politics, but had passed the peak of its pc,pularity. Vin- cent Marmaduke on March 12 solicited the influence and liindly offices of the Seci.etar!, of the lilki~lo~~“in th2 interest of my brother, Mr. D. W. Marmaduk?, late warden of the Missouri Penitentiai*y, who desiiaes the appointment.” JerE J. Barker of apparently Bnew Hal-rissn personally : at least, he talked with him about the appointment. No endorsements were filed, but on March 8 Barker wrote to him on stationery of the Oniaha Dnily qntl T7Jwkly TVo~ld, saying in part: “Glad you are in and wish I could have seen the installation.” \V. A. Peffer was “a citizen of Kansas, OC republican His application on March 7 was char- acterized by this sentence: “I ~.msomewhat familiar with the history of matters involvec?, and am in favor of 05- taining the lands in question and opening them to settlement as soon as it can be done honorably antl lawfully, but have no symptons of Oklahoma fever.” 11. 11. Pritchard of Tolona, Missouri, applied to President Harrison on March 12, to Noble on March 18. Hc? had little influenee other than being a member of the centixl committee, and having the endorsement of the local postmaster.. Apparently, he doubted if the President would “condescend to notice my petition.” Edward L. Marston of I’ort \Yorth, Texas, Treasurer antl S,ecretary of the Methodist Baard of Mizsions, applied on iMarch 19. Pritchard and Manton, like other aspirants in the faint and forgotten distance, n.ere unnoticed when the patronage was passed out. On the other extreme there \\.ci*e those too high on the political tower, too busily engaged in private enterprise, 01% too engrossed in othw things to be a member of the Cherokee Commission. It has been noted that ivhen President Harri-

GThis is an interesting letter because Peffer was elected withiii a year to the United States Senate as a Populist. 182 Indiana Magaxim of History son appointed Wilson on March 28, he named George D. Robinson, ex-governor of Massachusetts, as chairman of tht! commission, and J. Otis Humphrey, promising political figure of Springfield, Illinois, as a member.; On March 30 Noble advised the three men of their ap- pointments, saying in pal t : You will please report in person to the Department in order that you may receive the necessary instructions for conducting the negotiations Irovided for. It is important that the Commission enter upon its duties as early as practicable. Each of the Commissioners will be allowed his railroad fare and transportation expenses and $3.00 per diem during the time of actual service, in lieu of all other personal expenses, and will be allowed a compensation at the rate of $10.00 per diem, during the time of his actual service.8 Noble on April 4 telegraphed the three appointees as follows: “Report in person to this Department on 15th instant, the date fixed for Commissicners to meet here, unless otherwise ordered in meantime.” Wilson left his home in Arkansas on April 10, reached Washington on April 15 on which day he reported to the department.” Humphrey apparently was present, but the weak, if not the missing, link was Chairmail

7 The paper of appointment, signed by Harrison, is in Robinson’s envelope, Miscellaneous File, Appointment Division, Department of Interior, National Archives. Senator George F. Hoar of Massachusetts submitted Robinson’s name to Noble on March 25. Hoar had sulr- ported Robinson during his candidacy fo;. governor, and in the Re- publican convention of 1868 Hoar had given belated support to Harri- son in securing the Presidential nomination. Senator Shelby M. Cullom of Illinois on March 12, 18811, urged Humphrey’s appointment. Hum- phrey entered politics in 1876 under the tutelage of Cullom who was that year elected governor of Illinois. In 1901, Humphiey was appointeJ judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. There is a sketch of his life in the Journul of the Illinois State Historical Society (Springfield, Illinois, 1908- ) , XI (1918-1O19), 4.57- 459. Y Letters from Noble to Robinson, Humphrey, and Wilson oi: March 30, 1880, are in the Office of Indian Affairs, Record Letters Sent, No. 59, pp. 260-262. The rate of compensation remained the same for the duration of the commission. $8 Wilson took the oatn of office on April 16. Sigourney Rutlei,, Second Comptroller of the Treasury, held that the taking of the oath was a condition precedent to the officer’s right to salary or emolu- ments of his office. Wilson’s expenses, and salary contemplated, prior to April 16, amounted to $127.80, which sum was appropriated for him by the deficiency appropriation act of September 30, 1890. Wilson to Noble, April 16, 1889, Office of Indian Affairs, 2024 Ind. Div. 1889; First Assistant Secretary Chandler to Wilson, April 20, 1880, Office oi Indian Affairs, Department

Putting in a formal way what I saki to you in the interview of yesterday, I evprcss my apprcciation of the conspicinus mark of your confidence and the prominent honor you confcired upon mc, hut ain constrained to add that by reason of cngagenionts from which I cannot he released I am unable to accept the appnintment as a men]- ber of the Commission to the Cherokee 01’ other Indians, and there- fore decline the same. Since thc commission was not I*cady for oiganization and procedure in the field of its duties, P

11 See R. S. Cotterill’s sketch of Goodloe’s life, I)ictiomLT.y of Arne?+- con Biogmpliy (20 vole., New York, 1928-1936), VII (1931), 391-392. 13 Noble to McMillan, May 20, 1889, Office of Indian Affairs, Record Letters Sent, No. 60, p. 101; Telegram McMillan to Noble, May 23, 1889, Office of Indian Affairs, 2942 kid. Div., 1889. 1”Plumb to Noble, April 7, 1889; Plumb to the President, May 26, 1889, Miscellaneous File, Appointmer,t Ilivision, Department of Interior, National Archives. 17 See Miles’ letter of resignation, November 23, 1883, Ilepartment of Interior, Appointment Division, Cheyenne and Arapahoe Agency. 186 Indiana Magneine of History of the United States et al., in certain land matters.” Har- I-ison appointed Miles a member of the commission on June 5. Three days later he declined the appointment bxause he had been “employed with others to represent before the Com- mission certain of the tribes.” On June 14 Humphrey resigned from the commission because of “serious illness” that developed after his acceptance of the appointment. Noble was reluctant to accept the resig- nation, but on June 18 Humphrey telegraphed that his healt:] would not permit him to recall it. The day Humphrey re- signed, Noble inquired if Lucius I~airchilci,ex-governor of , would be interested in being appointed a membei. of the commission. “Uncle .Jerrj.” Rusk, Secretary of Ag- riculture and former governor of Wisconsin, was in touch with Fairchild concerning the appointment and may have been instrumental in securing it.’” Fairchild had passed the peak of his popularity in Wisconsin politics, but like many of his contemporaries in political affairs, he profited by being a veteran of the Union Army. “I will serve on the Commission if requested,” Fairchild telegraphed Noble on June 17. The same day lie wrote that he would serv,e “bc- cause the President and you desire it and because I do not feel at liberty to refuse to serve in such capacity if th- administration thinks I can be useful..”’ Fairchild was com- missioned June 19. Noble on June 17 tendered an appointment to John F. Hartranft, twice governoi. of and a former postmaster at Philad,elphia. Hartranft requested twenty-four hours to consider “important matters,” and on June 20 gave his reply: “Please present my compliments to the President and say that I will accept the appointment.” The matter was further elucidated in his letter to Noble on June 24:

ISSenute Executive Documents, 52 Cong., 2 Sess., no. 18 (serial no. 3055). 1-6, 206-207. With the appointment papers is a green card Fairchild filled out September 25, 1889, answering questions asked an “appointee by the President.” The card discloses that Fairchild “Enlisted privak 1st Wis. Regt, Infy, 3 mos. Capt. C. K, 1st reg. Wis. Infy. 3 mos. Major, Lt Col. and Col. 2nd Regt. \?’is. 1nfy.-Brig. Gen. vols. and Capt. 16th Reg. U. S. Infy.” As to being wounded or disabled,,he wrote: “Left arm amputated at Gettysburg, Pa., July lst, 1863. 2~ Fairchild to Noble, June 17, 1889, Miscellaneous File, Appoint- ment Division, Department of Interior, National Archives. The record of Fairchild’s commission is in Executive Commissions, V, 190, 1)e- partment of Interior, Appointment Division. I have been indisposed for some time past, and had arranged to take a sea voyage from next Saturday, the 29th inst. and had arranged my business to he gone some three (ir four weeks. As this appointment will be likely to keep me still longer than that, I would like as much time as possible to arrange my private matters; but having already made considerable progress in that direction, I will not delay the Commission on that account. I had also made arrangements to go with the Committee of the 9th Coi>ps, of which I am Chairman, about the middle of July to select the site of the Gen’l Reno Memorial aL South Mountain, Md., to be dedicated on Sept. 14th; but, as the rest of the Committee can act in my absence, I would not delay my depart- ure, if the rest of the Commission are ready, or if any public interests would suffer by the delay. Xartranft was commissioned JLUW21. Fairchild was named chairman of the commission about .June 28. Secret instruc- tions?’ were sent to the commissiori on July 6, and before the end of the month members-Fairchild, Hartranft, and Wilson-were escorted “into Tahleyuah with honor.”” On October 17, while the commission was in recess, Hartranft died. Fairchild and Wilson met at Tahlequah on October 31 to resume negotiations with the Cherokee. The vacancy on the commission was filled November 5 by the appointment of TVai-ren C;. Say1.c of Wabash, Indiana, who wrote to Noble two days later: You direct me to report in person to the Department at my earliest convenience. The notice of appointment found me busily engaged in a term of court. There are matters here of pressing concern, that can occupy my attention, all next week, but if it is imperative, I can arrange to come at any time. You may write or wire me on receipt of this, when I must report. Had I sought the position, I might have been ready, at a moment’s notice-hut coming as it did, leaves some law suits on hand that must be accommodated somehow. Fairchild on November 18 wrote that Sayre was “a hard headed lawyer, pleasant and genial. Has a lot of sound, hard horse-senso. a valuable acquisition.”? ;

21 On March 12, 1890, about five-sixths of the “Instructions and Suggestions” were transmitted by Noble to the Senate and are in the Senate Exec~tii-c,L)oc?~n~cnls, 48 Coilg., 1 Sess., no. 78 (serial no. 2686). The complete document is in the Office of Indian Affairs, Land Letter Book, 184, pp. 165-258. 22 Cherokee Memorial, March, 1830, Library of Indian Office, Miscellaneous Documents, 20877. Tahlequah was the capital of the . 1.1 Fairchild to “Frank,” November 18, 1889, Fairchild Papers, Library of Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison. Wisconsin. Fair- child’s wife, “Frances,” in the family was called, “Frank.” Sayre was forty-five years old, was without military service ir. the Civil \I’m, was a Republican strongly devoted to his party, had served in the State Senate of Indiana, and later as Speaker of the House. He was known as the “House Economist,” and the “check valve” to super- fluous legislation. 188 Indiana Magcrxine of History

During November and December the commission made an unsuccessful effort to purchase from the Cherokee the six million acre tract of land known as the “Cherokee Out- let.” Rentals paid by the Cherokee Strip Live Stock Associa- tion for the lands amounted to two hundred thousand dollars a year, and a cattle syndicate valued them at eighteen million dollars or three dollars an acre. The coinmission offered onhi $1.25 an acre and would not reveal their secret instructions as to how much more they could offer. As weeks went by, Fairchild’s patience wore thin. He became provoked (“Mad is no name for it.”), yet the “d---d whelps, rascals and boodles” who controlled affairs in the Cherokee Nation ex- hibited no ,enthusiasm to sell the lands for $1.25 an acre.?’ The commission left Tahlequah tcward the close of De- cember. On January 1, 1890, Fairchild wrote the following letter to President Harrison : Because I am not in physical condition to do the work I am com- pelled to withdraw from the Cherokee Commission. I therefore re- spectfully tender to you my resignation. I have become mcch interested in the work of the Commission and regret not being able to continue a member. Tending to you my sincvre thanks for the honor conferred by the appointment, I remain Respectfully your obedient servant Lucius Fairchild By direction of the President, Noble on March 1 offered the chairmanship of the commission to Angus Cameron, for- mer senator. from Wisconsin. It was not until March 10 that Cameron had his private business so arranged as to say that he could accept the appointment. He was commis- sioned March 14. On April 5 he resigned “on account of the continued illness of a member of lily family.” This resig- nation opened the way for the appointment of David Howell Jerome, former governor of Michixan, who became the domi- nant figure in the work of the Chwokee Commission. Sena- tor James McMillan of Michigan communicated with Jerome and on April 25 wrote the President saying that Jerome would accept, the appointment. He added: “I desire to renen- my assurances that ex-governor Jerome will, if selected, prov(3

24 This subject is treated in a series of five articles by Berlin B. Chapman, “How the Cherokees Acquired and Disposed of the Outlet,” Chronicles of Oklaliomn. (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1921- ), SV (19377, 30-49, 205-225, 291-321; XVI (1938), 36-51, 135-162. to be an excellent member of the Commission and that politi- cally his appointment would l:e very acceptable to my State.” Jerome was appointed a mcmbei. the next day’i and was subeequently named chairman of the commission. The only letter by him in his appointmcnt file consists of one sentence written on May 6 to Nob!c, stating that he was returning his official oath, sworn to that day. The commission enteiAec! upon its work and in May con- cluded with the Iowa the first of eleven agineements it made for the dissolution of reservations in what is now the western half of Oklahoma.2‘, Negotiations with the tribes were slower and more difficult than Noble anticipated.” The commission survived the administration of President Harrison, but all the agreements it concluded came within his administration. Noble took up several matters with the commission informall:;, or by private correspondcncc, and seemed to have been al- ways content with the commission and to have considered its judgment of high merit.” Secretary Hoke Smith, n Democrat from Georgia, did not hold the commission in such high esteem. In a telegram to him from Saginaw, Michigan, on Saturday, March 18, 1893, Jerome said: “Unless otherwise directed by you by wire the Cherokee Commission will leave on Monday next for Ponca agency, Oklahoma, to resune negotiations witn the tribes on the east end of the Strip. Our address will bc Ponca agency where we hope to rcceivc any instructions you desire to give.””’ In a letter. to Smith on March 20, Jerome stated that since he had heard nothing from him to the contrary he would proceed that evening to join his as-

*; Jerome’s commission of April 26, 1890, is recorded in Executive Commissions, V, 202, Department of Interior, Appointment Division. 26 Speed received the appointment as District Attorney of tha United States Territorial Court of Oklahoma and submitted his resig- nation as Secretary and Special Disbursing Agent of the Commission. He was replaced as of May 24 by Charles S. King, whom Jerome recom- mended as the successor. Noble to King, May 24, 1890, Department of Interior, Appointment Division, Letter Book, XXX, 365-366; Noble to Speed, May 24, 1890, ihid., 367. 27 On March 15, 1800, Noble wrote to Canieron: “I think there is not great difficulty in the way now, and that you will soon finish the work after you and your associates have entered upon the field.” Ibid., XXVI, 417-418. 28 See, for example, Noble to Peel, January 23, 1893, Congressional Record, 52 Cong., 2 Sess., 2136. 29 Telegram from Jerome to Smith, Office of Indian Affairs, 2107 Ind. Div., 1893. 190 Indiana illagnzine of Histoyy

sociates:” In a telegram to Jerome the next day, addressed to Saginaw, Smith said: Your telegram was received Sunday night, giving no time for in- vestigation. To announce a purpose of acting without giving time here to consider its propriety, was practically to determine the matter yourselves. I trust you have not acted with the haste which your telegram indicates.” Since the commission was already en route, Assistant Sec- retary Chandler directed that necessary funds be placed to its credit for continuance of the work. The commissioii made its final report on August 21. On November 7, Smith said that by order of President Cleveland the Commission “is hereby dissolved.” The Cherokee Commission is a suitable subject for a case study of political appointments in the administration of Harrison the Second. To know well the history of applica- tions and appointments concerning this commission, is to be familiar with the trend of affairs in passing out the patronage. According to the appointment files, no person who made direct application for membership on the com- mission secured it. Governors and senators, recently out of office, were on the favored list. Senators and representatives in office were on the alert to secure recognition for their leading supporters at home. Paesident Harrison and Secre- tary Noble tended to “wxk down fi-om the top” until they secured two Republicans who would accept and retain mem- bership in the commission. Archival records, however faith- fully kept and accu~atelyuaed, do not reveal all the process and price that brought the beck and nod; but the light is sufficiently clear to discern the movement, even some of the motives, in appointing persons to offices of trust and profit.

“Letter of March 20, 1893, Office of Indian Affairs, 2323 Ind. IXv., 1893. :l1Telegram from Smith to Jerome, March 21, 1893, Office of Indian Affairs, Record Letters Sent, No. 78, p. 322. 33Berlin B. Chapman, “The Final Report of the Cherokee Com- mission,’’ Chronicles of Oklaltoma, XIX (1941), 356-367.