A HISTORY OF THE Candidates for Governor ' OF THE Chickasaw Nation, What Douglas H. Johnston and Richard McLish Have Been Doing for the Past Twenty Years, --3— What Douglas H. Johnston and Richard McLish Have Been Doing for the Past Twenty Years. The campaign for Governor of the Chicksaw Nation wil close on Wednesday, August 10, 1904. On that date the voters will decide who is to be the last Governor of the Chickasaws. The question that arises in the mind of the voter who wishes to cast his ballot for the best interests of his Nation aad people is: "Which candidate is best qualified and most deserving of elec- tion." It is always safe to judge the future by the past, and it is proper to irquire into the lives and past history of the candi- dates, not for the purpose of attack or abuse, but that the voters mar be able to compare one with the other and decide who ought to be Governor. A record of the lives and public acts of the candidates, for the the past 20 years, has been secured. Its correctness can be successfully denied by none, and on the contrary it can be vouched for by hundreds of the most reputable and responsible citizens of the Chickasaw Nation. It begins in the year 1884, when both the candidates were young men, and runs to the present moment, and is as follows: Doug-las II. Johnston. Richard McLish. 1884. 1884. Was selected superin- Made contract with Texas tendent contractor of Bloomfield cattle owners, in violation Sominary. The excellence of and defiance of the laws of the this school under the control of Chickasaw Nation, to hold vast Governor Johnston, has always herds of cattle for them on the been recognizad, and its influ- public domain. His successful ence for good is felt in every defiance of the lav inspired oth- corner and community, and in ers and soon the public domain almost every home in the Chick- in Pickens County was cohered asaw Nation. with Texas cattle. 1885. 1885. Governor .Toras Wolf or- Continued at Bloomfield. ganized militia and instructed --4- —5— JiÖUGLASS H. JOHNSTON. RICHARD MCLISH. DOUGLAS H„ JOHNSTON. IilCHAKD MCLISH. 1886. them to enforce laws of Nation Continued at Bloorrfield. by catting partus e fences and 1899. Fe Eailway Company for a town Demanded that United site. Sold town lots to con-citi- 1887. driving cattle out. The horses States government enter into zens. in violation and defiance Continued at HIoomfield. of she militiamen were run off by McLish and his associates, Supplementary Agreement fo? of tribal laws and pave quit 1888. into a canon in the mountains in retrial of "Court Claimant" citi- claim deeds and pocketed the Continued at Bloomfield. the ni^ht time and shot and kill- zenship cases; that Chickasaw*, money received. Thus came 1889. ed. McLisb W98 captured and be paid for lands of Chickasaw into existence the city of Ard- Continued at Bloomfield. held a prisoner for days. Fear- Freedmer; that property anr more. Others all over the political rights of intermarried 1890. ing the vengeance of his peop'e Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations Continued at Bloomfield. for his unlawful acts, ho sought citizens be settled; and that all were thus inspired by McLish, the aid of his Texas associates, tribal moneys be paid out pei and these unlawful acts by him 1891. capita. Continued at Bloomfield. and the horses were paid for. ire directly responsible for all Many of the ni itiamen and Again demanded per capita ownsite troubles uf the tribes 1892 scores of the sons and relatives distribution of "Arrears of In tha* followed. Continued at Bloomfield. of those whose horses were kill- terest" money. It is estimated that McLish 1893. ed, now live in the Chickasaw Pressed the collection of the received from the sale of town Continued at Bloomfield. Nation and have a personal merchandise and cattle taxee lots in Ardmore a total sum of 1894. recollection of the events of due the nation, and urged the from $100,000.00 to $200,000.00 Continued at Bloomfield. those siirring times. United States government tc Every dollar was pocketed, and close stores and to put out oi 1895. <ot a dollar was paid into the 1886. Continued at Bloomfield, the nation the cattle of those treasury of the tribe. McLish "laid low" through- who refused to Day. 1896. out this year. Took stops for the protection 1890. Continued at bloomfield. 1887. of the interes s of the nation in The sale of timber and town 1897. Made contract with Gulf, the citizenship cases before the lots from the public domain Continued at Bloomfield. Colorado & Santa Fe Eailway Commission to the Five Civiliz was still profitable throughout 1898. Company to furnish timber for ed Tiibes and the Dcpartmenl this year. Was nominated by Na- construction of railway, through of the Interior. 1891. tional Party for Governor. Was Chickasaw Nation. Cut timber Refused to permit United Timber contract expired, but elected by a large majority. trom public domain in violation S ates government to take con- he still continued the sale of Immediately begau to' take and defiance of laws of Nation trol of Chickasaw schools and town lots at Ardmore. steps to put up gaps let down demanded that ccal and asphah and sold it to the Eailway Com- 1892. by Harris McLish administra- royalty money be paid out foi pany and pocketed the money. The sale of town lots at Ard- tions by Atoka Agreement. their support. 1888. more was continued throughout Demanded that United States Timber contract continued 1900. this year. government make per capita profitable throughout this year. Had suits filed in Ard- 1893. payment of "Arrears of Inter- 1889. more court to correct "Court est" moneys. And also throughout this Took forcible possession of C J am ant" judgments by strik- Revised tribal tax laws and year. a vast srea of land on the ing out more than 200 came,' took steps for vigorous enforce- 1894. public domain under contract that had been fraudulently in The same. ment. b with the Gulf, Colorado & Santa f y 'Court Claimant" [895. lawyers, thus saving to th. The samel —6- —7— DOUGLAS H. JOHNSON. RICHARD MCLISH. DOUGLAS H. JOHNSON. RICHARD MCLISH. 1902. year. It had all been done the tribes fully $1,000 000. 1896. Entered into first Supple- In this year benefits re year before, and nothing to Appointed a member and mentary Agreement with Com- suiting from the efforts of Gov speak of remained to be done. Secretary of the Chickasaw mission to the Five Civilized Johnston and his administration This statement is partially in- Citizenship Commission. Rec- Tribes, along lines above set began to be fully realized. correct, for it is a fact, as shown ommended to Governor the ap- out, but it failed to reach Wash- by the records, that they did pointment of W. B. Johnson, of The Supplementary Agree- ington in time for congressional draw the $8,000 due them. Ardmore, as Citizenship Attor- ment was negotiated at Musko action. It was in this year that Mc- ney for Chickseaw Nation at gee and Washington and signed Lish was heard to say by sever- Called convention of Chicka- $8,000.00 a year and expenses, on March 21, 1902. It was rati- al of the most credible and re- asaws and Choctaws to meet at and appointment was made. fied by Congress on July 1 1902 Atoka to memorialize Congress and by the voters of the sponsible citizens of the Nation and arouse public sentiment in 1897. Chickasaw and Choctaw people that he would sacrifice the citi- favor of securing relief from Continued to serve as mem- an September 25, 1902. zenship right of his own wife to frauds and wrongs done tribes r and Secrelary of Citi- defeat the intermorried citizens. Thus at the end of a prolong in "court claimant" citizenship zenship Commission, and to as- 1899 The record does not ed struggle of more than three cases. sist attorney for the Nation in show that Mr. McLish perform- years, Governor Johnston se- defending court claimant citi- ed any distinguished public ser- Continued efforts for enforce- cured for his people the crea- zenship cases before United vice in this year. ment of tribal lax laws, andlir tion of the Choctaw and Chick- States court at Ardmore As a 1900. protection of nation in citizen- asaw and citizenship court and a result of his efforts and the ef- Made contract, in viola- ship cases before commission the retrial of cdourt claimants" forts of his $8,000.00 Ardmore tion and defiance of the laws of and department. citizensip cases; immediate al- the Chickasaw Nation, with the lawyer, every mar, woman and lotment for unquestioned citi- 1901. St. Louis, Oklahoma & South- child who applied for citizen- zens and placing them in pos- Conferred with Secreta- ern Railway Company, to fur- ship, whether from Tezas, Ar- session of the allotments; the ry of the Interior at Washing nish timber for railway purpos- kansas or Hindostan, were ad- settlement of the property and ton about Ljn,ckasaChickasa w schools es. The graft which had been schools, mitted, except one poor full political rights of intermarried Secured agreement whereby|blood family, who were dragged citizens; pay for Chickasaw so successfully worked the year before failed. Governor John- W 8 ret ab ,ul D b Freedmen, the payment of $40. ^ontroTof t h - T^ ^ V y some" shyster lawyefby ston and the Secretary of the In- ZvZnf S rl8^ a»dlthe'miBtake- They were rejected.