Three separate actions affecting the office of principal chief of the Choctaw, Seminole and Cherokee Indian Tribes of Oklahoma, were announced today by Acting Secretary of the Interior Ralph A. Tudor.
A run-off election will be held by the Bureau of Indian Affairs between September 20 and October 10 so that members of the Choctaw Tribe many express their preferences between Harry J. W. Belvin and Hampton w. Anderson, who received the highest number of votes in the balloting held last June. Mr. Belvin has been principal chief of the tribe for the past several years.
Because of disagreement among members of the Seminole Tribe concerning the office of principal chief, the Department has decided to fill the office through appointment only for temporary periods when the services of a chief are actually needed in connection with certain types of land transactions.
The term of office of William W. Keeler, principal chief of the Cherokees, has been extended for an indefinite period. Mr. Keeler has served as principal chief without compensation for several years.
In the Choctaw balloting held in June, 16,053 ballots were mailed out by the Bureau and 5,244 valid ballots were returned and counted. On the question whether the office of principal chief should be continued beyond June 30, 1954, the proposition was favored by 4,554 voters and opposed by 690. Selection of the principal chief by the Secretary of the Interior without Choctaw balloting was favored by 612 voters and opposed by 4,107. Secret balloting by mail among the Choctaws to select a favorite candidate was favored by 31 572 voters, secret balloting at the polls by 1,492. On the question whether the principal chief should be paid for his services, 4,443 voted yes and 306 no.
Of those favoring compensation, 2,723 voted for a continuation of the present yearly salary of $3,000 and expense allowance of $2,500 paid from tribal funds. Salary of $2,500 and expense allowance of $2,000 was favored by 585. Salary of $1,500 and expense allowance of $1,000 by 451 and other varying annual compensation plans by 84, Daily compensation plans at rates ranging from $10 to $20, combined with a standard expense allowance of $9, were favored by 513.
On the question of length of term, 2,020 voters favored two years while 2,593 expressed a preference for four years.
Among the candidates, Mr. Belvin received 2,502 votes (or 120 less than a majority of the 5,244 counted ballots). Mr. Anderson 52, J. B. Wright 31, Peter Hudson 19, C.V. Thompson 19, James Edwards 14 and 869 votes were cast for candidates receiving less than four votes each.
Since no candidate received a clear majority of all the counted ballots, the decision was made to hold the run-off election. Ballots will be mailed out by the Indian Bureau's Muskogee Area. Office on September 20 and must be returned to that office by midnight October 10. Voters will be given an opportunity not only to choose between the two candidates but also to indicate their preferences for the length of term up to a maximum of four years. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes will be appointed by the Secretary for a term beginning some time after completion of the balloting.
