Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-19
OKLAHOMA.
A Few Words About the Boomers
and Their Attitude.

Wichita Is a Boomers town or IL is not;
her people are in favor of opening the Ter
ritory in spite of the administration or they
are not; her property holders are either in
sympathy with the men who want to leave
this town and live in the Territory or they
are not; but. however all this may be. we
propose, as an entirely disinterested party,
except SO far ms the interests Of Wichita are
concerned, to set out few facts. What We
shall say will be without reference to the
good opinion or otherwise of the Boomers
or the men who expect to leave this state
and become residents of the Territory in
case they succeed in getting it opened for
settlement. And right in this connection
we viii say that, to all who have approach
ed us for our private opinion we have in
variably said that in our judgment it was
only question of time when the Territory
would be opened for settlement. The logic
of the situation is in that direction, as are
all precedents. The Indian goes to the wall
every time as he did in this state over one
half of which he owned when il was terri
tory. But congress and not Pavne will do
that job-the government and not private
individuals. We have no more interest for
or against opening the Territory than any
other citizen of Wichita. While it is true
that the opening of those lands would prob
ably build up large town or
two on the border south of us,
which might rival Wichita in some respects
yet we hope we are not so small as to want
to cripple Others only that Wichita might
grow, although to the growth of Wichita
and Sedgwlck county are We, and have we
been, bending every energy for all these
years. And so jealous are we of its standing
and good name that it seems unpleasant to
us to have it telegraphed day after day all
over the country that Wichita is the Boom
ers town.
With this opening we will say few
words about the Boomers land for the in
formation of those of our readers who have
never given the matter any attention, but
who now know that the name and prestage
of the city are being continually used as
capital by the Boomers.
When those Indians which under Grants
first administration were removed to the Ter
ritory they were promised if they would GO
peacefully they should not be moved around
any more, and that that country should be
theirs forever. Hayes in his administration
declared that these Understandings and treat
les should be kept and he issued proclaim
alton to that effect, for both Grant and
Hayes knew and congress knew and the peo-
pie now know if ever settlement gains q
foothold in the territory the Indians will
have to go.
ID. L. Payne, who had been door keeper
in the lower house, selected as Democrat
by the Democrats, lost his place and came
west and got up this Boomer scheme, at
least he seemed the head Of it. When he
attempted to carry out his scheme he was
warned by the authorities not to do it as
a step. He said he knew better
and went forward. OF his subsequent
arrest and trial at Fl. Smith and still subse-
quent arrests and ejectments everybody is
familiar. 1t was simply test as to who
was superior the sovereign power of the peo-
pie through the administration, or Dave
Payne. His persistency became so great
that President Arthur wrote special mes
sage TO the last congress asking that some
measure be passed settling the entise ques-
ton. The Democratic house which had
discarded Payne, and many of whose MEM
bers knew him personally, refused to do any
thing, and but one man and, ne western
man, in the senate could be induced to
make a move which would even threatened to
disturb the Indians or their relations to the
Territory. The truth is after you get east Of
the Mississippi river nine congressman out
of ten are in sympathy with the Indian and
are continually declaring that western men
are never SO happy as when defrauding the
poor Indian of his reservations. Senator
Plumb of this state introduced bill and
made two speeches or talks in its favor, but
the great body of the senate acted as though
they thought it another scheme to beat the
Indians.
So the case stands to-day with the govern
nent with inadequate laws upon the one
side trying with such means as it has in its
power to Keep up the policy of the admin
stration and the Republican party on the
one side in protecting the Indians and stand
ng by the treaties, and upon the other side
If Dave Payne and the men whom he has |
induced to make investments in the scheme,
ogether with their lawyers and creditors,
with Wichita or her people placed in the at
.itude of supporting Payne as against the
administration and the courts
As to the rights of Payne or any other
.ltizen to go into aad settle the territory,
hat has been talked and discussed by men
ii the way from the cabinet down to Payne's
ttorneys. Congress ought to have settled
+ The courts have tried to and will try
gain. That there has been any corruption
f the administration or hiph officials or of