The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-02-05
okLAHoMA ConvEHr1ox.
Fun Proceeding. of the session At +


Kansas met st 8 p. m. yesterday. In Odd
Fellows hall in this city,
Samuel Dolman, chairman of the To- |
peka colony, called the meeting to Or
der.
The hall at the opening of the conven-
ton was we'll filed. A large number of ]
delegates were in attendance, represent |
ing thirteen colonies, among whom were |
Col. Couch of Oklahoma fame, W. A. !
Eddy of Cherokee county, Hon, Sidney |
Clarke of Lawrence, P. n. Gilbert Of |
Arkansas City, and other veil known |
residents of this state.
W. L. Couch was called to the chair, !
1. W. Pack, secretary.
Committees on permanent organIza-
ton, on resolutions, Dian of organization,
etc, were APPOINTED.
The committee on credentials report
ed the following gentlemen e delegates
representing the several colonies: Capt.
W. L. Couch, J. 81. Throu2hman, E. 8.
Wilcox of Oklahoma territory; W. E.
Richie, r. q. Sanford, Walter p. Bddy,
Mark Sage, Henry Kinsey, George
Blair, Walter Sage Of Wabaunsee
county; John Hoenscheidt, Frank
FeIrin, George Henninger, ID. Marcus,
Atchison; P. NJ. Gilbert. Arkansas City
w. n. Osborn, G. p Wickmire, Wich-
ita; q. L. Strong. Coffsyvil le; B. S.
Walden. Kansas City; DIR. Jacobs, Burr
ton; B. L. Stone. Rich Hill, Mo-; W. D.
Halfill, Cowley county; G. E. Lincoln,
CofeYville; Orrin World, Usage City;
John Carter, Samuel Dolman and E. A.
Tuttle, Topeka.
A spirited discussion arose concern
ing the manner of voting in the conven-
ton, which was disposed Of by The adop-
ton of the motion made by y. N. Wood,
that each colony be permitted one vote
for each twenty members, not to exceed
five votes for each colony.
Loud calls were made upon the chair
man for q speech.
In response to these calls, Capt. Couch
made
SOME INTERESTING REMARKS,
giving history of the Oklahoma move
ment, IN which he gave the legal status
of the lands, together with an account Of
the different expeditions of the "boom
ers" to Oklahoma.
Mr.. Couch, who is modest appearing
man, with good address. paid tribute
to the character and services of the late
leader of the colonists, CaptainsP Payne;
much of his remarks being devoted to
giving description of the latest trip
made by Captain Couch and his fol-
lowers to Oklahoma, which narration
was listened to with great interest by the
meeting.
Following Captain Couch and some
remarks made by Hon. Sidney Clarke,
the convention adjourned until evening.
EVENING SESSION.
| Before 8 CLOCK the senate chamber
was full, even to occupying standing
room, and every seat in the gallery was
occupied.
Captain Couch arrived and entered the
chamber unannounced, and without any
attention. But few knew the leader
who had assumed, or on whom had
fallen the mantle of the recently deceased
leader of the "boomers," who had SO re-
Gently been driven from Oklahoma.
Captain Couch quietly took the chair,
and in q very modest, Inassuning man
ner ann ounced that this was an adjourn.
ed meeting of the Oklahoma advocates
for the purpose of organizing National
League. Responding to the yells for
| Couch Couch 90 he srose and said he
| was
NOT CUT OUT FOR A SPEAKER.
Then there were calls for various per-
sons. among them for OvermeYer, who
responded. He said he did not know
why he was called upon. He had never
been in Oklahoma-never in the Indian
Territory. Bat wheRever there was an
attempt to overrun the rights of man, his
voice was for the oppressed and down.
trodden. In this Oklahoma question
were involved the rights and the liber-
ties of the people. He went on for some
time, elOquently defending the settlers In
| the cause,
AS ANSSA1S vac A0AsACA 0AAtCccC0 ny
Messrs. Sldn ey Clarke, s. N. Wood and
Jetmore.
Hon. Sidney Clarke, as chairman of
the committee of resolutions, presented
the following:
Resolved, That the use Of the Unite d
States army to expel men, women and
children from their homes ID Oklahoms,
who have settled on land owned by the
government, and subject to HON estead
and presumption under the laws of con-
gress, has but one parallel in history, to-
| wit: Free state legislation of Kansas by
United States troops in 1856, in the old
Border RufiaL days.
Resolved, That we denounce as an out
| rage the use of the United States troops
| to deprive people OF their homes and
| property without any wsrrent Of law
That there Is no excuse for the recent
exercise of arbitrary power in the Okla
homa country, and that we denounce the
invasion of any territory by an armed
torce under any pretense, as among the
| greatest of crimes.
Resolved, That We are opposed TO In.
| terfering with the rights of Indians TO
their lands existing under the laws or
treaties of the United States and will not
| defend men in the violation of their
| rights; and we demand, also, that the
| protection OF the government should be
extended to ali settlers alike on the gov
eminent lands.
Resolved, That it is not q crime to SET
| tie upon government land, but a right
| given to every American citizen by law !;
| that the Indian title to the Oklahoma
lands has been extinguished, and under
the laws of the United States statutes
| they are subject to settlement, pre-
emption and homestead.
Resolved, That the bold and lawful
stand taken by Captain Couch and his
heroic followers in defense Of their
homes against arbitrary power entities
them to the gratitude of every friend OF
constitutional government.
Resolved, That the action of the pres
ident Of the United States in ordering
/ Col. Hatch to shoot down men. women
| and children whose only crime was Q
desire TO occupy government lands, Il an
outrage that would disgrace the worst
| monarchies of the old world.
Resolved, That we have q right under
the laws OF the United States TO settle
and occupy government lands, and by
the eternal. we are going to do it.
Resolved, That all dispatches sent by
the Associated Press agent at Caldwell,
relating to the status or settlement Of
the Oklahoma lands, and charging that
there are now catIlemen holding large
herds of stock enclosed by fence on said
lands, are Wilfully false and calculated
70 mislead the public.
The following resolutions we're offered
by 8. n. Wood and adopted:
Resolved, That committee Of i've be
appointed by the chair 70 prepare and
publish an address TO the people of The
United States defining the position o.
the Oklahoma colonIsts on the settle
nent of the Oklahoma lands.
i Resolved, That said committee be an
thoriZed TO present the case Of the set
tiers seeking homes in Oklahoma 20 thu
president of the United States, the attoF
ney general, secretary Of the interior and
commissioners OF the general land ONCE
and demand IN the name of the peopll