Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-03-15
THE EAGLE AND BOOMERS.
A Few Concluding Observations on
the Situation.

The boomers By this time no doubt have
read President Cleveland's proclamation,
and now a parting word:
From the very first inception of this raid
ing business there has been swindiing, lying,
cheating and fraud, and nobody knows it
better than the boomer chiefs themselves.
For telling the truth and because We have
endeavorcd TO warn honest men from be-
coming victim 81 designing spectators and
characterless Adventures, the EAGLES edi-
tor, in public meetings in this CITY, on the
streets and everywhere, has been Denounced
as :. liar, IA hired tool of a corrupt admin
istration, etc, etc Payne, the originator of
this scheme. Just a few weeks before his
death, personally threatened u with bodily
injury when he knew that we knew the
boom from top to bottom, be himself hay
ing told uS all about the scheme in Wash
incton before II had ever been made public,
offering to take the EAGLE into the scheme
and 10 establish headquarters at Wichita.
Of course we refused, and only because we
warned honest men TO keep out of it were
we so violently denounced. These fellows
carried their opposition to those whom
they designated as stools of the administra-
ton" SO far rs to force the issue
into county politics against the Republican
ticket, and afterwards made Democratic
measure in the local politics of several Dor
der counties, defeating Republican nomi-
nees. In this county the Democratic organ
not only denounced the administration
touching this boomer business, ri.imating
that it was being corrUptlv Influenced By
cattle syBdicates, but going so far rs 10 re
peatedlyname the UntedStates senators from
Kansas as being equally cupable and guilty.
Mr.. Cleveland is the fourth successive ad-
minis,ration to decide that the Oklahoma
district is subject to treaty and not 10 settle
ment The EAGLE predicted as much soon
after his election, amp at the time suggested
that the ides cs March would transfer the
boomer howl TO the opposite side of their
mouths. Il was not reasonable 10 suppose
that a half dozen attorney generals Of the
United States one after the other, covering
sixteen years, could he mistaken or corrupt
ly influenced.
There has been much noise made over the
fact that the government has failed to bring
to trial and adequately punish these persist
cnt boomers. but such criticism has only
come from men who had neglected TO read up.
Over and over again the president. the at
torney general and the federal judges have
announced thai there WAS no law under which
an adequate punishment could be admins
tered. Judge Parker fined PAYNE $1,000
but If WAS not collectsble nor could he i'm
prison Payne Tor refusing to pay.
There Is Just one way that this Territory
can be opened and only one, and that is
through action OF congress and subsequent
treaty with the Indians. The way to secure
that is by agitation and petition and not by
defiance of constitutional authorities. Such
agitation we would commend and viii help
bu: until such action can be had tie EAGLE
will maintain the position heretofore held
~ for the Leaders Of the boon,the Payne-.
the COUGHS, the sam Woods, the Sid Clarke,
, ,end tbc whole raft, seiae Of whom we have
known for twenty wears IL men no have
secured a precarious livelihood by their
wit. We care iitjthing for their opinions OF
threats