The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-07-09
LAND TROUBLES OF ALLEN COUNTY.

ssSes
ty for years. The Secretary of the In
terror has requested the Attorney-G en-
eral of the United States to bring suit
to set aside and cancel the NJ. X.
& I patents to all even sections. II is
reported that the Attorney General has
complied with the request and ordered
the suit. This suit, If brought, will
not only effect the even sections
already in controversy, but will unset
tie the title TO thousands of acres of
land in this county, the title to which
has never heretofore been questioned.
Not only the even sections in the ''in-
demnity" strip will be involved, but
also, and to much greater degree, the
even sections in the "ten mile limit"
In the reasoning of the Honorable Sec.
rotary In his very lucid (?) opinion,
where he assigns one reason for i'm
peachlng the patent to the even Sec
tons in the Indemnity" strip. he as
signs ten against the patent title in the
"ten mile strip" His reasons in either
case are too puerile for moments con-
sideration. but he has the power. with
out rhyme or reason, to bring upon this
county agreat calamity, and with that,
is our present concern. When we
speak of calamity to the county, we
have no special reference to the owners
of the disputed land, but to the county
at large. The extent of this can be
seen by anyone who will consider what
would be the result in case the Leag-
uers succeed in their claim, and the
taxes for years hence to be refunded
to the holders of the legal titles to
these lands. But the Leaguers will
never succeed. In no part of their
claim, either with regard to the odd or
even sections will they succeed. Fail
ure with them, absolute, irremedial
failure is inevitable. Even if the
courts should decree all of these pat
ents absolutely void, the Leaguers
would never get the land. The equi-
ties are too strong against them. And
the equities are too strong in favor of
the men who have paid from four to
thirteen dollars an acre for this land
and have paid taxes on it for years.
Wherein the courts should fail to give
men, who have these equities, relief,
Cong ress would step in and correct the
evil. OF course we do not think and
never have thought that from merely
legal standpoint the Leaguers have a
leg to stand on. AS far as we can see
the Leaguers have not a single right
either in court Of law or equity, and
certainly they have not a moral right
in the claim they make. And this we
say earnestly, and advisedly, while
yielding to no one in our deep and cor
dial sympathy for all the poor men of
this country who are struggling to
make homes for themselves and fami-
lies. On the suppOsition then, that
the Leaguers must in the end fail in
their claim, what is the best thing to
be done to mitigate the calamity that
has come upon us? That it can be
averted we do not hope. The answer
is easy. We must organize. Organi-
zation must be met by organization,
and if need be force must be met with
force. We believe in law an order, and
We believe in peace, and the time has
now come when we must have peace
if we have to fight for it. an Organi-
cation must he formed composed not
only of the men owning land in the
county, but also of those who desire the
welfare of the county, non-residents of
the State who have landed in terests in
the county must also be enlisted. The
details of the organization needed can
not be given in a short article, but it
must be of such character that it can
move as one man. The objects to be
accomplished are manifold, but they
are apparent. First, the question must
be fought through the courts. Suits
must be commenced by all parties in
terested at once. Second, whenever
bonds are required to be given by the
Leaguers, it must be known to a GER
talnty that these bonds really secure
what they profess to secure. On this
topic it might be well to say plainly
that there are few if any bonds now
filed in the district court of this county
upon which dollar could be realized
if they should he forfeited. This can
all be prevented by aproper effort, if
an organized effort. Third, whenever
judgments are obtained this Organiza-
ton must see to it that they are en-
forced. We mean just this, they must
be enforced. Volumes could not say
more on this point. Fourth, if the
criminal law is violated it should be
the duty of this organization to see
that it is vindicated. If the state of
which has disgraced this
county in the past is to continue decent
people would better move out. But
what is everybody's business is no
bOdy's business and with rare excep-
tons the persons guilty of these lawless
acts defy the law and go UNPUBLISHED.
This could not be if the same care was
taken by determined, law abiding
body of men to have the law enforced,
that ia taken hY this laHlesa mob. to