Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-11-29

and received with wild enthusiasm. he
said it gave him great pleasure to be pres
emit at the meeting. He had long since
decided that white men had rights as well
as black or red men. It had been his ex-
perience that converts come to the move
ment from becoming acquainted with the
facts involved in the Springer bill, which
is the result of careful work in the in
terest of doing justice to all and
injury to none. The decision of
Attorney General Garland that In
dians have no power to lease
lands to cattlemen had greatly weakened
the stronghold of opposition. This should
impart new courage to the friends and
supporters of the movement. He gave O
vivid description of the possibilities Of
Oklahoma and insisted that the interests
of Indians and whites demand the passage
of the bill. The movement could be sue
cessful bv creating public opinion which
comes with agitation and discussion.
1t was not political position. Thank
God, one place we can meet on a
level and part on the square,"
[Cheers for many minutes. To Ques-
ton asked if Indians would dispose of
their lands according to provisions of the
bill he said that when cattle men were
allowed to lease the Cherokee Strip they
paid the Indians 500, coo and the interest
on the money paid them for that land
according to the bill would be $500, 600. If
they were allowed to lease it would be
business for them to accept the provisions
of the bill, but as they are not of late it
was reasonable that they would, and he
had authentic word from them that they
would accept. This was true of the other
tribes concerned. The General was often
interrupted with enthusiastic cheers.
He was followed by Colonel Mansur, who
gave statistics concerning Oklahoma and
the Territory concerned in the Springer
bill. He referred to a sort of sentimental
ity in some places in the East and South
which was attended with opposition to
the bill, but that was fast evaporating in
the light of facts. Concerning Oklahoma
being home for criminals he said over
36j murders had been committed in that
country during the last year. He said
there could be no doubt of the passage of
the bill in question by the coming Con-
gress.
The following gentlemen were appointed
a committee TO go to Washington and use
all fair means for the passage of the
Springer bill: Hon. Sidney Clark, Law
renee; Captain w. l.. Couch, Douglas;
Colonel ii. NJ. Murdoch, Wichita; Colonel
w. S. Croker, Caldwell. Auxiliary COM
mittee: c. r. McLane, Newton; c. L. Sea-
very, Arkansas City; George lagrange No.
Mans Land; J. E. Hallowell, Wellington;
Charles Robinson, Chickasaw Nation; c. P.
Walker, Colony; Judge E. J. Cochrane,
Nebraska; A. D. Holstean, Arkansas; J.
w. Springer, Chicago; r. Evans, Des
Moines; Dr. Morrison Munford, Kansas
City; T. B. Bullene, Kansas City; Judge
Crook, Wichita; w. K. Carlisle, Wichita;
A. B. Barnes, Greensburg; o. G. Chase,
No-Man's Land. The report was adopted
with cheers. and after a short speech by
Sidney Clark the convention adjourned
until eight O'Clock.
At the evening session Colonel Roberts,
of the Chickasaw Nation, j. W. Springer,
clerk of the Committee on Territories;
Colonel Croker, of Caldwell, Tom McNeal,
of Medicine Lodge, spoke to a crowded
house. A resolution of thanks to the Board
of Trade was passed. The convention adj
journed to meet at the call of the chair
man and secretary.