Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-02-01
vess and 9akotaiau
COUCH ON OKLAHOMA.
SOMETHING or THE COUNTRY AND
ITS FUTURE.

The wsli-Known Leader of the Would
fdent That Congress VIII Open tho
Lands to settlements.
WICHITA, Kas., Jan. 31.-Capt. w. l.
Couch, president of the Payne Oklahoma
colony, stated that while there is now an
Oklahoma organization, the s'boomers''
had long ago given up the idea Of trying
to gain possession of the country by
force. .Two years ago. he said, eve
acted on the theory that the country was
public land and open to settlement; but
as loon Us 1t was clearly demonstrated
that legislation was necessary before the
settlement, we gracefully submitted and
commenced working In that direction.
The colony is growing in strength. The
force that our organization has you can
readily conceive when l tell You that 1t
numbers thousands OF branches all over
the states of Kansas, Texas, Iowa, Illi-
nois, and Arkansas. Kansas, of course,
has the restest number of local branches
ana ~displaysthe greatest activity, but still
any one unfamiliar with the situation
would be surprised to know the interest
that is shown throughout the eastern
states. The character of the society has
been greatly misrepresentedi we ask no
$50 admission fee, az / saw stated In q
press report; neither have we any arms
stored up for an invasion. / am In re-
ceipt of over 100, 600 letters from all
parts of the country, asking ali sorts OF
questions, and / am convinced that as
soon us the territory is opened up there
will be q rush Of ut least that number Of
people for the coveted land. Our plan of
working is to impress upon all persons
the greatness Of the country and Its re
sources, int to have them investigate for
themselves
In reply to the question as to the pros
poet of the opening of Oklahoma by leg
islatiye enactment, the captain said;
Never were they more fattering; the
feeling regarding the movement has
changed. In 1885 we were denounced
alike by people and press. This change
Is due to q more thorough understanding
OF the situation. People nov see lying
idle millions OF acres OF the richest lands
In the United States. The bill before
the Forty-ninth congress, asking for the
opening of the country, tailed, and, per-
haps, 1t is best it did. 1t included, as
yuu AAOWy GHe Cuuulfita u tu6 i've CtVll-
lied tribes. In the bill introduced
by Mr.. Springer, of Illinois, this land
about 20, DOC, 900 acres in all-is
not comprised, bnt only that west of
it and also No Mans Land. The tract
thus included mounts to about 25, 000,-
600 acres. The Indians living on this
tract will not number over $500, and
giving each one eighty acres, as provided,
there yet remain nine-tenths Of the land
for actual settlement. BY a little calcu-
lation youswill see that this territory will
giyS. ice, 246 firms of 100 acres each, Oh
keep 601, $50 persons in farms
and doubling this for city popula-
tion, We Lave 1909, 400 people, or
as MANY as we nnw haua4 asas-T
think there Is every reason to believe
that the present bill will pass. About
the strongest opposition to the former
bill came from the i've civilized tribes.
They not being included within this bill,
! think they will make no serious OBJ
lection. I understand that they will,
however, take some kind of action in
reference to the movement, but it is as
yet q profound secret