Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-21
CAPTAIN COUCH
ON THE "0KLAH0MA TERRITORY"
BILL.
The. Many Changes it Has Passed
Through and its Present
Prospects.

Captain w. L. Couch, president of Cap
tain Payne's Oklahoma colony, arrived
yesterday from his home in Douglass, But
Ter county, and will be in the city until
this evening. He is looking much better
physically than he did when in the city
few months ago, and from the hopeful
manner III which he speaks for the Okla
homa bill now before the committee on
territories it would seem that his physical
strength is somewhat governed by his
mental condition. The Captain is in good
spirits and last evening for some time en-
tertained an EAGLE reporter at the Carey
with facts growing out of the Oklahoma
| movement, the present state of affairs and
the prospects for the future
In answer to a question the captain
stated that the colony is increasing rap
| IDLY, now numbering several thousand
people. OF the states represented in the
colony, as would be expected, Kansas is in
the lead, and Joined by Missouri, Iowa,
| Illinois, Arkansas and Texas. 1t has not
been the wish of the colony in the last
two years to make any movement towards
settling the Oklahoma country, but to
bring about legislation concerning Okla
will throw it open to settlement The
movement had been started on the theory
that the territory is public lands, and no
| legislation is necessary before its being
| occupied. AS that theory had been dis
puted by the powers that be, they had
endeavored to bring about the desired
results in way most familiar to Ameri-
can people.
do you think the outlook favorable for
securing the desired legislation this
winter" was asked.
IL think the prospects quite favorable
he replied promptly. 'In congress we will
meet with little opposition from the west
and northwest. No one looking aU the
facts impartially will oppose the bill A
few may be connected with the cattle
ring or have friends in that position who
Will not be able to see the propriety or.
justice in favoring the bill but
they are few / assure YOU Eastern
men who are in possession of all
the facts will favor the bill with
accustomed vigor, and now let me predict
that If the members OF this congress are
made aware of the whole truth concerning
this bill it viii pass with an opposition
much less formidable and dangerous than
most Of the enactmentS. 1t is the task of
those of us interested in the movement to
let the facts be known to our law makers.
This done and all is ACCOMPLISHED. Speak
ing of the west and northwest being in
favor of it, | at present recall the name of
but one representative opposing it, and he |
halls from Oregon-Mr. Herman-and | |
hope we will be able some time to learn |
his reasons Our representatives in the !
west and northwest as rule are |
better informed on the question than in |
the east, as it naturally would be expected |
as they are nearer the question being dis
cussed, and as result are more prompt to
act on the matter than our eastern
friends"
Concerning the bill now before the COM
miUtee on territories, relating to Okla
homa and surrounding country, he said:
1T will be remembered we asked last con-
gress to open to settlement the Indian
Territory but the sole opposition to the
bill came from the fine civilized
tribes located in the eastern part
of the territory. This fact caused us
to change the bill that is now before the
committee causing it to leave out the ter
ritory occupied by the five tribes which is
&c, 900 acres of land, which is located
mainly in the eastern part of the territory
The part included in the bill finds Okla
homa on the east and center and runs west
to Texas including No Mans Land, con-
tanning in round numbers 1000 coo acres
which, for agricultural purposes, averages
with the finest land In the world | sup
pose it is not necessary for me to say any
thing Of the merit of the territory COM
prised in the bill as that is known to all,
The committee now preparing q
report Oh the billp the CAPTAIN
continued will hear evidence on the
question presume some time yet. | nee
some reports have been made and | ex-
pect much less opposition this year than
we faced last. Ia fact, l expect no eppo-
sition from parties living in the Territory
in the bill and what the repre-
on the outside. mean from the
fine tribes will do, can not be told | see
they few days ago asked the committee
for a hearing, which was granted ana they
will some time durius the session say
som thing, bat rs TO its character | am
unable to say whether it will favor or OBJ
pose the bill lam now making arrange
nents 10 go to Washington and ,
aS-alh hkbfpSdI DSLCEt Lie GOi1IillUltS giving
tile matter personal attention down theirs
until it is passed or rejected l shall prob ;
ably leave III ten days and go direct to q.
" aSiiiugto 10 do all in nay power ia help
ng TO carry the bill now pending. Ii is .
iiiiiculJ 10 make an estimate OF how long
i will take the committee to suomis a re- .
,ort. When they de, and il il Is favorable, !
set it Down as one OF the certaintaintIes
hat It VIII receive the support af con gress. !
expect GIIaS t32 president will ses a day
IN which it shall bS opea to settlement ;
md prior to that, order that all shall be :
kept out, / venture Uas prediction that if :,
/ day is determined upon the day
previous will fad iOJ.0J0 peopis cazl.pifaE
IA the outs!oe .mpat.ently waiting for the .
Start. Ii viii be picnic 10 keep them out (
intIi the time Determined, bus / feel GER /.
ain that no one belonging 10 our organ
cation will attempt an entrance before the
lay determined upon. | want TO repeat :
has We DO not expec. 10 use Iores under
Jay circumstance, but ies it be settled In
IL anlicGb.e way.
~ hen / get TO Washington | expect to c
nees our two representatives, the Hon 5
,idney Clark, OF Lawrence, who repre- 4
ents our organization, and DR.. G. u
rhcSa af M Mep'S land Vb.~ -. \