Wichita eagle., 1888-12-06
INSTEAD OF INJURING KANSAS 1T
WILL BENEFIT HER.
An Unbiased View From a Bust.
ness, Social and Climatic
Standpoint.
How Kansas VIII Be Aided Directly and
Immediately. and How She VIII
Receive Lasting DeneftS-No
Dogs in the MaDger
WICHITA, Kan, Dec. 5, 1888.


Now that the question of opening ths
| Oklahoma territory, as large portion O
the Indian territory is designated, is NJ
longer the ridiculed dream of alleged
visionary and enthusiastic boomers, bu
has been championed by men of nationa
repute, the subject has quickly risen tc
prominence in the public press and public
mind, the adherents and the opponent
of the proposed legislation in that con
nectIon are busying themselves with al
sorts of assertions, pro and con.
\ number of questions present them
selves in this connection. The idea O
any sentimental feeling for the Indiar
tribes affected by the formation of the
new territory is entitled to no considera
ton in such controversy, for any one
who has any knowledge of the present
condition of Indians in the territory sug
! gested knows, or may learn, that g
change can be made which will in nc
way be detrimental to the welfare of any
Of the tribes.
In the proposed territory there are
! some 100000 acres of land. About
| II, $4,000 acres Of thewhole are held by
various tribes under number of differ
ent treaties. This is an enormous amount
Of land to be as scantily populated. Under
the last census of the Cheyennes and
Arapahoes, in 1885, there was within the
reservation no less than GAO acres to
each man, woman or child Ill the
! tribe, an amount of land four times
as great as the government gives to
each honest, toiling. heroic, settler (who
with his dependent family of five on an
average) as his only reward for trying
to add to the material prosperity Of this
nation. Furthermore the noble Chey-
enne not only gets twenty times as much
eminent supports, feeds and clothes him.
In the two tribes above named the gov
eminent pays directly and indirect
~ for the maintenance of
each member of the tribe,
abont ninety-five dollars per annum,
equal to the prices paid per capita in our
local aims houses. | do not for moment
say that the government is doing wrong
III affording this financial aid to the
Indians. But why give them in addition
millions of acres of land, more than they
can possibly utilize? For what do they
use 1t: For what can they need it? For
no other reason on earth than to continue
their nomadic habits and get as far as
possible from under the jurisdiction and
supervision of the local agent. This
nomadic disposition is perhaps his great
est barrier TO the red mans early civiliz-
alton. If we are to have any sentiment
in this matter let it be in favor of those
whose appreciation can be detected.
1t is now universally admitted that
there are thousands of eager and worthy
people only awaiting an opportunity to
90 into Oklahoma and make homes for
themselves, and the first question that
presents itself here is, chow will Kansas
be affected by the proposed legislation?"
Upon that point there is a diver
sity of opinion which is posi-
bly, biased in many instances by
real or imaginary results OF
purely local character. Now, | will take
the position that the opening of Okla
homa WILL as matter Of fact, be a ben
eft rather than an injury to Kansas, and
particularly to southern Kansas. | do
this with full knowledge of the criti-
cism which will be showered upon my
position, Before going into that ques-
ton further at this stage, for moment
only, consider the question of Kansas
right to say whether Kansas shall die
tate 10 the rest of the nation
the national power or equity to
open Oklahoma. Why should Kan
sas fear or object to such
a move: Is she afraid to cope with
Oklahoma in the effort to attract immi-
grafton, or does she fear her ability to
hold her own citizens against the allur-
ing prospects offered by residence in
the new territory? | undertake to say
she is not, although am in danger of
being conuadicted by people prejudiced
against Kansas, who use as their staple
arguments the wild utterances of certain
IDENTIFY actuated by more of a dog in the
manager spirit than genuine anxiety for
the unimpaired good of the state.
1t must be borne in mind that this
question involves national interests as
well as the interests of neighboring states.
Not only are the citizens OF Kansas, Mis-
souri, and Arkansas to be considered in
the pending legislation, but the desires, l
may say the rights, of the people of the
great states to the east Of the Mississippi
river must be regarded. In those great
there are thousands of
young energetic men of Drawn and brains
and means. such men as made Kansas
what she is, who now looking Tor new
field in which to give their capabilities
ample room. They dread the occupa-
ton OF lodging billiards on the bleak
prairies of Dakota. They can no more
be mesmerized by the sight of sea bathers
on the Southern California beach in our
midwinter months. The public lands of
Kansas are being rapidly taken up by
men of their own type. Where then
can they 80:
The most inviting prospect is in
that happy medium of climate
and good soil, whose praises are sung in
descriptions of the now renowned Okla
homa.
To this new field will come thousands
of honest, earnest men, bent upon max
Ing their homes there or wherever best
suits them. They Will be attracted to
Oklahoma by lis fame. but it Is not for 4