The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-03-30
THE DISPUTED LANDs."

I'M U40xUx6O AANOo
1t is surprising that any person.
particularly a man of rather unusual
intelligence, should have lived In Al
len county for four or five years and
still have failed utterly to apprehend
the real merits Of the question at issue
in our land controversy. A more COM
plete Misrepresentation of the whole
subject than was betrayed by the
Democrat Courant's article, "The
Disputed Lands, "cannot well be imag-
ineG.
This article proceed son the assump.
ton that the only parties in interest
are the Leaguers and the railroad COM
panies; that it is a struggle between
innocent settlers and greedy corpora
tiOns. In view of the well known
facts this assumption is preposterous.
These lands were patented, in accor-
dance with acts of Congress, to the
railroad companies by the United
States. These patents were placed on
record in this county. With them as
the basis and proof of their title, the
companies sold the lands to purchas-
ers who bought and paid for them in
good faith. After practically all the
lands had thus been transferred to
third parties, the Leaguers stepped in
and entered upon possession of them,
knowing perfectly well that they were
trespassing, not upon the property Of
corporation. but upon that of private
individuals. This is not true of all
who allow themselves to te called
Leaguers. Mr.. Ard. Mr.. Mattocks and
three or four others, settled upon theil
lands prior to the taking effect of the
grant and they are entitled to, and
will eventually receive, q patent
The REGISTER has always recogniz.
ed these exceptions. But the main
body of Leaguers settled upon land
which they knew had been bought
and paid for by private individuals
they have used them without making
any return whatever to the owners
and they are know endeavoring by
violence and intimidation to retain pos
session of them in the face Of a decis
ion from the Supreme Court of til.
United States and in defiance of the
law. These are the facts; and igno
rance of them. by one who uses hi.
ignorance to encourage misguided mer
to continue their lawless and ruinous
course, is certainly more harmful, il
more excusable, than prejudice on &C
count of them.
The suggestion that Justice Miller
decided against the Leaguers because
their side of the controversy was moi
adequately presented, could hardly
have been put forward seriously and
is certainly not worthy of serious con.
sideratlon. The decision was not made
by Justice Miller alone, but by the
entire Supreme Bench. And who is
80 silly as to believe that the Supreme
Court of the United States decides in
favor of the side whose attorney is the
best speaker" regardless of the
merits of the case!
The Leaguers never had any shadow
Of moral justification in support OF
their claims, tor they sought to dispos-
sess private individuals like them.
selves of property which had been
purchased in good faith. Since the
Anderson bill became law they have
had no sort of legal ground to stand on
for the reason that this bill fixes the
title Of the lands in the purchasers OF
them whether the railroad patent is
confirmed or voided. This is exactly
the petition these meE are now in, and
in espousing their cause the Demo.
crdt- COurdnt is not only injuring the
county by encouraging tn. confirm.
ance of this disastrous controversy, but
is arraying itself against the decisions
of the Courts and the laws of the land.
IT AYERS that its sympathies are with
the "uninformed." This may be easily
believed fol "a fellow feeling makes
US wondrous kind" We earnestly
hope however that when our usually
level headed contemporary is better in
formed it will find its sympathies on
the side of Justice and law and the
best interests Of Allen county, and that
it will recede from it's present I'M
worthy and untensble position.