The Red Cloud chief., 1888-11-30
OPENING OKLAHOMA.
. The Friends OF Oklahoma Assem-
BILE at Wichita, Kan.
Congressman Springer Gives Some Details
Of What His Bill Proposes-The IsesoIu-
tons Adopted-A Committee to Go
to Washington.

Greis more OF delegates to the Interstate
Oklahoma convention. The delegates and
visitors met at the Board Of Trade head
quarters. About ten O'Clock Hon. William
Springer. "f Illinois: Colonel Mansur, OF
Missouri; General Weaver, Of Iowa. ar
rived and were given ar ovation. Shortly
before eleven O'Clock a procession was
formed headed by "a band and marched to
the Crawford Opera House. The meeting
was called TO order by George l.. Rouse,
who introduced Judge J. S. Emery, Of
Lawrence, as temporary chairman.
Mr.. Walker. of Wellington, WAS made
Temporary secretary. CommItte were
appointed in the usual manner-of TWEEN.
ty-on~ members each. Judge K. Z. Jew
EFT. of Wichita, chairman II the commit.
tee on permanent organizations: resoiu-
tons and memorial. Sidney Clark, of
Lawrence, chairman; selection Of deie-
gates 20 Washington, Major J. T.. Allen.
of Wichita; finance, ~ ". Levy, Wichita,
chairman.
After assignments Of places for commit
tees 10 meet the convention ad Iourned I'M
I'll two y. III. That hour found most of the
delegates not occupied ON committee in
place, Will. there We're several hundred
spectators. representing many towns in
tH'N AIN tA1'ihA'e '"a.DH. ia hiD
of committed reports there were enthusi-
astic calls for Weaver" springer"
Charlie Mansur," AMI others. The dis
tncuisled gentlemen had not arrived and
the chair appointed George II. Block-
weldcr and J. %. Davidson To escort them
from h. hotel and in the meanti ING George
". Clement. of Wichita, spoke on The
question of the daV.
The arriyn. of the chrmpions of the OKLA
Eoina liii was greeted with prolonged and
enthusiastic cheers. Ir. Springer WAS in
sroiuced an IN euiocistic manner by the
chairman, after which he SPOKE Us fol-
lows: The object of the convention, II
IA correctly informed. il 30 give express
zion TO tie sentiments of the people
If the Southwest in reference TO the
upcning to settlement of that portion
Of the Indian Territory west Of the lands
occupied 10y the five civilized tribes. IL
we include what is known as Greer County
the area is nearly 1000 90 acres-about
the siza OF the State of Ohio. More than
half OF this area is now occupied by In
dim tribes under various treaty ST puia-
iions and departmental orders. That part
of the proposed Territory. however, which
il Known n- the Cherokee outleiIckla-
horna prop-r-aud the Public Land Strip.
embracing II .6b0,0o0 ncres, is not acquired
iy Indians aud only n small portion Of il
has ever been occupied 10y Indian tribes.
These lands ought to have been opened 10
actual settlers under the provisions Of the
Homestead law.
Two causes have operated to delay the
opening 90 these Lands TO settlement. The
Lrst is ia. complication growing out Of In
dian titles. and the second comes from
~
Indian leases are using large areas Of
these lands FOR grazing purposes. The
hall now pending IN Congress proposes an
equitable a.! jus;rncnf 81 the Indian claims.
There will L- no difficulty in coming to an
agreement with the Creeks and Scminoles
in regard to what IL known rs Oklahoma
proven. The Indian claims on these lands
are OF n very shadowv and ~unsubstan-
iial character. The Government has
a title already 10 them in fee
simple and las paid the price
which was agreed upon at the time OF
purchase. Bu; the Government having
declared il purpose 10 settle friendly In
diars upon these lands. il is of the utmost
importance that the hill for the organiZa-
,ion of the Territory of Oklahoma shall lee
passed at tie ensuing session OF Congress.
The longer the opening of the lands ~ de-
laved the greater will Ice the complications
and cnlbarrassmcntS which will confront
us. The tide of civilization has already
been STAYED toe dong upon the borders of
thls Territory. The people are impatient
10 enter upon and possess the promised
land.
TT settlement of these lands is n
question Of time and that time can not
fe long delayed. The opposition 10 such
settlement; is confined 10 a great cattle
syndicate having a lease of 5000, 900 acres.
The cattle syndicate insist upon using
these lands FOR cattle pastures, the people
insist upon having them for homes. Pub
lie sentiment will no longer tolerate the
arrogance of an, portion Of our citizens
who demand a large part Of the public
domain for their private gain and TO
the exclusion Of actual settlers Civil
iEation will not he stopped at the command
of individual greed. Private interests
must give wav to the public veal. II
these cattle companies We're more patriotic
and less selfish than they are they would
Withdraw their opposition to this measure
and unite with the other cit gems Of the
United States in demanding the immedi-
cite opening OF this Territory to settlement.
tut whether they surrender or continue
their opposition 10 the advance Of civilixa-
ton aud progress tn. time If their occu-
pancy Is short and the cattle kings must
go
The time approaches and now is near
when these lands must Ice opened to the
peopl-. There Is an irrepressihle conflict
between hs rbari>m and civilization. The
result of that conflict is not a matter Of
doubt. No portion Of this continent can
Ice held an bari,arism 10 the exclusion Of
civilized men, In the organization Of the
Territory the ho,es and aspirations Of our
fathers will be- realized. Every portion Of
our great domain will have been brought
within the protection of the Constitution
and the laws. In Oklahoma will be
realized in its fulles; fruition the prophesy
Of Isaiah uttered nearly 1900 years
ago: The wilderness and the solitary
places shall he glad and the desert shall
rejoice and blossom rs the rose.'"
At the close Of his remarks the commit
tee on permanent organization reported
s. Dollman. of Topeka. chairman: H. L.
Pearce. "f Wichita. secretary: vice-presi-
dents, Judge Cochran. Nebraska: g. u.
Peck. Topeka; Joseph Harris, Wichita; c.
H. keeler. Weilington: DIR. A. s. Glance.
Panhandle: John Dale. No-Man's- Land:
A. b. johnson. Arkansas City A. Corning,
Emporia-
The report was adopted and the resolu-
lions reported as follows:
WHEREAS. This convention believes that bv
the opening OF the Oklahoma Territory the
rights o: the Indian tribes OF the Territory will
IN no wise he impaired while the condition Of
such tribes VIII be greatly improved. and.
WHEREAS. We believe il IN invsrisble rule
tha: such vacan, territory As tina, in question
will be settled sithou, lawful authority II not
Nnt-affy nY~1g.yas- .OA