Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-15
THE OKLAHOMA MEETING.
A Good Attendance with Speeches from Old
Boomers AMI Others.

ooVucrb All cthcfSs
The Oklahoma meeting yesterday was as
complete success as had been hoped. The
morning trains brought number in from
the southwest and contrary to expectations
a meeting was held in the afternoon at
Garfield hall. Levi Threlhill of Caldwell,
was elected chairman and among Others
who addressed the meeting were Messrs.
Simmons and Ross OF Caldwell. \ COM
mittee on resolutions were appointed and
the meeting adjourned until $50 in the
evening TO meet at the court house.
The evening meeting was well attended
there being no room TO spare. Mr.. Emmett
Callahan was electdd chairman and J. T.
Jennings secretary The committee on
resolutions reported the following which
was adopted:
Whereas. the house committee on terri
tories has made favorable report on the
Sprln ger bill for the opening of a portion
OF the Indian Territory, which bill Is now
under the consideration Of the congress OF
the United States, and
Whereas, a meeting. called to be held in
Wichita on this, the 14th day OF March,
loSS. by representative citizens of south
western Kansas, TO give voice to the pub
lie sentiment sustaining the committee 5
report and recommending the passage Of
said bill, therefore be it
Resolved That as citizens of south
western Kansas, representing the com
mercial agricultural and industrial
interests OF this section, and believ
ing that the best interests of all
the surrounding states demand the i'm
mediate opening of said territory 10 actual
'eJtlcment, and further, believing 1t Will
be TO the best interest Of civilization and
the destruction OF barbarism and outlawry
within it. limits, we heartily favor said
bill and earnestly request our representa-
tues in congress to use their utmost efforts
to secure its speedy passage.
Attorney A. K. Musseller was the first
speaker OF the evening. and took the posi-
ton that there is no law for keeping set
tiers out Of Oklahoma. He also thought
that the opening Of that country would
help this city.
Judge A \. J. Crook thought the terri
tory should be opened up. He thought it
would be benefit 70 the Indian and more
of a benefit 10 the white people seeking
homes, and he was in favor of the whites.
lie thought it would not be long until that
country is open TO settlement, and it
should be done at the earliest possible mo-
moment.
representing the settlers of that country,
was called, and said they could make
break for the desired country from the
Texas side. He arrived at this conclusion
from the fact of an old claim Texas has on
the territory, to which he asserted brought
about his county and more slices could be
made similarly He said it only took
one hunded and fifty men to organize
another county down there as large as
Greer or larger, He gave dates of .excur-
sions to his part of the world, and seemed
quite anxious that his section should re-
ceive boom from immigration.
A collection was taken to defray current
expenses, when Capt. A. +. Trester. being
called gave a rather lengthy statement of
affairs in the territory, going back in the
days of sixties. He thought it better for
Kansas and all the adjoining states to
have it opened, and best Of all it would be
a great good to the many thousands want
ing homes.
Col E. c. Cole was enthusiastically
called for, and as usual was equal TO the
emergency He said thequestion had long
since assumed national Importance.
While it was becoming more and more
known, tneTe are quite quite majority
who fail to have in their possession the
facts connected with the question. He
took the position that several
millions of acres in the territory
now concerned in the Springer bill belongs
to the government, having been bought of
the Indians. This he thought should be
used by settlers. The movement had
proved a burden to the cattlemen, and
some were getting very much discouraged.
He advised the boomers to stand firm and
use all influence possible on members of
Congress.
The last speaker of the evening was L.
Whitcman, of Caldwell. The meeting ad-
journed feeling that the affair had been a
sucreSS