The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-02-23
OpanIOns OkIaho1aa.

From the Emporia Republican.
From Gushing" Washington letter
in the LeaVenworth Times, we CLEAN
the following opinions in regard TO the
opening of Oklahoma:
Senator Plumb is reported as saying:
I suppose the Springer bill will pass
the house In a week or ten days-Mr.
Springer himself is Of that opinion
and then it will come over to the SEN
ate. Some amendments may be neces-
sary. For instance, the Indians are to
be paid S1.25 per acre for their land,
but II they don't choose to take that
the bill is imperative. would prefer
to have that matter left to the discre-
ton OF the commissioners, and In gem
eral give the commissioners more pow
er. The bill ought to be operative
anyway and then $1.25 per acre, l
think, Is more than has ever been paid
before. Mr.. Springer is inclined to
agree with me, but he has put it in
the report of the committee and
doesn't feel like changing anything in
the bill just now.
Senator Ingalls, is quoted as saying
that in his judgment the effect Of the
establishment of territorial govern
ment for Oklahoma upon the prosper
| ity of Kansas, was matter of grave
doubt, but he had no objection to the
measure, provided it received the as
sent of the Indians, and guaranteed
them full compensation for the lands
relinquished by them, to which they
are entitled under the treaties of 1855.
Congressman Morrill, said:
! The opening of Oklahoma would be
: of no real benefit to Kansas for year
! or two for thousands will leave the
l state and go over the border. But it
is shOrt-sighted policy to try to force
/ people to remain in Kansas or to settle
| in Kansas alone. 1 believe Kansas is
the greatest state in the union, and
she can stand on her own merits; and
1 am heartily in favor of the general
policy of throwing open new land.
The land Is for the landless and every
body who wants home should have a
chance to get one. The bill, think
will pass in some form, and inside of a
year 100, 600 people will probably leave
Kansas for the new territory, and all
the valuable quarter sections will be
taken up. Thousands too, will &C
through our state to settle in the new
country, but nothing can stop itt
permanent growth.
Congressman Perkins expressed his
view substantially as follows:
/ should say that the opening of Ok
lahoma will not be an immediate bene
fit to the whole state, because of the
large exodus that would certainly take
place, still the general movement rtC
give new settlers chance is undoubt
edly healthy, and Kansas cannot su1Iel
permanently. Her towns will grow
and her farms continue to be produc
tive.''
SIT looks to me-" said Congressman
Peters, ''as if the bill was good and the
prospects of its passage fair. The
principal cause of the opposition al
home, as gather from numerous let
tiers and petitions from all parts of my
district, is the fact that the crops have
not been large and consequently there
would not be much to sell to the new
settlers. On the other hand I have
had many sets of resolutions OF the
boards of trade, and letters favorinp
the opening; SO you see public opinion
is divided.''
Congressman Ryan being asked how
the passage of the Springer bill would
affect Kansas replied:
| ,SBenenclally. Ii Is reared by some
that it will depopuIate the western
part of the state. Why should til
The lands and climate of western Kan
sas are as good and probably better
than those of the Indian territory.
Some will of course move on, but 9TH
ers better able to develop comfortable
homes will take their places. The loss
of population, if any, would be small
and temporary at most and would be
more than compensated by the excel
lent additional market the territory
would afford, at least for time, fol
our products. The opening of the ter
ritory would give to western immigra-
ton strong impulse and Kansas, the
garden OF the west, would get the
cream of it..
Congressman Funston thought even
if one hundred thousand people left
Kansas in a year and even if some OF
the eastern people passed over Kansas
into the new territory, Kansas would
not suffer permanently. Her growth
was sure.
Congressman Anderson said he had
not read the Springer bill, but would
be governed by the judgment of hii
colleagues. Congressman Turner was
not interviewed.