Wichita eagle., 1888-11-21
OKLAHOMA.
THE INTERSTATE CONVENTION A
GRAND SUCCESS.
Over Five Hundred Delegates Pres
ent and a Lively Interest
Shown.
Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa.
Illinois, Nebraska and Kansas
Take a Part.
Congressman VIM. Springer. Gen. Weaver
and Col. Mansur Make Able Speeches
While Number of Others do
Themselves Proud.
The Hon. Sidney Clark, Capt W. L. Couch,
Col. II. u. Murdoch and Col, Crocher
Appointed as Committee to Visit
Washington in the interest
Of the Oklahoma Bill
Terse Resolutions.

Inc opening OF the board OF trade rooms
yesterday morning at s o'clock found g
large number OF delegates to the Oklaho-
ma convention in waiting to be admitted
and commence initial work for the con
yention. They registered and received
badges which entitled them to position
on the convention floor All was business
about the board of trade headquarters.
The central committee met at 10 O'Clock tc
attend to some organization work. Gen
eral Weaver visited the headquarters and
all were glad to meet the distinguished
gentleman from Iowa. Quite number
knew him, and most of those who had not
met him sought an introduction. The
general gave words of encouragement to
all asking about the facts of the Oklaho-
ma bill There were a number of other
prominent men on hand who conversed
freely on the exclusive topic OF the day.
Shortly before II o'clock the board OF
trade band headed the march to the Craw-
ford Grand for convention work. On the
stage was a large crayon map OF
OF the Indian Territory showing the part
included in the Springer bill. 1t was not
long until the parquet was filed with dele
gates, about five hundred in number, rep
resenting Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, Mis-
souri,, Iowa, Illinois AND Nebraska. The
Hon. Geo L. Rouse chairman of the Ok a.
lahoma committee Of the Board Of TRADE,
called the convention to order aud III a
very acceptable manner introduced Judge
L. 5. Emery, Of Lawrence, as temporary
chairman. The appearance of the Judge
was greeted with cheers as many men pres
ent who knew him well and were confident
that he would make an able and efficient
chairman. The Judge spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the convention, and fellow
citizens OF Wichita
Allow me to return to you my thanks
for the distinguished hanor you have con-
ferred, thr ugh the kindness of the board
OF trade of this city, under whose auspices
the call for this meeting was made.
1t is meet and proper that this gathering
of the people through their delegates from
the various states OF the Missouri Valley,
should be held in this, the metropolitan city
of the great southwest city of an al
most phenomenal growth-of unsurpassed
enterprise and nerve coupled with most
commendable ambition and most fortu
nauely situated just on the border of the
promised land, | can only account for
what Wichita is today, by reminding you
all that it is one of the institutions of the
SunhOwer state-a marvel of rapid devel-
opment and a point, just at this hour, of
a most commanding commercial signifi-
cameo.
Did I seek TO give expression to my own
emotions only. | would exclaim with the
great Roman orator where in the world
are we" and IN what city do
we dwell?"' And the truth
of history void be that here near the
south line of our state and fifty miles dis
tant from Oklahoma, has been city of
10000 souls, born IN day with no one
who viii assume to set bounds TO its
future greatness and granduer. You stand
as the chief entrepot TO that new state, as
Yet unseen, but which is to appear so soon,
full grown and cCmplete-ready TO join in
casting its first electoral vote in 1892,
Hence it is well that the people of this
great Mediterranean region, as Mr.. sum
ner used to call il, lying west of the
turbid Missouri and east of the foot hills
OF. the mountains, should send Us up to your
city, as their representatives and delegates
10 utter final expression of their wishes
aud desires touching the early erection of
Oklahoma into territorial form of gov
eminent.
Many times heretofore have the people
spoken on this matter, in popular assem-
blages, big and small, all over this land
and they have often been baffied and sue
-
through the schemings of interested and
men.
The road which the active friends and
promoters of the Oklahoma movement
have travelled has been long and weary
way. But thanks to the faith and persis-
fancy of these men-some of them now be-
fore ne-and particularly to the distin-
yulshed gentlemen from a neighboring
state whose name the bill now pending in
congress popularity bears and whom | am
glad to see with US here today-thanks to
you, one and all, we are nearing the end of
Dur march. And today we have came up
20 look over into this new Canaan just |
lpon the eve of the triumphant entry OF
our people upon its borders.
The argum4nt for Oklahoma has already |
been made before the people of this /.
IT'S said we are government of |
morning newspapers and these newspapers, /
III oveI the land have discussed Oklahoma. /
4 bout our firesides, in congress and out /
If congress, the business of the measure
las been fully canvsssed. Ours is gov |
.rnment by discussion and all I
great measures must and should |
receive as the ultimate pow
will of constitutional majority. And +
low open the eve of the assembling OF the /
scond session of the Fittieth congress, /
We are here met TO formulate the public /
Judgment of the people, as we believe that /
Judgment has been made up after this /
ong and high debate
That Judgment is in favor of the i'm
Mediate opening of Oklahoma to settle
nent, and 1t represents as we believe. the /
interests OF the most advanced type of our
utilization. And added to all this the /
interests of Kansas. demand that
here be no further delay in passing the /
springer bill through both houses OF con-
,ress.
Men who have carefully studied the
limatic changes which have come over
Aansas since her first settlement are quite
greed that large and most beneicsRt re-
ulIs would accrue 70 the agricultural in
erests of our state, were the Indian Terri
ory densely settled with an agricultural |
opulatiou, IN the way OF greatly modify
az those hot winds that from time TO time
ONE up like simeon blasts from the open !
ountry south of Us The Hoa. Charles
'raucis Adams. himself both a scholar |
nd a close observer OF the growth and |
evelopmeuI of the great west, has recent
: veutured an opinion in full accord with
his scientific conclusion. and may say, /
link. that the general trend of scientific
pinion now is IN this same direction.
We do we'll TO closely observe all
atural phenom;na about Us aud 20 care
ally follow the teachings aud lessons Of
Il such induces of nature as they appear
As You pass over the bar Of 9uicksad on
abine Pass In the Cali Of Mexico. you
III see the top of an iron
nokestsck. Of government steamer
Ihich the confedsrates captured aud sank
years ago. Uncle Sans civil engineers,
the fact that this smokestack