Wichita eagle., 1889-08-28
THE GUTHRIE CONVENTION.
A Protest and Disclaimer From a Citi-
zen Of KinEisher.
To the Editor Ct the Eagle.

space OF ialS 10 Tue COiiiSS OF the GQEIi-
RE convention with the idea that that
convention was attended BY delegates
from all parts Of the territory, and was
an importadt item of news 70 the world
as regards what is being done in Okla
homa. The truth of the matter is, that
convention was attended by few polit-
ical schemers, who are undertaking to
fatten their own political aspirations and
fix the temporary capital at Guthrie, and
is not the voice Of the people, neither are
the people represented in that connection
outside Of the northeastern part OF the
country in and around Guthrie.
To let the general public know exactly
how matters are, it would be well to
make short review Of what has been
done. During the latter part of last
June, some twenty men of Guthrie
| connected a great scheme for
a provisional territorial government and
without consulting the Will OF the people
made call for convention at Guthrie
July II, stating II that call how many
Representatives each town and township
should have. For uHmisigated gall their
actions stand without parallel. Who
ever heard of q convention being called
| without committee first being appoint
ed to consult with the people to find ont
what they wanted: No one ever did,
only the pioneers of Oklahoma, who, be-
ing intelligent and sensible people, quiet
~ went to work and proceeded to re-
pudiate the dolngS OF those twenty pollt
zeal sChemers. Il convention was called
to meet at Frisco on July 10, two days
before the one at Guthrie. On that DAY
200 delegates from all parts OF Oklahoma
outside OF the city OF Guthrie assembled
at Frisco and after being duly organized
passed the following resolutions:
The people OF Oklahoma territory as
sembled ia delegate convention for the first
time, congratulate the people of the United
States that the firso steps have been taken
on this soil to lay the foundation OF
great and prosperous commonwealth. In
less than three months thousands of Amer
lean homes have been established, popu-
lous cities have been built. municipal gov
erpmentS acquired, and peace and order
secured throughout the lands opened TO
settlement. At no time in human history
has the world witnessed such a marvellous
and rapid development OF civilization, and
nowhere in the United States, in the alb
sence of state or territorial authority has
there been greater security for life, liberty
and property. Conscious of the high
Obligations resting upon rs as the repre-
sertatIyes IN ehis convention OF more
than 5000 people, thus exemplifying
the best elements OF citizenship, and Tins
engaged in the material DEVELOPMENT OF
the most fertile and beautiful portion Of
the public domain, we declare it to be ims
polite and unwiSe TO enter at this time
upon the formation of q provisional ter
ritorial government for the following rea-
sons:
l. Every indication points TO the con-
clusion that congress must meet III extra
session in October or November, and that
body will proceed at once to consider q bill
for the organization OF the territory Of
Oklahoma.
2 The regular session of congress viii
commence in less than FIVE months when
action on the bill can be had, should it fail
to pass at the extra session.
3. The discussion during the last five
years in congress and by the public press
OF every phase Of the Oklahoma question
has educated the public mind, demonstrated
the necessity Of territorial organization,
and gives q reasonable assurance that such
action cannot long be delayed.
4 The future Territory OF Oklahoma
should comprise all OI the Indian Terrific
~ west of the ninety-sixth meridian, now
occupied BY only q few thousand Indians,
with the public land strip on the west and
should supplant with its auth ority the
reign OF the cattle sypdicates, and all the
usages OF catsleman and the injustice
winch has so long been dominant III this
section of country. bearing in mind always
that just, humane and honorable course
OF conduct towards the wards Of the gov
eminent should be maintained.
5. No necessity exists for the organi-
EutiOn of a provisional territorial gov
eminent ut this the. A vast majority
of fr1- q va 70
but even were it desirable and practicable
there is not sufficient time 10 Qut ia opera
ton before congress viii be able to pass an
organic act.
6. 1t would be impossible for q proyis-
iUnal territorial government, unless estab-
lished with great unamity to compel
obedience to Its laws, as 30 establish and
enforce a system of taxation from which
1t could derive support
Z. Believing therefore. tbst the at
temptS To establish q so-cal!ed provisional
government would be detrimental 20 the
best interest of the people OF Oklahoma, |
we not only declare our hostility to it, but /
we also give notice that we refuse TO recOE- |
nize any such government by every honor /
able means within our power.
On top of all of this those cheeky /
schemers go right ahead with their /
nefariOus scheme and send out to the /
world through the medium Of the press !
what Oklahoma Is doing III the way of |
government. 1t IS the most damna- !
bic outrage ever perpretrated upon in !
telligent people and should be handed /
down to posterity as the greatest po!lti /
cal scheme OF the nineteenth century. |
Boss Tweed's dOingS are left way in the /
shade-in fact we know Of no parallel. /
\ provisional gov rnment, srecalls to
mind a certain eA-prssideut who de-
feated himself by imagining that he was
a bigger man than his party. The same
with a provisional government right IL
the heart OF these great United States-i.s
absurd
John G. Carlisle. the ex-speaker of the
house OF representatives, II an inter
view with New York World reporter
at " icnIta said:
Il would he a foolish thing 10 do. Cong
gress Will meet in early November or De
CembeT and the necessity OF 2 government /
OF some kind for Oklahoma Is 80 apparent 4
that congress viii undoubtedly take Iu-
mediate action IN the matter. il pro
yisioDal government Is organized with the
expectation that congress viii sanction (
wuat has been done the people VIII be
disappointed. because congress cannot /
Tatity an Illegal government. TO organ
ize a provisional government entirely sep
aTate from the United states - uacouss5-
trTJigual. / provisional E0VeKum ent
VOI.d have 10 authority and Inscead Of
Gong good would react otherwise and {
would en- barrass congress from taking
immediate action n e4acting = govern
rnent Tor Oklahoma When congress
meets the original Springer I'LL T@li-E
PASSED the house last session and was Kill