Omaha daily bee., 1889-04-03
WHO POSSESSES THE LAND?
Does the Omaha Colony Hold the
Key to Oklohomaq
SOMEONE oPlNes THE CONTRARY
Discussions In the Ranks OF the
Local About-to-Be Pilgrims
Statement of Dis
gruntled Member.


Conservative members of the organization
OF Oklahoma boomers in Omaha are, IL is
said, beginning TO realize that the institu-
tion is not what IL purports to be. From the
commencement it was headed by an exclu-
sive clique, and has been kept up solely be-
cause the enterprise enlisted support from
a class Of people not conversant with the sit
uation. The Omaha colony is credited with
800 members on the books, and last night at a
meeting of that body an individual who
Joined the organization at the outstart, stated
that IL every name that was given in had
been properly registered and the money
accounted for, the list would represent
nj least 900 members. But with the 800 the
exchequer Is in a healthy condition when it
Is taken into consideration that each individ-
ual member pays an initiation fee OF 50. Ac.
cording to the records of the secretary over
81 ,0C0 have been paid in which under the
curtain Of the bylaws is TO be used in defray'
ing incidental expenses, hall rent and sala-
ries of of1icers.n Another noticeable feature
OF the organization is the fact that prime
ringsters are among the "salaried' members.
At a meeting held in college hall last
night, young boys, young maidens, married
women and men who had barely enough to
pay their initiation fec enrolled their names
on the ledger rs members. An individual who
is "a member of the farmers organization, con-
versng with a reporter in the hall at the
time, said
L "'There now, look there Look at that fell
low who has just paid his SO! Perhaps he
has not another dollar in sight. Now there
is young girl. She has been given the
money by her father, who is a member, and
who is somewhat after the nature of swine.
He wants two claims. Now that is just what
has sickened me of this organization.
nave discovered that paid my S3 for whats
For this" holding IN his hand a certificate of
membership of the Omaha colony, land it
is not worth the paper it is written
on. 1t affords nothing; its obligations
are simply OF series of private signs and
indications Of this order. Anybody can go
to Oklohoma as well without as with it.
Then again j have looked this matter over
carefully since becoming a member. will
say that this whole thing 10 gotten up by
sharpers for the purpose of duping the unin-
formed class of people. What can you expect,
] say, from large concourse of people sent
to a territory undeveloped, without visible
means of support in an industrious COM
munity. ! will say that If this class of peo-
is going to settle up Oklohoma the territory
In question will be the scene of extreme
poverty and desolation.
"rhen the whole thing in q nutshell is that
this system of colonization is one devised by
the schemers to make money at the expense
of the ignorance of the people that patroni2e
it. The filling of an entirely new and unde-
veloped territory with concourse of the
poorer class of humanityis not only wrong
doing but an outrage that should not be al
lowed"
The reporter questioned INTO the details
of the institution and found the above
remarks to be but little overdrawn
The colony" however, will move about
April Is to Oklahoma and will be about 300
strong. Further details in connection have
not as yet been arranged. Each colonist
must bear his or her own expenses. A glance
into its 'officlal' circles last night revealed
the fact that the secretary was salaried at
$50 per month, the president at $75 per month
and several side-b bidders were on the pay role
with their salaries meted out under the garb
of incidental expenses"