Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-25
THE TROUBLES AT GUTHRIE.
Events which Preceded the Eviction
Riot Reported Yesterday.

AhL AnOODLES Al UUIhhlE.
Events which Preceded the Eviction
Riot Reported Yesterday.
Secretary Noble has receixed an interesting
report under date of May Is, from Inspector
Picker relative to the condition of affairs in
Guthrie, Oklahoma territory. The report says:
"For about ten days there has been q stead
lily increasing feeling here among the people
against the city council of Guthrie. This
council was very irregularly chosen to begin
with, and as the people understood
for the purpose merely Of putting the
machinery of the city in motion. The mayor
was selected by committee Of seven, chosen
by mass-meeting, and committee of one
from each state and territory became the
council; something in excess of thirty,
at the time chosen, but now numbering about
fifteen. Grave responsibilities were forced
upon them, and generally they have assumed
and settled them In a creditable manner. They
have preserved order, surveyed the town,
cleared the streets practically, and in these
matters they are commended by all. They
have, however, assumed other powers, and
undertaken to act in various other matters,
and that is very generally, and
VERY EMPHATICALLY CONDEMNED.
They have appointed an attorney at $500
per year, and an adviser of the council in
arbitration at a salary in excess of this a board
of five arbitrator on settling the right Of pos
session to lot A, some being members of the
council at $40 per day each, $40 being re-
quired before the case could be heard, and re-
turning only the $40 to the party
succeeding and keeping the remainder,
sometimes there being five or six con-
testants for the same lot. They have granted or
pretended to grant a franchise for ten years to
a company to supply the city with water, to
build bridge across the stream, and to grade
streets, and in like manner taking many such
steps that the citizens loudly protest they were
not chosen to do, and further, collecting large
taxes, an occupation tax for business place
OF 80 per month, a survey tax, a recorders tax
on lots, &C., enacting harsh ordinances with
heavy and severe penalties for violation of
these ordinances, and recklessly using money
in paying officials, and surveying the town in
violation of the resolutions Of the peoples
meeting, and
IN ORDER TO SAVE THEIR OWN LOTS.
Further it is claimed against this council
that they are of those who came in on Sunday,
before the 22d, and seized all of the best lots,
and that the city government has in all matters
protected the interests of these men. The
mayor, Mr.. Dyer of Kansas City, came on Sun
This charge has been made the more emphatic
from the fact that the city council instructs
their boards of arbitration, that in considering
who is entitled to a lot, the board cannot
take into consideration the time of settling
as before or sfter II o'clock, but that
priority of settlement on Monday, the 22d, re-
CARELESS of the hour, entitled the party to the
lot. This the people considered to be in direct
conflict with the Presidents proclamation.
In the last few, days the council Sc
lected two other boards of arbitration of
five each, at a compensation of 95 per day each,
as claimed by some, and $40 as claimed by
others. The council has likewise transacted
much of its business with closed doors.
The lawyers have formed a bar association,
md fha fr-f 10 oly
election of city officers and to the drafting of a
charter to govern them.
MAss-MEETING.
petition was circulated yesterday asking
the council to call an election to divide the
city into wards and to have the registry of the
voters, and asking that the election
be held Monday, the 9th of May
Everybody practically signs the petition.
Independent of this petition the citizens held a
large mass meeting last evening on the govern
ment acre. They were very much in earnest
and very determined. After speeches by
different parties, they had passed reso-
luton ousting the mayor and the city
council. appointed a committee to so notify
them, and also had passed resolution appoint
ing committee of seven to call city election,
ignoring the present mayor and council. At this
time there had grown to be considerable ex-
element; the friends of the old council were
on the outside deriding this action, which only
tended to incense the great majority of the
crowd.
Inspector Picker states that he attended this
meeting and made a speech, giving it as his
judgment that it was a mistake to not petition
the mayor and council to call the election; that
1t would most likely result in two conflicting
city governments and great disorder and con-
fusion, as well as great danger to the public
good.
After discussion committee was finally ap-
pointed to call upon the mayor and ask for
an election and the meeting then adjourned.
AN ELECTION TO BE HELD.
Continuing, the inspector adds: 81 do not
think such an emergency will arise again. The
council will grant the election; in fact Just be-
fore the close of the meeting word was sent
that the election would be called for June TO-
This however, is too late date to suit the
people, and think when we confer with the
council on this point they will fix an earlier
date. The meeting was unanimous. however,
that If the council refused to call the election
that then the citizens would call it,
Major Picker says new people are still ar
irving and the town, as does also Oklahoma
City, continues to grow as rapidly as at the
beginning.
1t is simply wonderful. The city govern
ments OF all the other towns in the territory of
Oklahoma are running smoothly, and the
officers of the land offices are handling the
business in very commendable manner.