Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-13
AFFAIRS AT GUTHRIE,

| GUTHRIE. L. L. Dec. II, 1889.
| To the Editor OF the Eagle.
There are many things at present agi-
tating the minds of the citizens of
Guthrie, but they are, perhaps, not of
much Importance to the outside world.
The question as to whether ''sooners"
could hold town lots has been a mooted
question with US ever ince the "open-
ing" it being contended by some that
the presidents proclamation opening the
country to settlement was intended to
prohibit ''sooners" from holding town
lots as well as claims, while on the other
| hand the "sooners' and their friends
contended all along that the prohibition
in the proclamation had no reference to
town lots. But as the city authorities
have up to the present stood by the
''sooners,' where it appeared that they
were the first settlers and were holding
in good faith, the question had been al
! most dropped. But the secretary's letter.
together with the presidents proclama-
| ton, ''sitting down" upon "sooners" has
| famed into flame the smouldering
embers and the .'sooners" are trembling
in their boots, and yesterday Justice
Neal decided in the case of Linn VS.. Tur-
ner that Turner, who was proven to be a
sooner" could not hold lot (Lhe
sooner question being the only one at
issue) and today the "sooners' are ran
sacking their brains to find some way
out of the dilemma. The general belief
is that they will transfer their lots to
those who can hold them until title is
81 H.,
transfer back.
The Guthrie papers have al last taken
up the cry of the people against the land
office sharks, l. e., so-cailed attorneys
who hang around the land office, scan
the records. institute fraudulent con-
tests and blackmail honest settlers by
threatening them with contests if they
don't pay a certain sum. The rascaltv
OF these shysters is beyond contempla-
ton. The bunco men who hang around
the gambling houses are credit TO
them. and vet the men engaged in it
make claims to respectaUiiity. To dis
cuss their modes and schemes would
take too much of your space, but one
thing Is certain. and that is, if the Capi-
tai and News don't succeed in running
these shysters INTO hole more stringent
measures VIII have to be resorted to by
the people, because if something is not
done to check these specula-
tive, colluslve contests it Will
have tendency TO injure our country
and deter immigration.
The council yesterday passed an or
dinance giving the mayor a salary OF
$50 per month. This action is not en-
dorsed by the people for several reasons.
First, Mayor Dooly made the race for
mayor knowing that it was not a salaried
Office. Second. the income of the CITY is
not sufficient 70 meet its current ex-
penses. and third, the two preceding
mayors who had three times the work.
trouble and annoyance that our present
MAYOR has did not ask OF receive a
cent of salary.
Our citizens are highly elated over the
fact that we have electric lights in sue
cessful operation, giving our city a
metropolitan air at night and that the
company that has secured street rail-
way franchise are preparing to lay their
track aud TO commence active operation.
The by word of every one in Guthrie
is, Did you ever see such beautiful
weather. The 18th of December and no
ice vet. Italy could not beat IT.
The bills being introduced into con-
gress for the relief Of Oklahoma are