New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-04
The citv,s firmen were dcbarred from taking
THE ARNY,s NEW POLICE DUTY.


settled down to doing police duty against BOOM
ers. The Oklahoma job is just over, and they
find another and much more troublesome one
already on their hands-that of keeping settlers
out of the Cherokee Strip. The usual warn
ings have been given, and over-eager settlers
have been informed, as in the case OF Okla-
bona, that any person who enters the Territory
and endeavors to settle there i'll advance or
legal permission will forfeit all right to any
claim for land when the time comes for 1t to
be divided. General Merritt has caused the
Strip to be thoroughly secured, and reports
that there are no squattors there. But similar
assurances were regularly given concerning
Oklahoma, and yet when the time came con-
siderable number of enterpriSing pioneers
crawled out Of the woods and bushes, where
they had been concealing themselves, and took
possession of their coveted sections, and tho
soldiers were kept busy beating back the
anxious crowd who stood without the boun-
diaries. 1t may be that the reaction caused by
the dsappointments in connection with Okla
homa will tend to diminish the rush for places
in the Cherokee Strip. But the Cherokee land
is said to be Of much higher average than that
of oklahoma, and there is more than three
military may be able to keep out the BOOM
crS but if the Commissioners to negotiate with
the Chcrokecs succeed, as it is expected they
will, and the time approaches for these 6,OOo'-
600 acres to be thrown open to settlers the
pressure is likely to be renewed. The greater
extent of the Territory and it's superior at
Effectiveness will make the task of the army
much more difficult.
The whole agitation is likely to result in the
speedy organization by Congress of new
Territory out of the western half OF lndlan
| Territory and based upon the lines of the
Oklahoma bill. Oklahoma, with all It's set
backs is likely to have a population 10y inc
time Congress meets as large as that uhdor
which "A number Of States have been admitted
into the Union. There seems to be no queS-
ton Of the concurrence Of the ChcrUkccS IN the
opening Of the Strip, because the purchaS"
price which the Commissioners are empowered
to offer them will yield them, even at per
| cent, more than three times the income they
! have been receiving from the Cattlc-men for
it., use. and so per cent more than the sum
which was offered for renewal. But even If
this were not so, the force of circumstances
would now bring the Government and the tribe
| to some agreement. ohldnolllh ''H o''iy "
approached from the north through the lands
inhabited by the Five Nations, or through the
| Strip, where the Cherokces do not live. No
human power could shut out a community like
this from access and the Cherokee strip must
60 No Mans Land also has considerable
population. and is in even greater need OF some
| system of law than Oklahoma. Territorial
government should be promptly provided
Objections have come from the West to the
proposed Territory inaSmuch As it would be
not much more than half the size OF Ncw-l ork,
making it, when it should finally enter tho
Union as a State much smaller than many OF
the far Western States, and giving II larger
rroportonate power in the Senate. 1t has
been proposed therefore, that the entire Indian
Territory should be organized into Territory
ike the others. bringing the Indians under the
protection and benefit Of the laws as citizens
giving them lands in Scvcralty, and setting
apar to their use the proceeds OF all lands sold
r to settlers. Some such solution of the situation
; may be reached in time. Before Oklahoma was
opencd 1900 people in Indian Territory pos
spssed 100000 acres, giving moro than
, ZOO acres to every man, woman and child
I Il would unquestionably be great benefit not
: only to the whites TO open this vast area bu,
also 70 the Indians, who would benefit by white
/. capital and enterprise. But the project cannot
, bo carried out without the consent of the Five
Nations, and there is no present prospect thai
| this can be obtained