Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-03-18
EJECTING THE BOOMERS.
A Big Row In Oklahoma-Drive ven Like
Sheep-ln the Courts.

OKLAHOMA, |. T., March lS.-The
"boomers" are routed for the time being
Lieut.. Carson, commanding troop G., Of
the 9Th cavalry, arrived here Saturday
from Fort Reno. The would-be settlers
were warned of the soldiers coming and
fled in every direction. Several hundred
however, were rounded up by the troop
ers, who drove them before them like
cattle, men, women, children and teams
The houses, tents, dugouts, claim founda-
tons and marks were destroyed. 1t is
said Hill has been arrested. The rest Of
the party will be conveyed to the Kansas
line and there dismissed, though their
property may be confscated. Capt.
Ward rom 'nansas amir wnr -raGe~ ulr' the
boomers who may fall into his hands to
the Texas line. The boomers are demoral.
lied, but it is feared their leaders may
rally, and as they Outnumber the troops
serious trouble may ensue.
The proviso in the law which stipulates
that all persons invading the country and
attempting to enter lands prior to their
formal opening by proclamation of the
president shall be permitted to enter any
of said lands or acquire right thereto after
the issuance of the proclamation, is Great
ing great deal Of confusion.
The construction of the proyiso is
creating good deal of interest. The
boomers say that it will have the effect of
ejecting the cattlemen, and the friends of
the cattlemen say that it will have the
effect of keeping out the boomers. In
reality it will probably act as double
edged sword. 1t will cut both the boom.
ers and the cattlemen. The latter now
have the privilege Of the lands in question
for the moderate sum OF 5000, 900 year
paid into the treasury of the Cherokee
nation. 1t is fact that the last clause in
the proviso was planned by the lobbyists
OF the cattlemen, their object being to get
the case on its merits before the supreme
court while the Oklahoma bill was pend
ing, the Cherokees and their friends pro-
testing that they would cease opposition
to the bill if clause was inserted giving
them the right to use the United States
courts to determine the ownership of the
lands. This the Oklahoma people refused.
In conference committee the last clause
in the proviso of the 14th section was in
serted. Its effect is to get the question
before the courts. The Cherokees will
refuse to dispose Of the lands for less than
their market value.
In the meantime it is expected that
Secretary Noble will issue an order direct
ing the cattle men to vacate the Cherokee
lands within given time. They will
refuse, and the secretary of war will be
called upon to order troops to eject them.
The cattle companies will apply to Judge
Parker of the United States court for the
western district of Arkansas for an injunc-
ton restraining the secretary of war from
issuing this order. This will get the
matter in the courts, and appeal after ap-
peal can be taken until it reaches the
supreme court. The boomers say that if
Secretary Noble does not issue an order
to the cattlemen to leave the lands in
question, motion will be made before
Judge Brewer, of Kansas, for such an
order. Brewer, it is understood, will
grant the order, and an appeal will be
taken. ... -.