Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-23
ANARCHY OR WHAT?
The Oklahoma Territorial COnven-
ton Adopts the Memorial
to Congress.
The Constitution Discussed and the
Convention Almost Broken Up
in a Row.
Will Oklahoma City, King Fisher, Reno and
Other Cities Abide by the Conventions
Work-Election Ordered.
Special to the Gazette.

following is the memorial prepared by
the proper committee of the constitu-
tional convention meeting at this place
which was adopted to-day. 1t bears evil
dence of Mr. Horace Speed, chairman
of the committee, a young man of
ceived with great enthusiasm, and great
applause followed its reading. 1t is in
teresting, as showing the difficulties
under which the people of Oklahoma
now contend:
To the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States in Congress Assembled:
We, the people living in that part of
the Indian Territory opened to settle
ment by congress, approved March 2,
1889, in convention assembled at the city
of Guthrie, in said Territory, respectful
ly show that the land so opened COM
prised less than two million acres
and was settled on the first day il was
opened to settlement, tO-wit. April %
1899; that Immediately on that day there
sprang into existence in said land an ag-
ricultural community, villages, towns
and cities, one of these towns containing
not less than eight thousand people, and
another not less than three thousand
people; and the total population of the
land opened to be not less than thirty
thousand people. The population since
that time has increased and now num-
5bers not less than fifty thousand. Every
Quarter section of land fit for agricuItu-
raj purposes has been settled upon
and the towns have been
steadily growing. Since April % they
have constructed nearly enough houses
for residence and buildings for
the business which belong to
towns of their size. The towns now To-
Gated and growing in said land number
twenty seven.
The population of this land is, to an
unusual degree, composed of law abiding
people, who have come here to make per-
manent homes for themselves and to
seek to build up a desirable community
for life
Owing to the press of other business
upon congress al the time the bill for the
opening OF the land was passed there was
no provision for territorial government
made by congress or any other govern
ment, nor for any law save as the cOun-
try might be governed by the United
States courts, including the then recently
established court at MuscOGee, under the
laws enforced by them, it being doubtless
intended by congress that fuller legisle-
ton and completer laws should be pro-
vided7at It's next meeting.
. AS now settled this territory has all the
social and business conditions which
would be found in an equal area of
territory in one OF the old settled states,
and has need of as complete protection
to It's social and commercial conditions.
At present, however, there is no pro-
.yision in this territory by which the
property of decedent may be taken
charge of, his debts paid, and the fund
remaining distributed to the persons
properly entitled thereto, nor is there
any rule OF descents determining to
whom the property should be distributed.
There. is no provision for the
soIelanization of marriage, nor for
the care or adoption of orphan
schldren, nor the protection of wards nor
the administration of their estates.
There is no provision for the making or
Authorization of wills, nor the probat-
ing thereof. There is no provision for
the care of the unfortunate or afflicted,
the destitute, blind, sick or insane.
There is no provision for the construction
or maintenance of public roads or
bridges; nor for the establishment or
maintenance Of public schools; nor for
the experimenting of animals running at
large or breaking into the fields of set
tiers; nor for the assignment of
insolvents, or the application
of their property to- payment
of their debts; norefor 1tfie incorporation
or regulation of banks, savings banks,
or a rate of interest on money. There
is no provision for conveyances of lands
or mortgages of lands or goods, nor for
the recording of conveyances or mort
cages. There is no provision for trusts
or powers =, nor for the enforcement
thereof. nor punishment for the breach
of tEHsts.. There is no provision for cor
.poaatfons for purposes of trade or bust
Fsness, nor for municipal corporations. &
TheFe,is no provision for taxatioAs for
any purpose. There is no provision for
labor, material or mechanics lien &.
There is no provision for the protection
OF the public health, nor for the preyen-
tion or supervision of contagious or in
fictitious diseases.
In crimiDal matters the laws at present
in force i'll the territory relate only to
crimes against the United States and the
primitive forms of violence, such as muir
der and stock stealing. There is no pro-
vision of law as to kidnapping, child
stealing, attempted rape, poisoning +,
abortion, libel or blackmail, arson &,
burning woods or prairies, burglarous
entry of houses, trespass, ENLIGHTENMENT,
altering or removing land marks, forci-
BILE entry OF detainer, forgery, rioting i,
Carrying deadly weapons, disturbing
Ispsiblic meetings, seduction, public indie
Etency. profanity, gambling, lotteries,
drunkenness, bribery, destroying legal
process, official negligence or malfeas-
ance, creating or maintaining a public
nuisance, selling unwholesome, diseased
or adulterated provisions or
drink, the introduction of diseased
or infected stock into the territory :,
swindling, false weights and measures,
obtaining money or property under false
pretenses, making or using counterfeit
labels, nor for many other offeuses.
By the exceptional and intelligent en-
ployment of United States troops and
United States marshals, and by the force
Of an exceptionally cool and intelligent
: