New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-15
DESTTTUTION N OKLAHOMA.
A TALK WITH GOVERNOR sTEELE-THE TERRI
TORIAL MILITIA.

Washington Jan. 10 (SpcciaD.-Goyernor steele, Of
Oklahoma IS in Washington on Official business re
latng 10 that Territory. In conversation with Irb-
unc cores ondcrt he said
There Is a good deal Of restitution and considerable
suffering among the people but the extent OF II not yet
known. | expect receive reports within the next Two
or three days which VII furnish complete ihorn'tioh
may remember that good many Of the settlers VINO
were known a, "Payno's Boomers " had been on te
border Of the promised land several years waiting for 1t
to b. opened 70 settlement and WIN they were hnay
allowed to flock into country they nearly destitute
The thing OF some hundreds Of families from
southwestern Kansas whore repeated douths had reduced
the -cttl.rs poverty and de-tution they joined the
Oklahoma emigaton and their case Is as Lad as ina, Of the
"Boomc.," only small crop made last year, owing
10 the scarcity Of seed and other causes Il was good
cfop but not large enough feed the peopleno large
enough fact. supply all the seed needed FOR new
crop The railroads running through the Territory ad-
,aucd 10 settlers twenty-five Thousand bushels Of
WHEAT seeding purposes last fall to be pad for o'br
the crop harvested The growing crop is extremely
promising and hope that want and suffering among the
settlers will disappear when It Is harvested, but some
icltf will Dr. needed in the meantime.
Al az the land, occupied br actual sctusrsl
w.. every acre and Of the quarter -cctions are
covered three four deep with conflicting claims. Every
school occupied also that is contrary to law, but
the people must have some place 10 I've The trouble be-
gan thousand persons managed get into
Territory before IL opened 10 settlement under
cover Of employment by the United States by railroad
ana VINO, T noon the day Or the opening.
cast aside ther commissions deputy marsh9. threw
their plckaXcs and shovcls railroad abo7cts and
100 tviukliug became actual settlers defiance ~ tha
provisions " the law The result has been num-
Der Of contested entries. Many Of Che persons haye
meutionod-prhapS majority Of them-orc irving hold
the claims and testimony hg, been manufactured great
both sides. am Informed I tank that great
many u these people got into trouble by following tho
mistaken advice Of cN-Ieprscntatiye Weaver OF Iowu
who understand assured the deputy mar'hals railway
ahorrr. o,hcr por.on- ia the Territory when
opened by law that entries by them would 70 vail
Isn't that rather lively Legislature YOU have in
Okl1homai
Wei, yea extremely but peace rcicns now IN
Ok'ahoma's temporary but proud Capital for the sane
cl.oa / suppos' that IL does in Washlneton-wh.n Con-
,r.>, Is no. In ss.hl 1 might add that some u our
people are becoming 4 rre uneasy les, he prornancc,
Nolrt-As. Colorado and other States over
shadow Oklahoma and the ~ h"r Leg
stature aud legislators bo obscurd. il forgotten
why didn't YOU call out the troop. when matters be-
came liNcvl
/ did / commander.n chief u tho militia q
oklahoma / also rs field and staG its oi
commissioned officers and It's and ne You what
4 compact BODY the Oklahoma militia is how simply and
asily 10 may Zee concentrated given point. how
free from danger Of being scattered II Yes SIR the
nltla hand ready and equipped for service. and
confident that the moral crcct o, It's the
A-ld excellent.