The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-30
The Demands Of the Settlers Set
Forth in a Long Series
Of Resolutions.
The Mansur and Perkins Bills Endorsed
and Their Prompt Passage by Con-
gress Strongly Urged
Homesteader8 Advised to Obey the Law
and Await the Action Of the Govern
ment - The Promised Invasion
From Caldwell Pals to Take
Place - Minor Mention.

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan, Jan. 29.-Ihe
Cherokee strip mass convention held here
today was tie largest assembly OF the
kind that ever met on the border. 1t was
not in any sense a boomers convention,
7or il was almost entirely composed OF
earnest. practical business men and farm
ers. Among the distinguished people pres
ent were Governor George w. Steele, OF
Oklahoma; Hon. J. :. Emery, Of Lawrence;
Cougressmen-elect Simpson and Clover, OF
this state: Hon. G.. w Clements, Of Wich-
ita, and Hon. Oscar Johnson, OF McPher
son, who was representing a colony OF
Swedes numbering several hundred.
Speeches were made by the gentlemen
named, all favoring immediate legislation
looking to the opening Of the Cherokee
strip to settlement. a strong memorial
to congress, a part of which Is given below,
was presented blythe committee. and unan-
imously adopted 10y the convention:
Whereas, The lands csmmOnly known
as the Cherokee outlet, lying Immediately
south of the state of Kansas, comprising
over 6, 6,O00. 900 acres of unoccupied land are
needed by the people of the United states
for homes; and,
Whereas. Said lands are no longer
used by the Cherokee nation, as an outlet,
but have been abandoned, and, by treaty
stipulation, have reverted TO the use o1 the
United States; and,
"Whereas. These lands have been IL
legally leased, and never officially ap-
proved for several years TO gigantic non
taX-paying syndicates of cattle kings by
the Cher kee nation; thus destroying the
home industry Of cattle raising by the tax
paying farmers OF the western states; and.
"Whereas, As the United States gov
srnment has appropriated many millions
Of acres of public land to railroads and
other corporations, Justice demands that
this remnant of land should be given to
sctual settlers whereon TO build American
homes; and,
Whereas, The American congress has
appropriated millions of dollars to improve
the deep harbors of the guilt; the withhold
ing of this large domain OF publc lands
from civilized and white settlement will
setract largely from the benefit of said ap-
propriations; therefore, be it
"Resolved, First-rhat we heartily en-
dorse the Mansur and Perkins bills.
Second-That we request the Kansas
and Oklahoma delegation and our friends
IN congress to make determined light,
and use every honorable effort to have this
outlet opened.
Third-That unless the Cherokee nation
Immediately accepts the offer Of the com
nissioners appointed under the act OF
March 2, 1889. or that congress fails TO pass
She Mansur bill or a similar one, then we
call upon the president of the United
STATES, IL IL De lOuuu tSdl W uO bO, ~ piO-
claim the outlet open to settlement, and
shus relieves the distress of thousands of
homeseekers, who are camped upon the
borders and. If permitted TO enter now,
would be able to make crop this year.
"Fourth-That we protest against an or
tauized raid upon said lands, and call
lpon all law abiding people now upon the
borders TO not forfeit their homestead
rights by joining an unlawful organiza-
ton to take possession of these lands.
"Fifth-That we earnestly urge congress
20 ratify and confirm the agreements made
with the Citizen Band of Pottawatomie
Indians. the absentee Shawnee Indians.
the Cheyenne and ArapahOe Indians, the
Sac-and-Fox Indians, and the Iowa In
dians in Oklahoma territory, and TO make
appropriations for carrying the same into
effect and for other purposes.
"SiXth-That il is the sense of this mass
meeting that the immediate pass
age Of the Mansur or Perkins
bill, by connecting us with civili-
zation in the territory, cement the bond of
friendship between the southern and the
western states. and turn commerce to its
proper chanel upon the southern sea
coast
Seventh-That copy of these resolu-
tions be transmitted by the secretary Of
the meeting to the president of the United
States. the secretary of the interior, the
Hon. c. II. Mansur, and the Kansas and
Oklahoma delegations TO congess.'
THE EVENING MEETING.
ARKANSAS CITY. Kan, Jan. "a mass
meeting WAS held here tonight for the pur-
pose of adding weight 10 the popular de
mauC for the opening To settlement of the
Cherokee strip. Delegations were present
from all parts Of Oklahoma and southern
Kansas. Among those present were Gov
ernor Steele, of Oklahoma; Congressman
elect Clover and Simpson, Judge Emery,
of Lawrence, Kan. and many other prOmi-
nent kansauS. Resolutions were adopted
arginR congress- to pass the Springer bill
providing for Nle opening of the Cherokee
strip and petitioning the president to
open the strip by proclamation in the
event of congress falling to accomplish the
desired legislation. A resolution was also
passed discounteuacing any premature in
vasiOu Of the strip.
THE Caldwell CONTINGENT.
Caldwell. Kan. Jan. 29-The invasion
of the Cherokee strip from this point to-
day was not an organized movement. The
officers Of the O'Connor-Dlll colony advl>-
ell all the boomers 10 keep out Of the strip
until it should be formally opened 10y the
government tvith~tandlng this al
yiCe. many of the boomers started for the
strip on their own account aud staked OF
claims.
The statement that troops had been
ordered 10 this point 10 prevent an inva-
sion is found to have been untrue. No
troops have as Yet put IN an appearance
but IL Is expected Ia e all who have enter
ed the lands prematurely Will be elected 10y
the government