Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-04
SETTLERS RIGHTS.
They Stand an Equal Chance With the
Cattlemen if They Will Stand Together.
The Right of Leased Land.
HEADQUARTERS. TEXAS OKLAHOMA
UNION, SETTER WELLS. TARRANT
~ H..

/
] To the Gazette
In our former communications, we have
| been working for our Union members, who
| are living at u distance from the Indian
| Territory. We will now answer enquiries
from the settlers in Clay, Wichita, Viii
| barger and Greer counties, and many
others. As to the right for settlers to go
| into the Fort Sill country, our answer is,
none at all, neither as such will we claim
| any. Our rights TO 60 in the Fort Sill
country is under a cattleman's lease on
%, 800 acres with exclusive CONTROL As
near as we know, that right is and ever has
been, possession, with ability to hold it."
1t is true, we We're all ordered out and
while we staid cut, the others staid in and
are in now. Therefore, our rights
in the Fort Sill country are
just the same now rs the
| cattlemen who have the Territory fenced
in. Our success seems sureSt in doing
| just as near like the other cattlemen as
possible. Avoid all conflict with officers,
''whack up'' now and then with the
Indians, never 90 anything that YOU can
not prove to the officers that the big cow
men are doing, and have done for years.
If the officers modest you turn loose your
evidence to him that the big cowmen are
doing the same He will turn you loose
or arrest the big fellows. The country will
be opened TO settlement after the cowmen
are done with it and not before. What do
we charge for a cowman's right2 Nothing
al all. We bought it for the COLONY
union, and any one can join US by sending
a stamped and addressed envelope for the
return of certificate and instructions. As
to where each one lays his claim that is his
business. Our people will probably claim
the northern strip on the north bank OF Red
| river, extending from opposite Henrietta,
Clay county, to Mangum, Greer county,
with enough to make 24 500 acres, and 5000
acres more in the Wichita mountains Our
lease contract is as great as any can be
made in the Territory. We are ready to
defend it in court if any officer wants our
right tested III comparison with any cow
mans right in the Indian Territory.
The advantage of each one laying his
claim opposite present home on the south
side of the river is apparent, reserying 5000
acres for those that want TO '.graze" in the
Wichita mountains. We are aware that
this article may be criticised, and perhaps
our claims disputed by those who don't
want Us in there. We do not object to it;
neither do we expect to change our claim or
position except it be, done in the courts
If our claim is not as good as any bust
ness there we will back down and quit, but
as long as it is, every settler on that border
from Henrietta to Mangum shall have equal
rights with cattle kings, if he demands his
rights as cattleman, and the settlers stand
united on that demand. Past experience
proves that a settler stands no show against
the cattle ring. We have brought our fight
into the ring and have fully fifty to one
cattlemen majority. Now are we able to
maintain our rights in it, If not, why not?
j. S. WORKS, General Manager.