The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-18
OK GHOMA STATEHOOD.

LAWRENCE. Kan, August 17.-Hon. Sid
ney Clarke Of Oklahoma City, Ok, in an
interview in this city yesterday concerning
Oklahoma affairs, among other things,
said:
"The movement to secure the passage Of
an enabling act by congress authorizing
the formation of state government 10
include all the old Indian territory is now
fairly under wav. There is some opposi-
ton to the movement but in Oklahoma
proper it is favored by a large majority OF
the people. The movement is nonpartlsan
and will probably be so to the end, mas
much as the political status of the terri
tory is not yet clearly defined. The cleo
ton Of Republican delegate to congress
last fall was due TO local causes, induced
bv the peculiar condition of affairs which
grew out Of the fight to locate the capital.
irhe vote did not divide on party lines.
There has never been a general canvass or
much Of political fight IN the territory.
The Commercial club or Oklahoma
CITY has taken the lead in calling a state
hood convention which will probably be
held IN September. 1t will be the most
significant assenlblage ever held in the
territory. Hon. Ledru Guthrie IS chair
man Of the club committee, and IS pushing
the matter in an able manner The federal
ofiiceholders, and those who expect Office
at the hands OF an incoming Democratic
administration after 1895, do not generally
take kindly to the movement. In Okla-
hoIna, as everywhere else there Is small
pull-back element, contented with federal
rule sycophantic to the powers that be
and desperately afraid of progress.
Speaking of the occupancy OF the reserva-
tions for grazing purposes, Mr.. Clarke said:
There have been more cattle this season
along the Santa Fe railroad south of the
line than ever before. Secretary Noble
started out bravely in excluding the cattle
companies from the possession Of the
Cherokee outlet. Even now the United
States troops are chasing long horned
steers in the outlet, while the Ponca,
Usage. Otoe. Cheyenne and Arapahoe and
other reservations are occupied as cattle
ranches in violation of the law. 1t is a
roaring farce to see the cattle driven from
one Indian reservation by the troops while
the cattle on an adjoining reservation -
left undisUurbed, though excluded by the
same law. The interior department is
either being deceived by corrupt agents or
il has betrayed the people in thus permit
ting the cattle syndicaUes TO again entrench
themselves in oklahoma territory. 1t is
idle to expect the United States Indian
commission TO be successful in negotiating
agreements for the cession of Indian lands
while the cattlemeB are subsidiZing the
Indians and using their reservations for
cattle pastures"
when will the Sac and Fox, Iowa and
Pottawatomie reservations be opened TO
settlement?'
The Lord only knows. The ways of
this administration are mysterious. Dele !
gate Harvey is said to be in Washington at |
this time TO get the order issued, but he is
as dumb as ap oyster and the people are
kept in Ignorance. The allotments have
all been made, and if the department
would wake up TO its duty in the premises
the order would be out in two weeks. But
and a half or two months of. There will
be great rush when the time comes"