The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-07
WORKING FOR STATEHOOD
The People OF Oklahoma Are Very
Tired Of Administration
Misrule.
Political Jobbery and the Tricks
Of Sharpers Becoming
Unbearable.
A Non-Partisan Movement, Whose OBJ
ject In to Run Out the "Pull-
Back" Element.

A Non-Partisan Movement, Whose OBJ
ject In to Run Out the "Pull-
Back" Element.
GUTHRIE, Oklahoma. Sept. 6.-There is q
we'll defined movement now under way for
the creation of a new state, to include all of
the old Indian territory. Congress at it's
next session will be asked to pass an en-
abling act authorizing the formation of a
state government to control all Of this vast
region. Since Oklahoma became territory
its affairs have been controlled solely by a
cheap lot of politicians selected by the Har-
son administration. The history of no ter
ritory in this country is so mixed up with
political jobbery as that of Oklahoma. Be-
fore the region was opened to settlement
the administration permitted men to whom
it cwed political debts to pass the military
Gordon and take up all the really
desirable claims they could lay hands
upon. Every one who was here in April.
1889, knows that on the opening day hun
dreds of men were on tho sites of Guthrie,
Oklahoma City and other towns and had
claims staked out hours before those who
had honorod the presidents proclamation
could get in. These men had ''pulls'' Of
more or less strength, and although the ad-
dignation after all the valuable claims were
taken up, the lands thus dishonesty ac-
quired were for the most part held by the
original claimants, or disposed of by them
for valuable considerations. AS the boom
subsiae6 meny of these speoulators drifted
to more promising fields, but every one who
could get federal job remained and be-
came part Of the non progressive force
which has SO long menaced the region.
To describe how the people have been
plucked by sharpers would be an endless
task. Land contests have formed the main :
stay of this crowd. The land Offices are
now burdened with thousands of useless
and dishonest land contests which would
never have been begun but for the ridicu-
lors policy of the administration in land
matters. So far the decisions rem
dered, both at Washington and in the
local land Offices, form a medley of incOn-
sistencies and contradictions that would be
amusing if it wore not that the rights of
many honest men are involved. This con-
fusion ard injustice have been largely in
strumental In inclining the honest resi-
dents, irrespective of politics, to the idea Of
statehood as relief.
1t does not take one long to discover that
the better class of republicans are as deeply
disRusted with the policy of the administra-
tion as are the democrats. The demand for
statehood has very strong backing. The
Commercial club of Oklahoma City has
taken the initiative, and convention will
undoubtedly be held this month to voice
the hopes Of the people at large. Ledru
Guthrie, president of the club, is perhaps
the most active man behind the movement.
Guthrie is an able lawyer who came here
from Kansas when the territory was
opened. He had been member of the
Kansas legislature. where he made good
record. He is a republican, but takes no
stock in the methods which the administra-
tion has pursued in governing Oklahoma.
The convention will be the most signiticant
one ever held in the territory. It wlll be
declaration to the "pull-back" elsment
that the people are tired of the present
state Of affairs, and desire change. What
gives the movement character is its thor
ough n-partisanship.
Although the territory is administration
ridden, its political status has not been
clearly defined yet. Last fall a republican
delegate to congress was elected, but the
democrats maintain that this was due to
local causes alone, growing out of the pecu-
liar condition of affairs incident to the
fight to locate the state capital. So far
there has not been general canvass or
Many of the democratic residents assert
that square fight on political issues alone
would result advantageously to their side.
But 1t is safe to assert that such fight will
not be seen until the questions more vi
tally affecting the rights of the people are
settled. The political sharks who are fat
tening at the peoples expense must be
driven away before Oklahoma can become
desirable place of residence.
~ While the statehood idea has the support
of the best class of citizens Of Oklahoma, it
does not follow that the movement will be
successful. The administration may be de-
pended upon to oppose 1t so long as there is
the faintest likelihood that the republicans
might fail to land the infant in the republi-
can column. The federal Office holders
now 80 we'll provided for will fight 1T tooth
and nail. The greatest obstacle to success
lies in the complications that neoe 'sarily
would arise with the Indians now inhablt-
ing the greater portion of the territory.
The Cherokees alone have power and in
f1uence enough to cbstruct statehood plans
indefinitely. They have shown strength
and skill in all their dealings with the gov
ernment thus far. The cattle companies
also may be counted upon to stand solidly
against the transformation of the territory
into state.
The administration has caused the i'm
preston to 90 forth that the day of the cat
tlemen in the Cherokee strip are numbered,
but il ia yet true that in most OF the reser-
vations cattle are still ranging in violation
of the Law. Troops are now in the Cherokee
outlet driving cut herds, while great ranches
are maintained in adjoining reservations.
A well-known resident of this city. who is
thoroughly posted on territorial matters,
said to-day that ID was amusing to SEQ the
cattle driven from one Indian reservation by
the troops while the cattle on an adjoining
reservation were left undisturbed, although
excluded by the same law. The interior de-
partment. he said, was either being de-
ceived by corrupt agents or was betrRying
the people in thus permitting the cattle
syndicates to again intrench themselves in
the territory. 1t was idle to expect the
United States Indian commission to be
successful in negotiating agreements for
the cession OF Indian lanas while the
cattlemen were subsidizing the Indians and
using their reservations for cattle pastures.
The question Of Oklahoma statehood is
expected to come up in congress- early this
winter. Both sides will have their strongest
representatives on the ground, and the con-
test promises to be- warm. The best opinion
obtainable here inolines to the belief that
the obstacles to overcome are too great AZ
yet for the success OF tho plan.
Mrs. Hnmllton's Company Disbanded.
SAMoKEN, Pa, Sept. 6.-Mrs. Robert Ray
Hamilton's "All Mistake" company dis
banded here to-day because Of lack of pat