Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-02-16
NOT THIS SPRING.
Impossible For the Che-okee Strip
to Be Opened For Months.
LONG DELAYS NOT TO Be AVOIDED.
Delegate Harvey Says 1t VIII Be Well For
Intending Settlers to Govern Them
selves Accordingly-So
Does Peel

WASHINGTON. Feb. 13.-Delegate Har-
vey, of Oklahoma, said to correspond
emit:
by the many letters / receive from
those interested in the opening of the
Cherokee strip think it would be well
to state that it will be impossible to get
the land open in time to plant crops
| this spring.
This is sad statement and have
hesitated to make it. but as 1 now
clearly see that it is true. it is my duty
to those who are so deeply interested
TO make the fact known
eve have been working with the
hope that the land would be thrown
open in time for the settlers to COM
mence farming this spring, but owing
to the many delays it is now impossible
to do so. and hence think the boom
ers' ought to know the exact situation
and facts. so they can make arrange
| ments accordingly. They had better
rent lands in Kansas and Oklahoma for
| crops this year and as soon as the strip
is opened they can make their selec-
lions and then have time to return and
care for their crops, as / now believe
we will scarcely get the bill through
before the last day or days of the ses-
sion. We may be able to get It through
| next week, but 1 have had long talk
| with Holman and 1 was given very lit
tie reason to expect it to pass before
| the last days
There are some annoying things
coming up that forces me to this con-
clusion. Then it will be impossible to
get this bill through, as the agreement
specifies As a result the whole mat
| ter will be sent back to the Cherol1ees
to be approved by them They will
necessarily be given some time, not less
| than thirty days, and possibly sixty,
in which to approve the work of con-
gress- Then, assuming that they ap-
prove it, they will not do so until the
very last moment We can safely rely
on that If they approve it then there
| will be interregum of thirty days by
| way OF notice to accompany the presi-
dents proclamation.
| eff it is not approved by the Chero-
| KEGS we viii aim to cover that emergen-
| cy by making it imperative on the part
of the president to open the lands
| within certain time after the eXpira-
ton of the time given the Cherokees to
approve the changes. We must limit
| the time which the Cherokees will be
given to consider the changes: also limit
the time in which the president Is di-
rected to act, and in this way be sure
of ending this controversy by opening
| the lands
You will see as will all those inter
ested that it will be impossible, under
| the most favorable circumstances. to
! get the land open in time for the farm
ers this spring"
/ Chairman Peel, being accosted on the
question said: Il have just decided to
answer letters sent nee from my people
10 Arkansas that it viii be impossible
to get the strip open in time. Those
! who contemplate moving Cn the strip
! should know this fact We VIII do
j them great injustice to represent any
/ thing but the facts l have always
hoped for a better turn, but see no
way now of getting the land open until
. late in May or June, which is very bad
news for the settlers and boomers