Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-06-15
STRIP SCHEMES.
A Kansns City journal Special
from Washington.
HOKE SMITH IS BEING WORKED.
Manipulators said to lie Using the socrc-
tary to Further Townsito and
Grazing objects of In
tercatcd Parties.

KANSAS CITY, Mo, June 12.-Tho
journal publishes the following special
from Washington:
WAsnISGTuN June r. The announcement
by Secretary Smith that no will aim TO prevent
the Cherokee strip tOwusite scheme from being
| contaminated comes ~ the direct result Of tho
announcement Of the whole scheme In the Jour.
nal and the Hood Of letters from the settlers
and others Interested who, being placed In pos.
session Of the Information, were quick to llo
emphatic protests with the department
Possibly during the years Of interest IN the
| strip matter the department has never been so
vigorously bombardod on the question as at
present In the feyefish excitement pending
the ratification Of the agreement there was an
active letter writing on the question, but the
fact that there h an organized effort on the
part Of some 10 appropriate everything In sight
10 the personal ends Of those In the deal has
been responded 10 with universal outburst Of
disapproyal
Those familiar with the whole matter are free
10 say that the secretary appears 10 have been
about tho last man tO suspect that there was
anything wrong II Is looked upon as queer
that he could not have discovered a scheme
when those Interested we're Insisting that he
have the opinion prepared by Gen Shields
| approved by Chandler and signed by himself,
changed In such way as 10 Invite unfair ma
nlpulaton OF property interests In the strip
This original opinion which had been promul'
Rateu made II absolutely lmpOHHlble 10 mnnlpus
late the tOwnslte matter, AS II forced the sew.
entY taking claims 10 make selections covering
and adjoining improvements This located the
claims and thus made II impossible 10 skip
around over the strip and capture valuable 10
cations and valuable property Tho decision
-ns changed by Col Hall, after many confer
enoes with the very gentlemen Interested In tho
enterprise, and who were 10 be benefited by the
change made II possible for the unfair manip-
ulatiOuA
Tho suggestion by the secretary In his an.
nouncomout that there was one way possible
for those In the scheme TO delay the opening OF
the strip 10 settlement In looked upon as an ad'
mission that II will be- an easy matter Tor those
IN the enterprise to prevent settlement on the
strip until after the grass has been utilized IL
Will certainly be- u very easy matter for those
hnanctoui interested In the grazing 10 follow
the secretarg'H suggestion by way Of keeping
the settlers On the grass and out Of the strip
Tue hope N expressed that the secretary will
be able To see how Il Is he has been manlpu.
lated by reason, perhaps Of his lack Of expo.
rionce In such matters, and that he will have
the courage to place the interests Of the set
tiers In the strip beyond the organized synd
cate which proposes 10 do an extensive bus'
ness al the expense of the settlers
II Is admitted by the friends of tho secretary
that he knew very little indeed about Indian
matters when he came Into ON CO. never having
been on q reservation and what was more en-
barrassing To him. had no experience with the
class Of mlnpulatOrs who seek 10 profit from
opportunities presented around Indian reserya-
tlonA II the blundor Is the result Of ineXperl.
ence, II Is suggested that II may not be too late
TO make amends.