The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-22
KANSAS IN OKLAHOMA.

/ Kansas, particularly southern Kansas,
has never abated one jot of the interest
that has been felt, and manifested on
| occasions, in the opening to settlement
the lands in the Indian territory, and 1t
IS no idle boast 10 assert that Kansas
influence has been a principal factor in
! accomplishing all that has been done in
that direction, beginning with the
| 1nitiatOry steps for the opening
the Oklahoma lands. At the recent
convention held in Guthrie in the inter
est of the further extension the govern
ments jurisdiction, and in turn its bene-
faction to homeseekers, no section-not
excepting Oklahoma-took more lively
interest, or was represented by stronger
delegations than southern Kansas, made
ablest, most thoroughly representa-
tive business and professional men.
The southern Kansas represen-
tatives, together with number from
different portions of Oklrhoma, held an
informal meeting in Guthrie prior to
the meeting Of the convention proper, at
which meeting an interchange of views
were had as to the scope and plan of
work for the convention. At this meet
ing it was also unanimously agreed that
lion. G. w. Clements of Wichita should
be presented for chairman of the con-
vention. When it was discovered, on
the assembling of the convention, that
another program had been previously
arranged and agreed upon, Mr.. Clement
declined to have his name presented,
though he was unanimously chosen first
vice-president.
After the organization of the body aud
the address from President Mcdonald,
Mr. Clement was called upon by the con-
vention enmasse for speech. He re-
sponded substantially af follows:
Gentlemen OF the Convention:
l thank you for the honor you have
conferred upon me, ard, through me,
upon the city | am here to represent; and
as there is no motion before the house,
wish to take this occasion to express the
sentiments of the people / represent in
regard to the work before this conven-
ton. 1t is well known that Kansas lies
Immediately upon the north of this great
unpeoped strip of fertile land that we
demand shall be thrown open to settle
ment. The people of Kansas are a phil
anthropic and iberty-lovlng people, who
desire to see Justice done to every human
being. We are here today largely from
the towns and cities of Southern Kansas
to express our sympathy with the move
ment that is to be here set in motion.
We hear it frequently said by politicians
that the body of assembled wisdom at
Washington is not 1.-THE government"
but that you, the people, are the gov
eminent" Theoretically this Is true: |
practically it IS not Many men, after |
they are elected and sent to congress, fail |
TO represent their constituency. Their /
memory fails and they forget the prom /
lses they have made. Others are inter /
ested only in the people and districts 1
they represent.
The men who have been sent here bv /
the people 10 attend this convention
have for their object to devise some +.
means to Jog the memories of the rep
resentatIves Of the people in Washing
ton. The men gathered here today know
more about this country and its needs
than do most of the men assembled in
congress and are therefore capable OF
giving some information. The bill for
opening the strip is now before the SEN
ate, but the senators from those f.r of
eastern states do not understand the sit
uatlon as fully as gentlemen upon this
floor. Thls Is an assembly of pioneers
and city bullders-an assembly Of men
who have laid the foundations OF big
cities, and not only laid The foundations.
but have bulk the supersJTuCture-. They
have accomplished the work. On my
left | behold BODY Of men before whose
force and energy the rocks and the hills
have been no barrier to their progress.
and as a monument 70 their labor Kan
sas City today stands the grandest city
between the Father Of Waters and the
Rocky mountains. On my right l see
other men who have performed won
deTful work. Before their onward
march the buffalo has fed, the desert
3 IS been made to blossom as the rose.
In their track they have LETT fertile fields,
happy homes aud thrifty cities.
am here 10 represent southern Kan
sas, and The metropolis OF southern Kan /
sas. an here TO represent the energetic
force and pToEr sSIve spirit that has d.
Uected that people. ant enabled them %
make the woader5ul record they hare.
Look at the bright and thrifty cities OF
southern Kansas. What portion OF tile
country has ever buiit 20 many IN 20
short = time! But ! am not here TO adj
vertlse our cities. bur 20 assist our broth
ers ana friends In tbs new country. !