The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1894-10-17

QUESTION or FREE HOMES.

QUESTION or FREE HOMES.
There is no question that effects di-
rectly aud vitality so many people in
Oklahoma as that of free homes Every
citizen is interested in il and whatever
may be done looking to that end be-
comes at once a matter OF immediate
personal concern to every claim holder
ia the territory. The following dis
cussion Of the subject between the Ell
Reno Republican and Globe will give
the reader clear insight into the way
the present status has been brought
about, and from which party relief
may be hoped for or expected:
Under Republican president and
small majority ia the senate was
opened TO settlement free, but when
the senate changed with an executive,
and overwhelming congress OF the
same feather it was placed at Sl.25
per acre. They got a little further in
the strip business. Sl.25, sl.50 and
81 GO 2-3 per acre. Republican.
We do not think that the editor Of
the Republican wouldIknowingly and
Intentionally misre present the truth
of history, but he has certainly been
led into grievouS error, or perhaps
not knowing anything about the lie, =
islation that has opened this county
TO settlement. lie has been read ng
some of the speeches of Flynn, who
attributes everything rood to the Re-
publican party and s'ything bad 10
the Demo ratic The dates on which
the various acts Cf congress became
laws show conelusively that the above
statement Is incorre / and that the
very opposite is true.
The act OF congress opening original
Oklahoma To settlement, free. was
signed by Democratic president and
every subsequent act that compelled
the settler TO pay for lands was passed
under a Republican administration
and signed by Republican president,
The act OF congress opening Okla
homa to settlement became law on
March ., 1889, two days before the ex-
piration OF President Cleveland's first
term, and signing of that bill was
one OF his last official acts. IL is true
Harrison issued the proclamation
opening the country, but Cleveland
signed the bill making II his duty.
The next act OF congress which
opened land to settlement in the terri
tory was the act of February l3, 1890,
ratifying the agreement made with
the Iowa and Sac and Fox tribes of
Indians. This act provided that leach
settler shall, before receiving patent
for his homestead, pay to the United
States for the land SO taken by him,
in addition TO the fees provided by
law, the sum of Sl.e5 for each acre
thereof" This was the frst act Of
congress since the war that compelled
a settler 10 pay for government land
and this act was passed by Republi-
can congress aud signed by Ben Har-
rison, a Republican president
The next act of congress which COM
PEELED the settler TO pay for his Land
was the act of March 8, 1891, which
provided for the opening of the chey-
enne anu Arapahoe lands to settle
ment. This act prov ided that the set
tier should pay $3.50 per acre for the
land, or s24O for each quarter section
This act was passed when both houses
were in the hands Of the Republican
party and was signed by President
HaTrison.a
Ihs next act of congress which com
PEELED the settler TO pay for the laud
was the act of March 3, 1898. ratifying
an agreement with the Kiebapoo
Indians These lands have not yet
opened TO settlement, but II they do
open under existing laws the settler
will be compelled to pay 81 SO per acre.
This act was passed by a Republican
congress and signed by President iiar-
rison.
And now we come down 10 the open
ing of the Cherokee strip II viii be
remem 5ered that Grover Cleveland
was inaugurated as president OF the
United states for the second time
March 1898 The Indian approPria'