The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1894-10-14

lieve that prices were put upon the
land to compensate for the unwar-
ranted act of paying the Cherokees for
their alleged equity in that country.
In law and of right the CherolSees
had no valid claim to the strip, having
voluntarily abandoned IL for the pur.
poses for which it was granted by
congress. The eight million dollars
the Republican congress agreed to
pay them was gratuity, pure and
simple, the supreme court having de-
cided that the Indians had no legal
title to the outlet.
The condition Of the treasury at the
time the act was passed providing for
the payment of the Cherokees
claim (?) was not such as TO warrant
the payment OF that or any other sum
or such purposes, owing TO the profit
gate waste of the peoples
money; still this did not
justify the act, because the
same act provided for the payment of
the Indian claim in bonds of the gov
ernment (Which increased the public
debt by that amount.0
In their earnest desire to secure
homes for themselves and their fami-
lies, the settlers upon the lands in
question assumed obligations that
many of them well knew they could
never fulfill. Being without means
other than what they arc able to earn
by chance ii is hard struggle for the
settlers to keep the wolf from the door
of their cabins, and at the same time
make such improvements upon their
claims as are absolutely necessary for
the maintenance of their families, nor
viii IL be possible except in rare cases
for them TO accumulate the money
that will be required against the time
payment becomes due. What the re-
suit will be need not be stated there
can be but one.
Nor is this a new condition, recently
developed. 1t was as patent during
the last session of congress as il is TO
day. And yet, with this urgent situ-
alton staring him in the face Delegate
Flynn was as silent as a shrimp,
making no move and suggesting no
measure Of relief for the distressed
condition of thousands of his constit-
uents. The matter has become so
pressing now, though, that he cannot
| IL, ah l. l..
as he has heretofore. He has discov-
cred that something must be done, but
realizes his helplessness to do any
thing. He has taken up the cry of
| free homes, but is compelled to adj
NIT in his public speeches that, being
Republican, and the house Demo-
cratic, he has no hope of securing leg
islation that will give all settlers
equal rights and their homes free in
the territory, and that the most he
will be able TO do will be the securing
an extension of the time in which
payment must be made. How absurd
the proposition Everybody knows
that II MIR. Flynn is unable to secure
necessary legislation to give strip set
tiers their homes on equal terms with
all Others, hescannot secdre an exten-
sion, or any other measure of relief,
and 1t Is folly to expect it. This is
not wholly because Mr. Flynn is a
Republican--though that is one strong
reason--but because he rendered him
self so obnoxious TO the con-
trolling party in congress by his
unwarranted and uncalled for
attacks upon the administra-
tion aud denunciation of the Demo-
cratic party on the floor of the house.
lie simply outlawed himself for the
sole purpose of making for himself a
bit of cheap notoriety and partisan
priyil ege, at the sacrifice of the inter-
ests and welfare of the territory and
people he was accredited to represent.
But the situation as set forth, bad
as it is for the settlers in the strip,
the c. and a. and the Pott. country, is
not past remedy. Hon. Joseph Wisby,
the Democratic nominee for congress,
has the keenest appreciation of the
condition of the helpless thousands OF
his fellow citizens and feels the fullest
degree of sympathy for them, and be-
ing possessed OF the ability aud the in
cliuation 10 help them, and being in
hearty accord with the majority party
in congress and the administration,
makes II not only possible for hir- 10
secure remedial legislation, but his
election will be an absolute
guarantee that il will be done,
and at the earliest possible
moment. A years extension OF time
the most that Mr.. Flynn hopes to
secure would afford no substantial
relief to the settler. And IL il did Il
would in no way right the great
wrong done by the Republican act of
discrimination in placing price upon
the lands.
As we said in the outset, this is, to
thousands of settlers in the territory.
the all-important, the vershadowing
issue, and so great is its involvings
that every citizen OF the territory is
interested in its prompt and equitable
adjustment The price put upon those
lands is SO much Of mortgage upon
the territory, and II its payment is ex-
acted il will hamper the growth and
i -. u