The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-05
into an invitation for audible approval

into an invitation for audible approval
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| The average Oklahoman does not
feel gripping desire to break out Of the
territory and jump into the states.
There is some discussion out here in
regard 10 silver and gold, but it lacks
the rabid intensity which the states
devotes to the financial issue. Free
homes is undoubtedly the issue with
people of this part Of the territory.
This is their one thought There is a
sensible exercise of good judgment
among the settlers when they
acknowledge that an award of S13 ,OOO,-
600 TO Oklahoma by the general gov
eminent is not at the earnest solicita-
ton of the government, but is, on the
contrary, gift from the government
for which Oklahoma will be expected
to be grateful. Their farms are
everything TO them. Hundreds Of these
settlers came into the new country
af0ot and being still afOot are here to
stay. The price they will have to pay
to the government for their lands will
be in almost every case hardship and
in many cases an impossibility. But
they have fast, enduring faith in the
benefcience of the government and
they know they will get free homes.
The question in their minds is as to
what man in congress will be most
valuable to them in securing free
home. The man who persuades them
that he can the more quickly secure
free homes Will be the man for their
votes.
l had a talk today with an Indian
farmer, Mr.. Coleman. He tells me that
the Indian will come out all right in
the end. hope SO. He says they are
farming better and better every seas
on. l accused the Indian of laziness.
He replied that with a government an
nuity, we would all be a little slow in
our movements after bread and but
ter. Undoubtedly he is rigH. 1
asked him in regard to the position and
creations of the chiefs and was told
that they are elected for two year
terms. They make no canvass, but
in pure and early populistic style, let
the office seek them. The chiefship is
not hereditary. The chief receives
nothing for his services. 1t is all
glory. His word, however, is law, and
his advice supreme. At the present
time, the chiefs have advised the In
dams to reject the block system of beef
issue, and upon this rejection was built
the Indian scare.
Kansas populist leaders could learn
a lesson in politics from their own kind
in this territory. The populists of Ok
lahoma originally came from Kansas,
but they did not follow the political
methods of Kansas populism in Ok
lahOma, unlike that of Kansas, has
rejected fusion with the
democrats until this year. The result
is that the Oklahoma populist is the
same intense partisan as the Kansas
Of 1890. Fusion has been the |
Kansas populist is willing to surrender |
his principles or stifie them, to tenn
parize and paw-wow with his enemies. |
He has lost, in that amount, his |
compact organization The
populitS party of oklahoma has hither- |
to beenirrepregable. But this year it has
fallen into the ways of fusion, and it's
old. solid, undivided strength here will
disappear just as it has in Kansas.
l see some bare-footed men here. One
attracted my attention from his great
height and the marked character in
his face. This was Mr. Haigler, who
lives in this county and is prominent
populist. Mr.. Haigler is an intelligent
man and his barefoot strides down
the street caused some remarks even
among those who saw it weekly. I was
told that Mr.. Haiger is one Of the most
men in the county, thrifty
and worthy. He goes in his barefoot,
because he pleases to do so. He re-
marks that when the day comes that he
S poor, he viii rustic around and
spruce UP. as it may help then. There
5 good deal Of sound philosophy in
his. However, / am still wearing
shOes