Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-20
FREE HOMES AND STATEHOOD
FLYNN NOT IL FAVOR OF WAITING
FOR INDIAN TERRITORY.
Says ID Would Only i'ro,c Burden
10 Oklahoma. With Curtis Lnw
in ETcci-WhS the Free
EnHcs Measure should
Ht. Passed.

GUTHRIE. q. T.. Soy. '-'Ht'etidt.'
Free homes and statehood are the two
important issues IN oklahoma. AID 10 tE.'a
propose 10 devote almost my entire
attention IN congress" said Dennis Flynn.
tclcpate-elect tu TIE rational congress, to-
DAY. These TWO Issues IN 10 way conflict
with cUe another and both mIe OF equal
importanoc However. I shall push the
free homes measure first.
A free homes plank was III the platform
Of each party in oklahoma this year; but
the people OF the territory had more iaitn
in tho ability of Flynn than kea;on, the
Popocratic nominee. to secure the passage
of such law and result he was elect
I'd by about lO.o10 majority in a district
that TWO years ago defeated him by l,lo0-
People in general don't understand the
meaning of free homes" said Mr.. Flynn.
in discussing the matter. They think that
VIC want special privileges which have not
heretofore been granted to any of the peo-
PIE Of the West. In other words. they be-
lieve that We want n donation Of land such
as the government has never given 10 any
body else. This is mistake. All we want
Is the same privileges that otner people
have enjoyed.
FREQ homes pertains only 10 the Cher
ckce outlet. which was opened for settle
n-ent in 1888. in effect, it extends to the
homeseckers have enjoyed in Kansas, Ne
braska. Texas original Oklahoma. and all
other Western states and territories under
The homestead law. 1t simply provides
that The people who settled in the outlet
can, after living on their claims five years,
fave a clear title TO the land as a home
stead without having 10 pay fixed price
per acre.
THE government. up until the opening
of the outlet. had never asked the people
10 reimburse it for money expended in pur-
chasing lands of the Indians; but when the
outlet was opened congress decided that
the settlers should reimburse it for all
moneys expended in the original purchase
from the Indians. This aggregated in the
neighborhood OF $S,0000g0. In order TO get
this amount the government decreed that
n person seeking home in the outlet, be-
fore getting a clear title 10 his quarter sec
ton should not only live on ii five years.
as under the homestead act but also pay
from 81 to $50 an acre beside. The free
homes measure asks the government TO
throw off the price per acre.
In the language of the Free Homes
League, we do not base our claims on
our poverty or necessity. We have that
respect for ourselves and pride in the
credit of the territory which impels us to
bear an unjust burden rather than parade
our misfortunes or appeal for the remit
tance Of these charges as AN act of char
fly: but, as good citizens. as builders OF Il
commonwealth, people on whom the
government has imposed a singular re-
sponsibiity We ask only the same con-
siderations and the same privileges which
have been granted and enjoyed by those
around us We are warranted in de
nIands by the past policy OF the govern
ment.
Since 1862. settlers on public lands have
been granted 100 acres of land each. under
the general homestead law. free of cost.
except land Office fees: settlers on lands
similar in character to our Western lands
have been granted 100 acres each under
the timber culture act: the settlers have
been granted 100 acres each under the pre-
emption law of the minimum law at the
price Of Sl.2J per acre: one person was al
lowed the benefit of all the above men
TONED laws. thus being enabled to secure
title 10 $50 acres. Almost the entire west
crn portion of the United States has been
purchased by the government and no at
tempt has been made to recover the price
paid from The homesteador. We claim a
precedent that the free homestead policy
was adopted in the opening of original
Oklahoma: that. prior TO its policy of free
homesteads. the government had. in many
the amount charged TO settlers on public
lands; that the ACT Of congress under
which original oklahoma was opened and
under which negotiations were begun for
opening other reservations contemplated
and provided for the opening of all lands
under the general homestead law: that
these precedents induced the people 10
gather around the lands and enter. them
expecting tn" benefits under the general
homestead law: that the settlement of the
people was made under protest a. 10 the
prices charged for the land and discrimi-
nation rade against them: that among the
extraordinary burdens imposed upon us
arc the allotment to Indians who selected
the choicest and best Of the lands: that
our personal and court expenses are
heavier on account of the manner OF OPEN
inC the lands. that cur situation i.i the
center nr a civilized and devoIouod nation
makes n r"coSSarE n incur Cr"pte.- OK.
penseS Than are necessary in other ter