Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-18
d. B. ROBINSON.

years time, tho territory would he covered |
with a network Of roads.
He congratulated the Frisco In having |
the foresight to strike for the commercial !
center Of what is soon 10 become one Of
the most prosperous states Of the Union.
He said that the railroads were the great
est ciyiliz"rs of the nineteenth century ani
will bc the chief civiIizers for centuries
TO come.
G. s. Gleed followed Mr.. Clarke and
made one Of the happiest speeches of the
evening. He illustrated many of his points
with stories that were entertaining and
heartily applaUdcd. He said he had not
prepared speech and did not expect to
talk Indeed. he advised the other rail-
road officials that they would not have to
talk. as there would be plenty of Oklahoma
fellows here TO talk.
Half the people Of Oklahoma are speech
makers. said he. II know it. because
they came from Kansas. my home state.
Mr.. Glecd then told about coming
through this country. probably before any
of those present We're ever here. Okla
J homa City then had for a mayor a red
skin, while a coyote was marshal. Later
! he came down with President Robinson.
( when the Santa Fe trai!ed into town: next
( he came when the Choctaw road landed
! here: and this time he rolled In over the
new road of the Frisco. In the place of
the redskin and the coyote, he found a
/ happy, industrious. energetic and contented
/ people. all working 10 build IN n Sood
! town and better their own condition. He
spoke Of the wonderful possibilities of this
1 territory. the marvellous growth and high
| character Of the people here. Oklahoma
goes iland in hand with Kansas. he said.
! in everything that goes to make peopls
/ better and more contented.
/ He asserted that the Frisco appreciated
. the Kindly feeling the people here enter
, tain toward it and promised that it would
endeiVoT 20 merit continuance of the
same. He said that ali the Frisco wanted
was fair treatment. that its prosperity
depended upon he prosperity OF the peo-
pie: its adversely upon theirs. He did not
| think that the people Of oklahoma would
ever be led by the political demagogue
10 believe that the railroads were respon.
! sibie for financial depression or hard times
| that occasionally make taeir appearance
among the people The Kansas people
We're led astray in this way. be said. but
the deInacogucs would no longer I'LL their
cellars with coal at the expense of the
railroads. The election on November s
settled that matter. He was glad 20 see
Oklahoma said the same thing in its elec-
tion.
Brief speeches were also made by ID. c.
Lewis. of this city: Governor Barnes, of
Guthrie: eN-Unfted States District Attorney
Horace Speed; DeIcgate-elect Dennis Flynn
james Donohue General Solicitor Parker
and others.
The large opera house in which the rccep-
tioH WAS given was well filed The 5usi-
ness men of the city and their wives turned
out in fun force. II was Il meeting that
they attended with d great deal of pride
tdcd satisfaction.
| At tho banquet covers were spread for
all of The railroad officials tine territorial
officials, about twenty Out-of-town guests
ard 1uU of the leading business men and
manufacturers Of this city John Sharte
Wei known Oklahoma attorney. presided
a. tpastrnaster.
The new line opened by the Frisco to-
. day is known as the Sapulpa extension. 1t
| is 1G miles in length. and runs from Okla
hOTa City to SaDulpa. in the Creek nation,
connecting with the main line at that point.
ii was built by construction company IF
81. Louis. of which Major n. L. Morrill,
was the leading spirit. Work was COM
menced on the extension last March. The
; last spike the main line was driven a
few days ago and trains began operation
, in earnest to-day.
The new line was not secured without
, much difficulty. but the Oklahoma people
| finally Surmounted all the obstacles and
l now rejoice in having another direct line
to Kansas City and St. Louis. The con-
, stfuction of the line necessitated the So
! curing of Il franchise from congress for a
= right -of-way through the Indian country.
Four years ago. through the efforts of
, Congressman Dennis Flynn. ex-congress-
man Sidney Clarke and other prominent
tklahOmaHS. bill was pushed through
= both houses OF congress. but President
Cleveland, for som" neNplicable reason.
1 vetoed it. tHdaunted by this the Okla
ID homans renewed their fight. Two years
later they succeeded again in getting tie
, bin through congress. and. ;s luck would
. hare n. Cleveland away on a fishing
nip. aud the Till becam" law without his
signature. under The trn-day limit rule.
$ Thanks were offered here to-day that
i Cleveland was away on fishing trip at
II that time at least