The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-19
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Dear Friend-I stiu claim that the old
method by which we got old Oklahoma
under the homestead law OF 1862, If applied
, will get the rest of the lands. BY hiring
attorneys at Washington, D. c., who live
there and have had years of experience,
TO assist US, we will be able to get a
Relief Act passed, il we are unable to get
the general Free Homes bill passed. as a
large percentage OF the bills passed by
congress are relief bills.
~ have seen Governor Barnes and Re-
ceiver Scott Of the Perry land Office, and
they agree that the chances for the Free
Homes bill being passed in the next ses-
sion of congress is very poor. indeed. The
payment is due on ali the land next July.
1900. Ex-secretary HOke Smith. by the
assistance Of the land Office, urged con-
sress not to pass the bill, and Secretary
Bliss has added two more reasons why It
should not become a law. When it was
voted upon by the senate the bill only re-
ceivel IS votes out of the %; in the house
st was defeated by q majority the con-
ference committee appointed 10y the house
ought not to become a law
Now. /. as president Of the Cooperative
Homestead League, do recommend the
following:
First That the claimholders do as the
railroads. bankers and all trusts do when
they want n law passed-hire prominent
men at Washington, on q conditional fee,
which we can do. and il they win our case
We can well afford to pay them.
''Second-The time has come for US to
act. Organize each township. Can meet
ing and elect president, secretary and
treasurer; meet weekly at each school
district and sign the conditional contracts
and petitions and return the one contract
and petition TO me; charge an initiation
fee of 50 cents, % cents TO be sent me TO
pay for printing, organizing. etc, the
other . cents to be held by the treasurer
for the purpose OF sending delegates TO
Washington, getting up briefs and argu-
ments, etc.
''Third-If we do not succeed in getting
an act passed before the payment is due
we will advertise by townships to prove
up and refuse to pay all but the office fee.
and when this rejected filing comes up at
the general land Office in Washington. il
the attorneys who have agreed to prose-
cute our case, cannot get the land office
10 allow the claimant to prove up and not
pay the purchasing price. they can appeal
and keep your cases in court ut least seven
years. and this gives them plenty of time
TO get relief bill passed. and while It
IS pending you have no taxes TO pay. To
those who VIII have TO borrow money. II
they are compelled to pay I'm 1870. on the
s250 land viii cost them At least. taxes
and interest, SIS per year, and on the 81 %
and $50 lands about $50 per year.
Late Representative from Ohio. Robert
E. Dohn & Co, has written 10 the West
ern Claim company that he has been a
member Of the house too long not 10 know
that the Free Homes bill will not become
a law without attorneys employed to get
mp briefs and arguments and that his COM
7any could have secured all the land IN
Oklahoma for the claimants-if they had
employed them-uader the homestead law
OF IS6s
las this is Of the utmost importance 10
you. all should take time 10 have the con-
ditional contracts and petitions signed and
have your secretary write TO me as soon
as organized. A. F. EGGIEsToN.
Agent OF District OF Columbia and West
ern Claim 90"