The times., 1899-09-03

GUTHRIE, Okla, Sept. This little
Territory, with a transient any very mueb
mixed population, will send several 7eIe-
cations to Washington next winter to he
siege Congress in favor of Statehood" and
free homes" These are the burning is
sizes OF this boomer Territory. It claims
a population of 100000, and some of ,ha
boomers put it at SOC. 0OO The more uear;v
correct figure is 800. 600. including about
$4,000 Indians and half breeds. A large per
cent OF the number are not settlers. They
come as land grabbers. and viii leave as
soon as they can acquire title and sell.
The tree-home" question appears IN
have only one side. Soon after this 4str;n,,
was opened to the boomers and .sooners a
oeiated contingent swarmed in and SQUAT
tea upon the most valuable vacant lands
Inc Government values these lands at 81 D.
and $3.50 an acre. These sauatferz con
tend tnat the Government should give
them the lands without money or price
Nnat they mean by free homes il thar
every squatter who has been living uDon
Government lands for the last five wears
should be given a title to such tract Win
out cost Just why this exception shouId
oe made to the public land squatters OF
this Territory is not clear to anyone exceot
the ohe-slded advocates of such a prepOs-
ferrous claim. A special delegation viii h,
sent to Washington 10 shout free homes
into the ears of Congress.
Another delegation will cry out for STATE
MOOD, and separate Statehood at thar An
eHoFt VIII be made TO incorporate the In
dian Territory. This will be opu0sed bv
a delegation from the Territory. which also
wants TO come in as a State Finally. Ok
IahOma Will then give up the combination
and by uniting forces seek separate State
mood. The Indian Territory has a smaller
population than Oklahoma and more In
dians. The population is about 250, 900. in
ctudlng oO,O0U Indians. IL will thus be seen
that neither is fitted for Statehood nor both
combined, and il would be unjust to the
more populous and civilized States 10 admit
these Territories, separately or together.
While the Constitution is silent on the
matter Of population necessary for a new
State, it has been the custom for Congress
TO require that the Territory should possess
at least the number upon which Congress
siOual representation is based. Yet, this
does not entitIe a Territory 10 admission.
Congress judges OF the fitness OF the pODu-
lation, as in the cases of New Mexico and
Arizona This is the argument OF some OF
the large property who would have
tue uu4k VI TIE ldASS ~ pay AAG1 tC ANL
want Statehood under any circumstances
until more people come and accumulate
more property and help to bear the burdens
of a State government
The boomers and the sooners viii no
doubt represent to Congress that the Terri
tory is on the verge Of ruin. and that
Statehood only can save it. II has had
three bountiful crops in succession. how
ever, and the indications are still brighter.
But the politicians are getting hungry
a former Congressman now in Washing
ton as the boomer for free homes has
written back to the Territory asking for
funds in order TO push the thing along.
He says that with my experience in Con-
gress / know that such a bill cannot be
got through unless funds are subscribed
The free home land bill and its special
advocates should be closely watched at the
coming session.
Another source OF revenue and fraud is
the renting OF school lands. While it is
unlawful for one person 10 lease more than
$40 acres, he gets control of ten times that
number OF acres by a system OF dummies
or false names. There is more corruption
in the Territory. perhaps. than in any other
section of country of ten times the popu-
Iatlon The perpetrators OF the frauds
prey alike upon the Indians and upon the
Government and the large outlaw element
Dreys upOn all