The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-05-13
He WHO FOUGHT /
Maddox, a Georgia Congress-
man Opposed Free Homes
is COMPARED TO SHYLOCK
Who Wanted What Was Nom
mated in the Bond.

man from Georgia, fought the free homes
| bill has been disputed in Oklahoma
AS matter of fact, Maddox did fight
it, and his fight has brought out curious
thing, the possibility that rree homes was
not advocated in the platform on which
Bryan ran for president, on the platform
on which Flynn was beaten. Maddox
| claims that the last Democratic platform
did not endorse free homes
The last Democratic platform on this
matter reads:
The Democratic party believes in
home rule and that all PUBLIC LANDS
Of the United States should be appro-
priated to the blshment of free homes
for American citizens"
Maddox, who made a speech against
free homes on May 3, last, claims that
the lands covered by the free homes bill
then pending are not public lands, but
Indian lands.
This point came out in course Of Mad
doxs speech. Maddox pointed that two
years ago Bliss, then secretary of the in
terror, had reported against free homes;
that the late Mr.. Dingley, then leader Of
the house, had spoken against ii. While
he was speaking, this interesting inter-
ruption came in:
Mr.. Shafroth-Will the gentleman yield
to me for a question?
Mr. MaddoX-Yes.
Mr.. Shafroth-Is it not a fact that the
state Of Iowa has received out Of the In
dian tribes fund to settle the
title of the Indians S11,OOO,0OO; Kansas.
SIS. 0O0, 900; Nebraska, $13OOO,O0O, and not a
single dollar had to be paid back by those
state to the national government? And
is it fair to treat these states, the Da-
kotas and others that are asking this re-
lief, in this way, when you have not ap-
piled the same rule to those states where
the land is better and where these
Mr. MaddoX-The same principle does
not prevail there that is contained in this
bill, and for this reason: When the gov
eminent purchased public land and open
ed it for settlement under the laws Of the
country. the people knew exactly what
they had to comply with, and they con-
formed to the law. Now, what is this
proposition? Here are lands that the gov
eminent has purchased from the Indians
not public lands of the sort and character
that you speak of, but we bought them
with the distinct understanding, as re-
ported by the secretary Of the treasury
here that each settler and each purchaser
was to pay for the land that he bought
and you worked those schemes through
this congress in opening these reserva-
lions with the distinct promise that you
would pay to the government the funds
that they appropriated therefor. That Is
the difference. Here is a distinct con-
tract, and there was no contract in the
case you cite, nor in the opening Of the
other public lands
Mr.. Shafroth-But there was a distinct
payment for those lands to extinguish the
Indian titles by treaty, just exactly as it
is here.
Mr.. Maddox will admit that.
Mr.. Shafroth-Only in one case it came
out of the general government, because
the Indians were regarded as the wards
Of the nation.
Mr. Maddox-yes.
Mr.. Shafroth-And this government ap-
propriates for them every year as such;
whereas in the other case
Mr.. Maddox did not yield to have the
gentleman make speech in my time,
and I object to his doing so.
Mr.. Morris-Will the gentleman allow
me an interruption?
Mr.. Maddox-Yes.
Mr.. Morris-You say those other lands
to which the gentleman from Colorado
(Mr. Shafroth) has referred were acquired
as public lands
Mr.. Maddox-Yes; and opened to settle
ment
Mr. Morris-And opened to settlement.
At the time
Mr. Maddox-On certain conditions.
Mr.. Morris-At the time those lands
were acquired no public lands could be
acquired under the homestead laws, could
they? All lands had to be paid for at the
rate of a dollar and a quarter an acre.
Mr. Maddox-I do not so understand.
Mr. Morris-Prior TO the passage OF the |
homestead act no and could be taken as |
a homestead free, so that when these
other lands were acquired they were &C
Quired with the understanding that dol |
lar and a quarter was to be paid by the |
settlers for them.
Mr.. Maddox do not agree with the !
gentleman upon that proposition; but here |
again we are talking about a contract As /
7 said when I began my remarks. ! have !
had some experience in Indian lands. and /
! have told Won how we were treated in /
reference to one tribe; and by my efforts
and those Of the gentleman from Illinois 1
we inserted in every bill where these /
Choctavs and Chickasaws had a claim
that their title should be determined by
the courts Of the country; and that the
government should hold up the funds
arising from the sale Of these lands until
the title was determined and It was set
tied IS 70 who these lands belonged TO.
NOW Ne have Just been simply going on
from time TO time opening these reserva-
tons under these conditions. We open ~
these reservations for sale on the terms
that Il shall not bring less than was paid
for II BY the government: that the set
tiers shall 20 in and purchase. and the
government makes a contract They make
q contract with the government; they
agree TO pay - much. Now, The question
In a nut shell IS. Do you propose &c. re
Heve them oftheir oongations2
NJ Wilson OF Idaho--Was not the same
argument made by Shylock that you
make. that the claim was nominated IN
the bon67
Mr. Maddox-That i as foreign to this
matter aS the moon Is from the sun right
now. We are here talking ABOUT facts,
about contracts vith this government
NJ. Burke o. South Dakota-Wiu the
gentleman permit me one question?
Mr.. M4odox-Cert2iniy.
Afv Burke Of South Dakota-Now. y-ol
say that i was understood THAI th@se
suds we're 70 be paid FIR when open for
settlement under these laws9
VI MafiaN-Yez