The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-05-23
FORREST
NOT FEARFUL
Democrats Need Not Be Daunt-
cd Since Flynn Did Not
Do His Duty


Special to the Daily Leader
Ell Reno, May 23.-There is one stall
wart Democrat who does not fear the
little Irishman and the great popular
ity he has achieved since the passage
of the free homes bill. Our fellow
townsmsn, Colonel r. 3. Forrest, in an
interview with the Beacon, made use
of the following remarks:
"Tha passage of the free homes bill
will not in the least change my incli-
nation to enter the Democratic con.
vention for delegate to congress. Why
should it? l have forseen for several
weeks the favorable prospects for this
measure becoming law, and no per-
son in the territory has been strong
er sympathizer of the movement from
its inception than myself. Like every
man, woman and child in oklahoma
for the last six years, l have used
every means in my power to advance
the cause of free homes, and now that
it has become a law, l cannot under
stand why l should not participate
in the general rejoicing which
follows its success. The move
movement had its origin among the
settlers OF the Cheyenne and Araps-
hoe country in 1892 and grew to it's
full strength after the strip was op-
ened in 1898. 1t has never been po.
litical measure in any sense. and no
political party or politician can claim
prestige by its accomplishment. View
ing it from this standpoint can find
no reason in the passage of the bill to
deter me from going into the contest
for the nomination for congress as
Democrat"
What do think Of the chances Of
a Democrat winning?"
~ do not think the passage of this
bill will in the least alter his chances,
and / do not take the matter under
serious consideration when weighing
the chances of success. Had it been
political measure it's passage by Re-
publican administration might have
been some grounds for drawing Dem
ocratic votes to that party. But hav-
ing been fathered in it's present atti
tude by Senator Pettigrew, who first
presented the proposition of a general
fee homes bill in the Flfty-fourth
congress, it car hardly be claimed as
political"
No, do not think Mr. Flynn viii
be stronger than before. l do not
think he will be as strong, and no
stronger than several other Republi-
cans whose names have been men
toned in connection wish the Republi-
can nomination l am first rejoicing
over the passage of the free homes
bill, for the great relief II will be TO
the Oklahoma farmer; not because he
is psuper and could not pay for his
land, but because justice demanded
for the settler on the Indian lands the
same benefits that were accorded to
the settler on the Oklahoma lands.
Second, I am rejoicing because we will
be able in the coming campaign to get
down to party measures and be re-
leased from the free homes campaign.
We will have an opportunity to dis
cover whether this is a Democratic or
Republican community; whether it
has political atmosphere where the
white race can dominate with prosper
ity. or whether our governing powers
shall obtain their authority from the
immigration of the colored race for
political reasons. l shall go before
the oklahoma City convention just the
same, and if nominated shall enter the
race with the expectation Of leading
the party to victory"