The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-06
HOW THE MOVEMENT STARTED
Judge Xancy Lewis letter on Indian
Territory Organization

Guthrie, o. T.. Feb. 5.-The movemen
inaugurated by Judge Yancey Lewis, O
South MeAlester, for the holding of
convention to discuss the needs of Indial
Territory, appears to have created a IA
vorable impression. The newspapers o
the territory regardless oftheir views con
corning singleand double statehood, ar,
disposed to look favorably on the con
vention, recognizing that method as tnt
only feasible way to apprise congress Of
the lamentable condition of affairs ex.
listing under the present headless and
formless system which obtains in Indian
Territory. Judge Lewis letter, which was
instrumental in arousing the movement
for territorial convention, is as follows:
South McAlester, l. T., Jan %, 1900
]. F. Sharp, Esq, Purcell, l. T.
Dear Sir: 1t has doubtless been OBJ
served by you that the transition state in
which the territory now is by reason of
/ the supposed passage from the Indian
tenures to allottments in severa1ty is
/ most harmful to every interest The de-
/ velopment incident to the old system Aas
been checked; the development under the
new system not yet begun.
At the present rate of p rogress this
hurtfuI period of transition bids fair to
be continued indefinitely In the mean
time there is uncertainty and chaos
There is no progress, but retrogression.
The farming class is vexed with doubts:
the people in the towns are subject to
alien taxation from which they derive no
return, and at the sanie time are con-
fronted with the necessity of paying for
values which they themselves have Great
ed Anything like an educational system
Is unknown: the preservation of the CT
the public health against epidemic idis-
ease impossible
1t seems to me that it would be the
part of wisdom forJthe people of the ter
rttory by concerted action and effective
organization to bring these conditions to
the knowledge of congress and of the
country, to the end that remedial legisla-
ton may be obtained. Congress has never
been unwilling to grant relief when it had
knowledge Of a given situation. The eff
forts Of the territory heretofore have
been disjointed, disconnected, unsystem-
affixed, sporadic and frequently conflict
ing. The energies of towns have been
frittered away over matters of minor i'm
portance, or in Improbable rivalries,
while the questions affecting the general
welfare of all the people Of the territory
have not been pressed upon the attention |
of congress by united and consistent ac-
ton.
1t has occurrd to me that a convention |
Of representative men from the different /
communities of the territory. meeting fe-
the purpose of considering the situation |
solely fro the standpoint of the public |
good, of canvassing and agreeing upon the
needed legislation and of devising a plan
Of organized action by which the same
could be obtained, might be productive
If much good. A convention Of public
spirited men, drawn from the professions.
rom business and from other vocations
Ind callings. putting aside personal or
merely local advantage and dealing with
he present distressful situation with a 4
lew to ending it. ought, in my Judgment.
o be able to accomplish substantial re-
ults.
1 have written a letter of similar tenor
o representative men in many towns and
ectfons OF the territory. If you agree
With me in the suggestions here made I
would be pleased to have you stat the
ime whe nand place where such c0nven-
ion should be called, and TO authorize me
o use your name in promulgating the
all for the same indicating also how the
ifferent communities should proceed, in
electing delegates. and the basis Of rep
esentation, #, in your judgment, these
latters need considerations
Trusting that 1 may hear from you !
peedily. I am,
Very truly yours,
L