The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-01-20
CAPTATN &c. InEA-


Captain E. C. Price of Wichita sends
the Eagle. the following communication.
He doesn't believe in the drawing plan.
He says:
To the Editor Of the Eagle-The open
ing Of the Comanche and Kiowa IN
dian reservations to public settlement IN
der the homestead laws Of the United
States is attracting the attention of
homeseekers in every state in the union.
The notions in reference to the manner
Of opening that country is misleading to
the public mind
What was the object of the trainers
Of the homestead laws? Not for the ben
eft Of spectators but for the actual
bonahda settlers. male or female,
adopted or native-born citizens who want
the land for a home
IL the president of the United States
should issue his proclamation declaring
it opened without notice who would get
the land2 "A few who live on the Dor
ders, most Of whom have obtained gov
eminent lands in Kansas and old Okla
homa under the same laws and others
who would get tip as when it would
is opened, rendering it Impossible for
honest. eligible h0meseekers at A dis
lance to get a claim
A plan to'colonize the country for 20
litical purposes.
Another plan is for this great and good
government to 50 into the lottery bust
ness-draw lots for claims and town
property. They forget that under our
present postal laws it would be a penal
0ffense to send the presidents proclama-
ton through the United States mails.
Thousands of men and women all over
the country, who would net bear the
hardships Of frontier life for one week
for a section Of the best land in that
country. would send in their names. take
chance on the wheel Of fortune lust
for the fun of it, If they were unfor-
tlInate it would cost them not nickle
But on the other hand, if valuable
claim fell to their lot they would. leave
their comfortable homes i'm the east long
enough to sell their prize. pocket the
money and laugh in their sleeves at the
soft snap the government gave them.
Either plan named in your paper would
defeat the very object Of the homestead
laws and prevent worthy men and wo-
men from ever getting a home on govern
ment lands
Thousands Of old hoary headed and
battle Scared soldiers who are too poor
70 obtain home except on public lands.
have been watching these reservations
for years. as their last hope for home.
Under existing laws they have a legal
right TO file their declaratory statements
by power Of attorney
VIII the government who owes its. very
existence to the veterans of the civil
war deprive them Of their rights under
the law? VIII it place them on a level
with wealthy dudes Of the east. VIII, i've
by gambling and would not soil their
patent feathers with Oklahoma dirt ex-
cept to come out in a palace car to. see
the rich prize obtained BY a game Of
chance2
There may be, and is. Objectionable
features to opening CD the run. but when
we look at the wonderful developments
of Oklahoma by the class of men and
women who were willing to run for =
home or corner lot, we must admit that
no other class OF people on earth ever
showed greater heroism. public shirt
energy industry and true grit or men
tai activity Including up new coun-
try"
Let good enough alone.'s