The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-09-17
GRIMES
HAS A
SCHEME
Advises in Respect to Those
New Towns.
MASS CONVENTION IDEA
When Municipal Officers
Should Be Nominated,

Guthrie, o. T.. Sept. 1s.-The fact that
Governor jenkins has made a visit to the
new towns in the country recently open
ed for settlement In connection with the
municipal organization OF those towns
has caused both Republicans and Demo-
Gratis in the new country TO take an in
terest in the matter more than usual.
It has been the opinion Of Governor
jenkins that it would be proper and alb
solutely fair to everyone in those towns
to wait untn the six months limit is up
and then call an election. thus giving
every one, whether a former resident of
Oklahoma or not, an opportunity Of vot-
ing in such manner as he might desire.
The people Of the three principal towns
were. SO anxious for municipal organiza-
tion that repeated demands have been
made on Governor Jenkins to issue
proclamation and it was to investigate the
conditions that Governor Jenkins made
his trip into the southwest.
From the present indications should
Governor jenkins announce that NUM-
cipal organization be best for the new
towns, it viii be a bitter political fight.
The contestants VIII be Republican and
Democrats. This kind Of a fight is not
new by any means, but has been brough
about by other than usual conditions.
Some weeks ago, National Committee
man for Oklahoma, William Grimes visit
% the new towns to ascertain the exact
situation there regarding the municipal
organization. After his return he gave
it out that after having consulted with
the business men of those towns, that
owing to the fact that a great many of
the inhabitants would be barred from
participating in the first municipal cleo
ton, not having resided in the territory
long enough to entitle them to vote,
spirit of fairness would dictate that a
mass convention to nominate municipal
officers be called, to be participated in by
all of the voting citizenship of these
towns. and only one ticket of the best best
Eien selected. Then the voters who have
mCX ed 10 these CITIES from Oklahoma
would 90 to the polls and ratify the ticket
thUs selected. This plan of procedure
would give all an equal part in naming
the first municipal tickets that would
have so much to do in the shaping the
future Of the new towns.
The suggestions offered by Committee
nan Grimes went over the new country
and it was the concensus of opinion that
they were absolutely fair. The sugges-
tions and the attitude of Governor Jen-
kins did not meet with the approval Of
the Democratic leaders in the new towns.
The result has been that the gauntlet has
been thrown down by these leaders who
ask that it be a straight party fight. The
Democrats evidently thought that the
statements made by Mr. Grimes and the
position of Governor Jenkins meant that
the Republicans Of the territory were
backward about bringing the amtter for
ward according to the usual political
scheme. Since the open declaration on
the part Of the Democrats IN the press Of
the new country. there is nothing left
cor the Republicans to DO, but flght the
first battle in the new country and fight
that battle well.
The suggestions made by Mr.. Grimes in
regard to q business mans ticket for
those towns was not in any sense a sign
of weakness on the part of the Republi-
cans. The ideas were filed with fairness
and meant that It would be better policy
for the people of the new towns to watch
for municipal advancement, rather than
have political fights during the first
months in the existence Of what are to be
steadily growing towns IN a splendid
country. Since the rejection of ali sug-
gestions to give every resident of the new
towns. who after six months in Oklahoma
would have an opportunity OF voting, 10
have a voice in the first municiia organi-
cation now. il is only reasonable that the
members of other parties realize that the
Republicans viii not now take a hack
seat in the municipal affairs of the new
towns OF the county recently opened for
settlement.