Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-07-18
THE Land DRAWING.
Il viii Take Place at FL Rene
for Both Land Offices.
PRECAUTIONS TO SECURE FAIRNESS,
"Soonsrs" Said TO Be Organizing TO BluR
Successful Home-Seekers Out of Their
Cisims-The kegistrati0n-Whst
Secretary Hitchcock says.


er Richards says that the drawing fol
both land Offices will take place at
FL Reno on the same platform and at
the same time. The device from which
the identification cards will be drawn
and numbered has not been built, but
will be some form of wheel. Secre-
tary Hitchcock is opposed to regu-
lation lottery wheel, as the associa-
ton of ideas distresses persons OPP
posed to lotteries. The most delicate
feature of the drawing will be the
taking of the first three or four en-
yelopes from the wheel. The persons
whose names appear upon the cards
in the envelopes will be entitled to
select in the order of the drawing
valuable homesteads adjoining town
sites. Any accident or blunder would
arouse instantly the cry of fraud and
cause much embarrassment to the
representatives of the government.
Commissioner Richards says that he
will employ every possible means to
secure absolute fairness in every
detail of the drawing. The persons
who will be selected to draw the en-
velopes from the wheel will first have
to draw numbers from a hat to see
which one of them can draw the first
envelope from the wheel. The Others
will draw in their numerical order.
This will prevent any possible collu-
sion among these employees in draw
ing the first three or four numbers.
After these numbers have been with
drawn the drawing will sail along
smoothly as one envelope will be as
good as another. The commission
ers who will superintend the drawing
will probably be citizens Of Oklahoma
one republican, another democrat
and the third a populist. Commission
err Richards will recommend the per-
sons to be appointed.
Reports have reached Commission
er Richards that "sooners' are Or
ganizing to bluff successful home
seekers out of their claims. 1.-THE
government will not tolerate any
bluffs on the part of the sooners,"
Mr.. Richards said. "The theory of
the drawing is to prevent contest.
There can't be any contests except in
cases of perjury The man or the
woman who first files upon a piece
of land will be protected and any
sooner who attempts to hold that
particular claim will be promptly ar
rested and put in Jail for trespassing.
That's what the troops are here for"
The seven booths opened at nine a.
m. yesterday and 5,lO4 persons were
registered, mostly in the forenoon.
At four p. M, there being no appli-
cants in sight, the booths were
closed The total registration at FL
Reno is 1892
A telegram over the signal service
wire 70 Commissioner Richards. last
night said that 4,soo persons had been
registered at the Lawton office in
three days. No other information
was given. Parties arriving from
Lawton last night said that at one p.
m. yesterday 10000 people were wait
ing to register. There being only two
booths at Lawton progress is neces-
sarily slow.
What Secretary Hitchcock Says.
Washington, July 13.-Secretary
Hitchcock said yesterday that the re-
PORT received at the interior depart
showed that the crowds in that coun-
try han d1gesreG thoroughly vnu p.e-.-
dents proclamation and realized that
there was no chance for spectators,
intruders, trespassers gamblers, etc.
"The people," said the secretary,
"reali,e that the lands are being
opened in good faith to everybody le-
gally qualified and that what is given
them is not transferable"
Following is the Geographic re-,
port received at the interior depart.
ment yesterday from Assistant Com
missioner Richards at FL Reno, dated
Thursday night: Registered here
to-day $500, At Sill yesterday