The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-02-17
ANOTHER "OPENING" PLAN
Captain Hamilton of Blackwell Sug-
sests One 20 the President,


Blackwell. 0. T., Feb. 16.-Captain J.
w. Hamilton Of this city "a man who took
a prominent art in the opening of Okla
homa and in securing therein homes for
great many old soldiers. has sent the
following petition to President Mckinley,
signed by himself and 100 other veterans.
President U. S. A:
Dear C0mrade: We, the undersigned
Ex-Union veterans of the civil war, do
most respectfully petition your excel
lency, that
Whereas, The Kiowa, Comanche and
Arapahoe reservations are soon to open
to settlement, and
Whereas, As an inducement was held
out to us at the time we enlisted, repre-
senting that we should have 16 0acres of
land, or land warrants for the same, and
which we have never been able to secure,
for the reason that we were not able 10
compete by horse race for it; and in
other respects our rights have always
been abridged, in that we were not al
lowed to go to the land office pnd file
prior to the opening, the land Offices have
always been located in the interior Of the
land to be opened and there has been a
ruling made that has prohibited US from
fling by mail, as was once done by ex-
Union soldiers, for by the time we can
reach the land offices the land will be
taken by horsemen and they will be held
to be the rightfuI settlers. If we should
get there there viii be a long line Of
sooners, who will hold the places. not to
file, but to sell to the highest bidder for
blood money and to further add to the
trouble and worry to the present scheme,
the officers are usually inexperienced and
slow
Now, we would respectfully ask that
you give US show at the last settlement
and divide the land into eighty acre
tracts, to be drawn by lot: and that all
who have hitherto taken claims for specu-
ladon, or who have relinquished claims
back to the government for anothers
benefit, and all who have "soonered" on
any land, be barred.
We further ask that the settler be re-
quired to appear in person at the Office
and make his declaratory statement and
deposit the required fees. After the draw
ing has been had that those securing land
be allowed ninety days to locate their
land and make settlement and improve
ments and then appear at the land Office
and complete his fling. And should the
settler not desire the land secured, per-
NIT him to return his number and return
to him his fees. We regard this as the
best way TO equalize the strength Of
youth and feebleness Of old age. We can
then compete for a home and there viii
be a greater number for which 70 com
pete. The rate Of taxes viii be reduced
and the influence over the native Indians
greater. There viii be no strife, no
bloodshed. no contest
Concerning the suggestion Congressman
Stephens Of Texas. writes TO Captain
Hamilton as follows;
Dear Sir: Your letter 70 hand contents
carefully noted regarding the opening Of
the Comanche and Kiowa reservations. I
heartily agree with you and think that
the drawing IS about the only fair plan
that can Justly distribute the land with
cat loss ~ lie and a great deal 81 hard
ship. This matter IS m the presidents
hands ard VIII endorse your letter and
request the president O. adopt vour plan
or a similar one. and when he issues his
proclamation he can emhodv the same in
his Proclamation L he adopts l.
I see no reason why the lottery plan
should not be adopted We ourselves in
the house Of representstfves have adopt
Cd that plain In selecting our seats ard
the legislature ~ eTery state that I know
q have adopted the same plan u sale1--
ing seats and the conditions iu The tzo
cases are exactly the same because the
lands are q different values IN re ter
rltory and some method . t1strbuti-g
them among thu applicants for home
stesds must be adopted an1 none can y
more fsir or Just tban the lottery r
drawing system. SHAH 90 al can 10
have that system adopted 10 TIE opsul1e
ot these Oklahoma indian reserve tIors.
Very respectfully
mo +. sTEpFsEsvs