The National tribune., 1901-05-02
OKLAHOMA LANDS.
United States District Attorney Speed
Warns Veterans Against Fraudulent


Special correspondence to THE NATIONAL TRIBuSE
GUTHRIE, OKLA, April q, 1901.
The prospective opening to homestead
settlement of the Kiowa COmanche-
| Apache-Wichita Indian reservation has
| formed the basis of a number of very
Shrewd swindles, the victims of which
were generally those who could least af-
ford the loss-veterans of the civil war,
their widows and minor orphan children.
Alluring advertisements of free
homes" in the new Oklahoma lands,
where blizzards are unknown, and the
soil brings forth its increase of corn,
wheat, oats, barley and cotton in the
same field; where water is plenty, the
climate mild and healthful-these and
other more glowing descriptions Of the
New Eldorado have been sent broadcast
throughout the United States, and Post
Commanders, Post Adjutants and COM
rades generally from the Eastern states
to the Pacific Slope have been deluged
with circulars relating to these lands.
OF course, the agents are all looking
out for the welfare of the veteran. How
could it be otherwise? Congress has pro-
yided for him. He may file his declaratOry
and need not settle on the land for six
mouths; he can avoid the run; all these
and more advantages he can obtain by
the payment of a very small fee to the
thoughtful agent. Further, if he has
friends, he may make up a club for the
agent, who will place all in one district;
in fact, he may become an agent for the
declaratory filing agent in fleeing the vet
Grams.
In return for the small fee the agents
have claimed to be able to secure 100
Tho ualua of which will no
where from $1,000 to $1,000.
The United States mails have been used
in distributing these circulars, and this
week those engaged in the old soldiers
declaratOry filing business received rude
shock by the announcement that the Post
master-General has issued fraud order
against Mr.. b. v. Cummins, of King
fisher, Okla, who had been advertising
that he would be able to file a thousand
declaratOFy statements in three minutes
if the veterans would empower him to act
as their agent. Mr.. Cummins was only
one of many in Oklahoma engaged in this
business.
Hon. Horace Speed, United States At
torney for the District of Oklahoma, has
protecting the veterans and others who
might be tempted to part with their hard
earned cash without any return.
Mr.. Speed was seen in his office at
Guthrie, Okla, by your correspondent.
1T is understood that many men IN
Oklahoma are advertising to be able to
file an unlimited number of soldiers de-
claratOries on these lands. Have you
taken any steps to stop the operations of
these agents" he was asked.
Il have been watching these agents,
with a view to warning old soldiers. L
stated in an interview some weeks ago
that. these men were in no position to
carry out their contracts"
What particular methods have these
declaratory filing agents adopted, Mr..
Speed?'
"These swindlers are Of almost every
imaginable character" said Mr.. Speed.
Some of these men have correspondence
bureaus, where hundreds and thousands
OF letters are sent out weekly, stating
that they have surveyed the land; that
they have particular descriptions of each
tract of land; that they will be able to file
any persons declaratory who will leave
his claims with them; that the land will
be worth from $500 to $1,000 imms-
diately after being filed upon; that such
filing will hold the land at least six
months; that the land will be opened by
a run, or by some other means favorable
to the man writing the letter, and that
the only thing an old soldier need to do
is to send his papers and sum of money
to the man who writes"
do you believe any of these men have
the information they claim?"
1.-The truth is, none of these people
know anything about the manner of open
ing the country, nor the country itself,
which is not known to thousands of other
people. and none of them has any knowl-
edge which officers of the Government do
not freely give from Washington, from
the Land Office, through the newspapers
of the country, without any cost what
ever
1.-The old soldiers, believe, have been
the heaviest sufferers. Is this not truep
Yes" said Mr.. Steed; "but il the old
soldiers would only bear steadily In mind
that the Government is thinking more Of
their welfare than any of these letter
writers, and is spending infinitely moro
time in looking after old soldiers and other
citizens of the country who want claims,
they would not SO readily be misled and
swinded.
Il have seen dozens Of these different
and in no case has the scheme
been handled by men who know anything
of value to an intending settler, and in
every case the primary object is to get
the old soldiers money into the pocket of
the schemer.
SIN one casa a swindler got up a col !
ony, saying that he had been employed |
by the Government to select good men to |
SO III anu 5OOu iauu topCClaliy ic
served by the Government in among the |
Indian allotments, and that the Govern |
ment intended to permit on those es-
pecially reserved tracts only persons care.
fully selected who would be just and |
kind to the Indians. That man charged |
from $50 to $3.50 and gave each colonist
4 button"
do you know of any other method
to fleece the veterans"
HYes Another set of men have been |
colonies, as they phrase it, for
protection, and charge money
which they say is to pay necessary ex-
penses of that scheme"
"Do you believe any of these men can
10 what they claim?"
"It Is now practically certain that the