The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-10-09


ritory except those voluntarily constructs
ed by the people themselves. We have
no bridges or school houses outside Of
the cities and towns except those built
by private subscriptions. Our condition
is absolutely without parallel. II the
same conditions existed-in Cuba as exist
IN the Indian Territory an armed vessel
would be sent down there 10 protect the
citizens of the United states. l 90 not
mean TO claim that Oklahoma should
wait. but ! would rather-she would wait
than 10 shut Us out / would rather she
would wait and help Us 70 get IN than
TO leave us out. but II congress in its
wisdom shall see TT to give her state
hood we ask in the name OF conscience
that you make some provision whereby
Oklahoma in framing her constitution
shall rot have the right 10 sell her land
and appropriate the money, Locating eiee-
nnosynary institutions. in her owR way
and il her own territory leavins the In
dian Territory out as pesgar-
Effect or Leosecs.
General Bradford, since deceased. was
an able and candid man, and 1aithIuliy
represented the Ce.lG1os u the single
statehood advocates IL the Indian Terri
tory, that Oklahoma should surrender
one-half Of her granted lands. Whatever
may be said now for the purpose OF The
pending political campaign, there can be
70 other result Il Immediate single state
hood were possible.
But we are told that the school land
lsssees are to be deprived OF their IN
proVemcnts 10y the terms OF the oinni-
bus bill There is not a word OF truth
IN this assertion. Sections l5 and 30,
and sections l3 and 81 are 10 be disposed
of at public sale, preference right to
"a
time OF such sale. or they may be
leased for periods not 10 exceed hve years,
u,iGcr such regulations as the state leSls-
lature shall prescribe. II NIL be op-
served that the legislature IS IN no way
prohibited from protecting the lessees in
their improvements 10 the fullest extent.
Il VIII have and II Viii be It's dutllh
power 10 surround them with all the
legal safeguards demanded by justice ana
fair Geaiag. No state legisiat ture can pe
elected or ought 10 be elected that VIII
in am way sacrifice the property rights
OF this worthy class Of our fellow cld-
zens.
There IS a danger. however, to which
1 call the serious attention OF these les
sees 1T is q danger that may impair
their interests IN many ways, If the IN
dian Territory could be included at once
in the state of Oklahoma. by the census
OF 1890, there were 53,35l voters in thaI
territory. Of which 15.4s2 are reported IL
literate. That Yves two years and tour
months ago 1T this time the number or
voters there must be more than the Vot-
ers in Oklahoma Would It be safe Tor
vCu gentlemen who now live upon our
school land to intrUst your interests IN
eIecting a constitutional convention and
state legislature to deal with this i'm
po-tant question, TO this conglomerate
mass Of voters. OF which number z9oi-
are Indians and negroes? / think not.
K would he a danger 10 which YOU ought
not 10 be Subjected. Whether lease
system is finally adopted or the land you
occupy sold. il is sure that you will have
your preference right safely protected
and defended by the voters Of Oklahoma
who are familiar with the conditions by
which You are surrounded, and 1t is equal
Is sure that YOU could expect no such
from Indian Territory voters
There is another thing. gentlemen OF
the school lands, that you must not Ior-
get Every year that statehood for Or
lahona rs delayed, more and more diin-
cult VIII be Your position. The lands
YOU occupy will become more valuable
as time goes on. Nothing can be per
1nanentIy settled until statehood Is Sc
cured. If statehood is delayed until the
a fairs in the indian Territory arc set
Iceland such would be the result II lhe
nlao rronosad in the pending bin IS con
denned by the election Of Mr.. Cross-you
would have. in my Judgment, many years
of trouble and uncertainty before You
could obtain your title. what IS pest
for the school lands in which all the
oaoole of Oklahoma are interested equal
" v-bat is best for the future state Of
Oklahoma is our speedy admission to the
union and the prompt settlement OF ali
of our internal affairs by our own cltl-
zens-by those who have laboreG ana
struggled To advance the territory to its
present proud position
Some Solid Objections.
Again it IS asserted that congress can
eo,alize the grant of land for the sup
rort OF schools, between the two terri
tcries. by appropriating the mineral lands
Of The Indian territory 70 the single state.
This assertion is preposterous- Like all
other lands in that territory the mineral
lands are held by the Indian tribes by lee
simple title. The agreement between the
United States and the tribes provides
that all royalties received by the tribes
shall be retained by them. and that when
said lands are sold the proceeds arising
from the same shall be deposited IN the
treasury of the United States to the
credit of said tribes and paid out per
capita in the manner prescribed by law.
There is not single acre of land or
single dollar in all the indian territory
that congress sh,s any power to approDri-
ate for a school fund or for any other
puruose. Reckless indeed is the public
speaker that declares otherwise to an in
tciliCent audience in Oklahoma. Surely It
Will take time 10 solve the problem es
10 how the $4,000 children in the Indian
territory are to be educated with con
stautly increasing numbers The census
Of 1900 shows that there were 1853 more