The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-17
A Big Victory.

A Big Victory.
Perhaps the greatest struggle that the
settlers a the west OF Oklahoma had in
their winning was in Roger Mills county.
This is one Of the counties that border
on Texas. There the settlers had the
proposition OF an actively adverse
county government TO contend with. to
gether with an organized and hostile
element Of cattlemen and cowboys. The
success OF the farmer depended upon his
ability 10 secure the adoption OF the
herd law, a local option ARRANGEMENT
by which the people Of any subdivision
OF county might say whether the cat
tie in that section should be controlled
and herded on the crops or allowed free
range. which meant destruction OF the
crops The election on the herd law
proposition had 10 be called as a result
OF a majority OF the inhabitants of the
subdivision petitioning for the same
There was always something the mat
ter with the petition when il was pre-
scented 70 the county Judge. Then a ~
yer was employed 20 draft the pes s.fou-
the lawyer had 10 be brought from a
hundred miles to the east in order TO
get one who would do the right thing by
The homesteaders-aud a petition was
framed that could not be denied. The
first election for Roger Mills county was
called That was two years ago. The
Saturday before the Tuesday upon which
the vote was TO be taken the cowmen
secured an Injunction and the election
was restrained. That ended the at
tempt at that time. The situation be-
came one OF sleepless lights and days
OF toll for the man with a growing crop.
The crops had been planted in faith that
the election would be held It was
known that the proposition would carry
by a vote OF to I. II was a time when
cattle were mysteriously killed and
homesteaders suddenly packed their er-
locts in a prairie schooner and drove
out Of the country Sentiment and the
necessity for doing something, however.
caused the people on the farms TO &c;
close together. The result OF the COM
ing together was the formation OF the
most peculiar secret society In the whole
Southwest
Secret Society.
About the time OF the failed election
a music teacher from Atchison. Kan.
fled OF a good-Iooking quarJer-section
VI ANUNfA NILS HkALAg ld-l ana went 10
live in "a dugout there and started 20
farm. lie considered the cause OF the
homesteadcr and looked the situation
over Then ne began the formation or
a secret. Cath-Eound. aud carefully
guarded organization OF western okla
hOma farmers. The order is called The
Farmers Protective Association. and
and has now at the age OF one year a
membership or more than 1000 farmers
OF the western part OF the Territory
% Oklahoma. The order has a set Of
signs. grips. and words. and meets once
a month in twenty or more different
lodges
Tho lodges OF the Farmers Protec-
tive Association. organized By the raw
est kind Of IN amateur farmer. have
been the cause OF the cattlemcn quit
ting the Government lands Of Oklahoma
There are now pastures that are made /
up OF many homestead hliuRs-the en- /
ploycs OF the cowmen-au punched for
the purposes Of making a large area. /
but the pastures are now fenced ana
The farmer has the benefit Of the open
un1isturbed by cattle. II is All due TO
the organization OF the secret order .
that made the influence OF the farmer 4
felt not only by the cattlemen. but I
by the men who knew that their ten I
ure in Office depended upon getting the /
votes OF the people. The farmers or I
Oklahoma who have gone into the secret I
order 10 save their homes and make the 4
building Of them on a scale lu keeping /
with the possibilities Of the situation /
have become a great power in the poll /
ties Of the Territory as a result OF their /
organization. They assert however. I
Lhat hoy h.r. no rni..lnn NV. ~. |