The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-02-14


to reach Woodward.
Senator John o. Blakeney. the Demo-
cratic member of the council from Pot
tawatomie county, is opposed to the Mat
thews quarantine bill. as passed by the
house and will work against the passage
of the bill in the upper body of the leg
islature. Senator Blakeney has been re-
oeiving letters and petitions daily from
his people asking him to work against the
bill and a fight on this measure has
already been started by him. The people
Of Senator Blakeneys district desire an
open season from October l to February
!, in order that cattle can be shipped into
oil mill feed yards in Pottawatomie and
Cleveland counties. If such a provision
cannot be secured in the bill, the senator S
constituents desire that Cleveland and
Pottawatomie counties be below the ter
ritorial quarantine line in order that the
cattle industry will not be affected by
legislation for other parts of Oklahoma.
There is another feature of the quar-
antine matter that Senator Blakeney has
to contend with and this is the pasturing
of Pottawatomie county cattle in the
Seminole nation. Many Oklahoma farmers
have large herds of cattIe-more than
they can pasture during the summer
months on their farms, and for this rea-
son these cattle are pastured in the Sem
mole nation and a stringent quarantine
law, or one with provisions such as the
Mathews measure has, means numerous
difficulties in store for the Pottawato tonne
county farmer in the future. There is
no provision made for him to get his cat
tie into Oklahoma, and if he crosses the
quarantine line with them, he is immedi-
etely charged with breaking one of the
territorial laws. Consequently when all
of these features are taken into consid-
GRAFTON, Senator Blakeney, whatever his
personal feelings NAL be, will work for
the best interests of the people he repre-
sents in the territorial assembly
Not only has Senator Rlakeney been
the recipient of letters and petitions, but
oil mill men have been in Guthrie to see
him, and ascertain what isposition on
the matter is. They have explained what
the passage of such a measure means to
them. and as the oil mill business is of
immense proportions in Senator Blake
ney's district. these men feel that their
interests should be considered before the
Mathews bill becomes a law.
4 am opposed to the Mathews quar-
antine bin rs it now stands" said Sen
ator Blakeney today. I'VE have inter-
ests in my district that must be looked
sfter and that are not provided for in
the quarantine measure. Whatever my
personal wishes might be relative to this
matter. / cannot neglect the wishes or
demands of the people OF my district
There is Indignation among the Repub-
lican members OF the house on account of
the action OF Representative Merrick of
Lincoln county. in voting for the Mathews
quarantine bill and with the Democrats.
thus passing the measure. Heretofore,
Merrick has voted against and has been
radically opposed To the passage OF the
hin by the house. He has made speeches
against it and il was only the morning
before the bill came up that that II was
known that he had changed position on
the measure. Merrick asserts that he has
.. received letters from constituents of such
a character that he was compelled to vote
IS he did. These letters. he stated We're
received the day the bin passed. but none
or the Republican members of the house
have seen any % them. There would not
have been much said about the matter
II Mathews had not made the quarantine
bill a party measure. Even after eau
Gus agreement was perfected. IL was
doubtful II tbs men would stand. 'hitched'
long enough 20 pass Il. One man did
break away from the agreement. but
Merric!Is vote was enough 10 pass the
tiI.
4 few days ago, Merrick approached
cne of the members of the house and re-
cuested-his support 10 secure a place on
the committee appointed at the end of
the session 10 codify the laws. This mem
Der partially promised Merrick 10 assist
lin TO land the coveted position hut since
his action on the quarantine bin. this
support viii be withdrawn. 1t Is sur
missed that Merrick has been promised a
place on the codifying committee rs pay