The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-13
One LESSEE WHO
! APPROVES RAISE
Brother Of Governor Ferguson
on-School Land Leases.
AS TO RAISE IN RENTALS
Thinks There Are Two Sides
to the Question.

Guthrie, o. T., Dec. 12.-The school land
pot continues to boil, and many are the
vexed question. Now comes Ike Fer
guson, brother of Governor T. g. Fer
county, himself lessee, and takes issue
with those who have been complaining
that the recent raise in rentals by she
board of equalization was unjust. Ike
Ferguson made the race for the terxi-
torial council at the last election. beng
defeated by only a narrow margin, and
is well known In western Oklahoma. In
Thursdays Alva Review he voices his
sentiments on the school land PROPOSE
ton as follows:
There is some discussion at present over
the raise of rents on school land and as
far as we have been able to read this dis
cussion has ali been one side of the SUD-
ject
Now we wish to, state in the outset that
We do not desire to have the lessees
deprived of a single right that they are
entitled to. Neither do we favor depriv
ing the school children of that which is
justly theirs, that which was given to
them by the government; that which. if
protected, will add to our already splendid
school system. which every true Oklaio-
man points to with pride
We have made some observations and
will endeavor to set forth a fey facts to
prove that the present prices abe nat
an injustice unless it be that the school
children are not receiving full value for
the use Of their property. One argument
set forth by the lessees is the expense
of putting these lands. except in the new
counties, have been in cultivation for
years and have long ago paid the expense
many fold
We would ask, what would it cost TO
get quarter section of land in Woods
county and put it into cultivation, should
there We one uncultivated tract for rent?
One instance came under our obserya ton
during the past season that pales such
argument a man in this community
prairie on a school quarter, broke the
sod, planted it and gave the lessee one
fourth of the crop for the use of the
land for one season.. That lessee was
the owner of a splendid farm besides.
Anothre argument set forth is that OF
protecting the homes ofsthe< homeless.
WEE Will make the statement without
fear of successful contradiction, that over
80 per cent of the leases, out side of
the new counties, are held by persons
owning good farms other than the lease.
Only seven quarters of the six sections
nearestS Ms afeAhe}d by persons who 90
not own farms The rest are held by
persons that oSn good farms number of
them own two deed quarter sections. No
tice who the presiding officers were of
the meeting held at Aiva last week, then
decide in your own mind whether or not
these meetings are held wholly in the in
terest of the poor homeless.
1t has been stated that some tracts
have been raised from $40 TO $50 and the
lessees declare that they cannot stay
with their land and pay such rent. 1t
occurs to us that if a person who has
had the use of a quarter section OF Woods
county land for years at a rent of $40
per annum Cess than the taxes on ad-
joining farmsl if he belongs to the class
especial privileges to none, would be will
ing to pay the school children something
near what their property is worth for
the use of it for few years.
The idea of lessees not being able to
keep their land at the present rental is
absurd. We do not believe that a single
lessee who intends TO remain in the
county will abandon his land because the
raise is too high, but we do believe he
will hurry to get in his application TO
release before the time expires and some
other fellow secures it. 1t is pleasing to
note that it is not the majority of the
lessees. but the agitators that are dis
satisfied and object to paying a reason
able compensation for the use Of the prop
erty that has been set aside for the pur
pose of helping TO educate their cshil-
dren. This act was demonstrated at the
meeting held at Alva There are over
1900 quarter sections of school land in
Woods county and the report Of the meet
ing shows thirty-three lessees present.
while those holding the leases for the
other 1885, quarters wTe rejoicing over the
fact that they could secure 100 acres OF
Woods county land for the next three
years for about one-han OF what i: IL
really worth We would wager our repu-
tation for truthfuIness that not a single
lessee ar that meeting, while denounc-
ing the raise OF rentals. ever cast a glsice
at the splendid educational structure that
stands in the city of Aiva. \ few more
words and we viii not intrude further
upon your valuable spee-s-sise -aestators
among the lessees are going to try to get
control Of the next legislature. They
ars now Organizing ard declaring that
.;hey wall not support any man FOR The
legislature who viii not chaYnpian the
cause. Should the voters pay as little
attention 20 primaries and conventions as
they generally do they viii succeed. It
would be very eaSr 20 accomplish this.
A very few men could control the pri-
niaries. send delegates 20 the conven-
ton. aeninate their man IN each political
party. then il would matter but little
who was elected. The lessses are en-
titled 70 representation. They have rights
that should be protected But as we
are one OF those who Go not believe in
special privileges we would not Ike TO
sec them get more representation than
they are entitled TO- IKE FERGUSON.
Rusk. O. T.