The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-14
THAT LAND
PROBLEM
IS ALIVE.
LeSSeeS Are Almost a Unit for
Early Statehood
WOULD SELL SCHOOL LAND
Then Strength Results from
Close Organization

Guthrie, O. T, June 13.-With the com
nag of statehood for Oklahoma the first
OF important questions 10 be settled is
whether or not the school land now he'd
by the territory for the future state shall
be sold, or retained for an indefinite
number Of years. Regardless Of the form
Of statehood, this problem viii come to
The front Immediately after Oklahoma re-
Ceives an enabling act Already the
proposition Of selling the school land is
up with the school land lessees. With
cut exception the lessecs favor immediate
statehood FOR Oklahoma; and in fact are
demanding statehood. Practically in the
same breath they are demanding the sale
of the school land. Immediately after Ok
lahoma is admitted TO the Union. If 1t IS
possible they viii secure a clause IN the
enabling act authorizing the immediate
sale of the lands, the rules and regul2-
tions to be prescribed by the state legis-
Iature. whether such a provision can be
inserted IN the statehood bill is ques-
tionable. but this. fact does not prevent
the school land lessees from demanding
that IT be done.
With the organization Of lessees over
the territory into union the men who
lease school land viii have more strength
than IS realized at the present time. The
organization has not been perfected in
several counties. but the executive com
mittee is preparing 10 send organizers
out to complete the unfinished work The
lesyees' union is Of recent origin, but
much good has resulted since its incep-
ton It's officers are men who lease
school land, and If an officer disposes Of
his lease his resignation is demanded and
the vanacancy Immediately filed.
In conversation with a representative Of
the Eagle yesterday, a school land lessee
said: What we want is immediate state
hood for Oklahoma. We are not in favor
of a union with the Indian Territory, for
BY such a union we viii undoubtedly b
deprived Of many Of our rights by the
people Of the Indian country. If it is
possible to secure such thing. we desire
o clause in the statehood bin introduced
by the delegate TO congress from Okla
bona providing for and making it com
pulsarv for the first state legislature in
Oklahoma to arrange for the immediate
sale of all school land now held by the
territory for the state Of oklahoma. We
do not know if such a clause can be in
serted I'm the statehood bill, but we viii
ask that some provision be made. It is
probable that eastern congressmen VIII
say that such action is without prece-
cent. but we hold that if we do not ask
fer what we want we VIII get nothing.
Then another thing" continued the
lessee: we desire that the land be APP
praised by the county commissioners Of
the various counties. a reasonable value
should be placed upon the various tracts
IS raw lands. Tor our improvements
should not be taken into consideration
when the apnraisemcnt is made. As a
matter OF justice to us we desire that
every lessee be given preference right
when these lands arc sold. This prefer
ence right in everything that is fair,
should be given us. and If it is done we
can then secure the land at the appraised
value
what about improvements placed on
school land by lcssees?' was asked.
Would it not be fair for the county
commissioners 10 appraise the improve
ments at 81 reasonable value II this IS
done. the lessee can then sell his i'm
provements in case he does not care 70
purchase the tract of land held by him
as lessee. # a Jesse" refuses to pur-
chase the land leased by him. the land
should be sold 60 the highest bidder. and
the purchaser be compelled TO pay cash
Tor the lessee's improvements. the price
TO hO fixed bv appraisement
-,
chaser OF school land should have IN
paying Tor purchased land is one that IS
much debated among lessees. MauT per-
sons prefer that the land be sold from
twenty TO thirty years time and per
cent interest seems To be the rate most
-, -. -,,.l, -. ,,s, -. r,,r-
chaser OF school lanw to make his pay
.rHH. aH D. D