The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-07
.LESSEES PASS
RESOLUTIONS
Further Details of the Meeting
of Lessees.
TEXT OF THE PLATFORM
What the Renters Deem Equit-
able in Their Case
TEXT OF THE PLATFORM

| hundred and fifty and three hundred
school land lessees convened in the
Guthrie convention hall in the first meet
ing of the territorial school land les
sees convention, which was mentioned
in yesterday dispatch.
In the coure of the morning speech
making by ]. 3. Tines, of Weilston, led
an attack on the policy of several of the
| territorial papers, which he named, in
making a fight for the retention of the
school lands. He heartily endorsed the
| school lands clause of the Mcguire bill
and claimed the solid support of the
| lessees for his feature. Editor John Go
lobe of the state Register, a lessees' or
gan also talked.
There are several issues on which a
warm fight is looked for before the close
of the convention. Among these is a
contest between the indemnity school
| land lessees and the lessees of the reg
ular school lands. 1t is asserted that
the indemnity lessees think there is bet
ter chance of having the indemnity lands
sold after statehood than there is for
the sale of the regular school lands, and
that they are accordingly about to make
a fight for this to the exclusion OF the
regular lessees. 1t is also noted in this
connection, that the present officers OF
the territorial organization are all in
demnity lessees The regular school land
lessees are in the majority and will elect
officers from among their number. it is
thought. At any rote. this will practic
ally insure the election of A. Mctaggart
,erh 0nd
fight is looked for.
The following committees were appoint
ed:
On rules--C r. Young and DIR. Knenodle
of Logan county: J. NJ. Durand of Kay;
j. w Mitchell of Comanche; ]. NJ. Nc
Fadden of Caddo.
On credentials-W p. Francis of Roger
Mills; w. /. Davis of Oklahoma; s. G.
Proctor of Grant; J. b. Tate of Noble;
J. A. BIeubaugh of Kay.
On resolutions-(One from each county
represented) G. A Marshall of Cana
dian; J. w. Mitchell of Comanche; r.
II. Chism of Grant; D. II. Hayes of Kay;
w. j. Harding of Lincoln; Joe Norris of
Logan; S. /. Elkhorn Of Noble; J. W.
Young of Oklahoma; w. II. Mcdonald of
Pottawatomie; j. s. Mablemee of Payne;
W. P Francis of Roger Mills: A. NJ. Nc
Taggart of Woods; j. A. Parsons of
Woodward; and w. +. McFadden of Cad
do.
The following report of the committee
on resolutions was adopted:
Whereas, the board of leasing school
lands in Oklahoma territory have, owing
to the recent policies adopted, made such
an unjust and unnecessary raise in the
rental price of many Of the school lands
in Oklahoma;
Therefore, be it resolved that the les
sees of Oklahoma in convention assem-
bled, do most emphatically protest against
such excessive rates for the following
reasons, towit:
First-that the productive value Of
many of these lands have diminished
rather than increased:
Second-That if the selling value of
Oklahoma lands has increased it is main
ly due to the result of our efforts;
Third-Since it appears that the school
land board has adopted the policy of
imposing rentals according to the i'm
provements which have been placed on
the school lands by the lessees,
We, therefore, condemn the policy as
unjust. double-taxation. and contend that
such policy viii drive away taxable i'm
provements and good substantial homes
from school lands and tnat it will ulti-
mately result not only in the ruination
of the lessees, but also in the depletion
of the school fund. and will lessen the
production of the land
Whereas, it is repugnant to a Repub-
lican form OF government to repose ex-
ecutive, legislative and judicial powers
in any board or body of men, be it
therefore resolved that We demand of the
legislative assembly the enactment of
school land bill just to the lessees and
protective TO the school fund of the ter
ritory. and that the powers of the school
land board be defined and that the ap-
praisement of both lands and improve
ments be divorced from said board and
Be it further resolved. that we pledge |
our efforts 10 secure a legislature that !
Will enact law Incorporating the above |
proposition and we further declare we |
will not support any legislative candi- !
date who will not pledge his support fer |
such legislation.
PIT 1t resolved. that we endorse the Nc |
Gulre statehood bill in so far as it /
relates to the disposal OF school lands /
in the territory. and that we demand |
immediate statehood
Be it further resolved, that We COM |
mend the work OF John Goiobie Of the |
State Register in his efforts to create /
sentiment in favor Of the proper hand
ling and support Of the school lands
And be il further resolved that we i
commend the work of the Chandler Tri-
bune to create sentiment favorable to
The proper handling and disposal OF the
school lands and we hereby endorse the
Tribune as the official organ Of the ter.
-itorial union.
BE Il further resolved. that we con-
mend the Blackwell Sun and any other
oapers in she territory that have stood
oy the lessees for the right
We recommend that the constitution
oe amended so that the members of this |
vote on the place OF holding |
he next convention.
BE 1t further resolved. that the pro-
'eedings and resolutions OF this conven-
ion be sent. at the expense Of the ter
-itorial union under the direction of the
PRESIDENT and secretary thereof. TO every
essee in the territory