The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-06-08

themselves the weight Of newspaper
influence was ever thrown against the
dangers commtn to new communi
ties
People came here with fixed ideals
Of q high order and If any labored
under the delusicn that they could
with impuniiy show here that disregard
for law and order and Justice and de.
cency which is sometimes tolerated in
the pioneer life Of new countries. they
we're soon undeceived and they quickly
came to grief An unrelenting and a
successful warfare was waged upon
outawry and rowdyism. and It was
soon made plain that train robberles
and brawls and other crimes and dis
turbances were as much to be expected
IN the older haunts Of civilization as
in this the newest Of the territories.
The country has developed too rap
idly 70 remain long in that formative
state which offers 10 the demagogue
his opportunity. Occasionally when
the people were still little acquainted
with each other unworthy men would
impose themselves upon the public,
but whenever officials have shown
disposition to convert a public trust
into private snap they have been
as promptly and as severely called TO
account here as in any state, and the
newspapers have been unsplr,ns in
their condemnation Of OFFICIAL NAL.
feasauce. Il is wen remembered that
when a judge, app0inte1to administer
and uphold the law. became corrupt
and arbitrary. the newspapers were
prompt and fearless in Their condem-
nation of his. abuse of authority.
Some OF these editors suffered heavy
fines and were even committed 20
Jail for alleged contempt. but they
have continued in honorable se-uict
enjoying the respect Of their fellow
citizens. and have seen the oppressor
5horn Of his undeserved authority and
himself committed to jail for the vi
olation of the laws he was once en-
trusted with enforcing. There have
been many instances in both terri
tories whore removal from Office has
followed the exposure by newspapers
of official cro0kedness.
1T Is almost universally true that
people look upon the To-
cal newspaper as an index to the bus
mess enterprise aud the social char
acter Of the community it represents,
and the first step in the way Of in
any community In which
they are interested is to send for the
local paper Thus our newspaper men
have in sense be @me immigration
agents. and the character of the people I
who have come to make their homes
within our borders is proof Of the good
impression that has thus gone out from !
this source. Almost every issue of a
territory paper is boom edition in
The sense that It advertises the re- /
sources and advantages of its section /
and reflects the industry and progress
II its people aud is a continual ex- /
nortation to improvement and devel- /
,pment.
Perhaps the greatest boon that has /
ever been given to the people of a
state by a single act of legislation
vas the passage of the free homestead /
lill. which saved to the homesteaders
If Oklahoma sixteen million dollars.
rhi was only achieved after a cam
laign Of years in which the newspa-
'ers, as usual bore conspicuous
,art.
The progress in indian Territory
las in some respects necessarily been
low. While Oklahoma has been inn
'atient at being compelled to remain
10 long a territory when fitted so well
or statehood, our aeighbors in In
liam Territory can with justice CON.
lain. that they have not been given
wen territorial government. The
'eople Of Hawaii enjoy greater
MEASURE of selfgoyernment than do
hese enlightened citizens of Indian
Territory They have no elective of.
icers except their town OFFICERS. Ey.
ry particle of legislation for Indian
'erritory must be sought at the hands
4 congress. and yet the territory has
ot even the representation OF a del
gate in congress. When ii becomes
ecessary to present to congress or %
he departments al Washington those
matters Of great Importance to the
erritory, tht majority OF the citizens.
aying no legal representatives chosen
y popular vote and maintained at
ublic expense, are at a serious dis
dyantage as compared with the in
erests capable of maintaining able and
lobbyists at big salaries.
he titles 60 lands have an been {
ested in the Indians. and, under the {
Xisting restrictions these lands are I
ct practically inalienaable. The ad. {
Illustration OF the laws is left en-. d
rely with officials appointed By fed s
raj authorities Whatever Is done /
'r the public good must be the re. Z
llt OF local organization, and here. g