The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-12-10
SCHOOL LANDS
SUBJECTCREATESINTEREST

Much interest has developed as a
result of the introduction Of several
propositions in rellard to the final
disposition of the school lands of Ok
lahoma Territory, amounting to q
056OO0 acres OF land. Seyenteen-twen-
tioths of this amount is reserved foi
common school purposes. In addi
lion TO this amount, the enabling act
carried a donation Of i.050.000 acres
for territorial educational institu
tions colleges and universities. There
has been an active campaign carried
on by the seven thousand school land
lesaces fOr a number of years, look
ing townrd the final sale of these
lands, giving them tho preference
right to purchase, and In case they
do not purchase that they be paid the
appraised value of the improvements
they have placed on the lands ln fact
the enabling act In dealing with this
subject does give the lessee the pre-
ference right in case "the lands arc
sold The enabling act also leaves
the final disposition of the lands to
the first state legislature for deter
mination
Thus far there has been four pro
positions introduced I'm the enabling
act relative TO the sale Of these
school lands The subject matter
covers ail the lands, including the T.
100000 donated by the enabling act
and also what are known in Oklaho-
ma as "lhe indemnify lands tracts
of school lands in various portions of
the territory taken ia lieu OF lands
which were not taken when certain
of the indian reservations We're
opened TO settlement
Delegates Buchanan of Norman,
Weaver Of Ada and Hunt OF Oklaho-
ma CITY in proportions. which they
have introduced advocate that the
public schOl lands shall never be sold
unless so directed by a vote of the
people The fourth nronosition Is
that OF Delegate lldley on fawton. ad.
yocaiing that the disposition of the
school lands shall be LETT TO the first
legislature as yrovided under the en-
abling act, Mr. Edloy of Lawton. ad-
yocating that the disposition of the
school lands shall be left TO The first
Legislature as provided under the en-
abling act Mr. Edley himself is q
school land lessee. aud the PROPOSE.
ton introduced by him is hat favored
by the school land lcssees' organiza-
tion OF the territory
There has develuned a strong m.
dcrcurrcnt ~ favor of holding the
common school lands ln fact, it has
been stated that che majority of the
delegates from Indian Territory are
against The sale of the lands Tho
general opinion. received from lead.
ing men oi other states. is for the new
state 10 retain these lands. and this
sentiment seems at the present time
90 be much stronger than during the
past few wears when 30 was poll
tical issue and one of which both
political parties did not dare take am
open stand II
From reliable sources ~ rs learned
that the ultimate Dlon of The dele
gates in regard 90 the disnosiion of
these lands is 90 sen Che indemnity.
and possibly the iO5OO0e ares do
mated I'm the enabling act hut Go re-
tain an che sOcalled common school
lands and handle thcm. ass no the pros.
emf imo. under "a system of tcnantry
believing Thar in that way the best in-
forests of the common school viii be
subscryed
The action on the Oklahoma terri-
tory lands IN tho minds of the deio
gates is closely connected with simi
lar action regarding the scgr, gated
lands of Indian Territory.
III The new state shall be given the
opportunity Co purchase these segrc.
gated lands as fad been requested by
congress the plan gli DE- 10 sell them
together with The Indemnity lands In
this territory in farms of 100 acres
each to actual settlers and giving the
Oklahoma iesseoa OF the Indemnity
lands the ufcfercnoe ught TO pun
chase Tho majority OF the lessee
in this territory in Am probability
viii not favor this plan as q rc
suit the matter may again BE Injected
into politics
Tho convention committee on
school lands met with Secretary Fred
NCnler tod1v ans went over school
D.