The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-02-18

the government for the reason that
few years ago, the United States
government gave to The railroads
trayersing that country charter
saying that they could have every
alternate section OF land on each
side OF the road for FIVE miles IL the
titles should ever become or be vest
ed in the government CT the United
States. The moment the government
should own these lands. that moment
the railroads would come in and claim
every alternate section along their
right Of way and would make claim
70 get the coal lands, irrespective of
distances, and for the sections that
have been allotted by the Indian citi-
gens and taken for townsites. Recent
ly the president suggested that a cor
poration be formed TO take over the
lands. with each and every citizen
of the Indian tribes as a stockhonder.
What doea that mean? Simply that
they would be perpetuated in the
hands OF the federal government un-
der its iterior department to be con.
trolled, the rate of royalty TO be fixed
by them, and In the end the Indian
would get nothing, and the western
part of this state and the users OF
coal would be ground down to dust,
as they are now, for the price Of that
product II would mean that they
would have an interest-the railroad
that haul that coal. the carriers would
have a connection with it's mining and
with its ownership. and with its con-
troll, and that We would have no
means OF regulating the prices OF
that product. Strip from the rail-
roads and common carriers the right
10 manage Il, or to do anything but
the business OF transportation pro-
vide for strong commission, and
We can reduce the rate and tx the
price at the mines. whereby the users
OF coal can get It at a reasonable
price, and at the same time give to
the people of this state a royalty that
would mean one million dollars annu-
ally. say TO you that Il is an op-
portlnity that you cannot lose. and
say TO you now, that II you don't do
Il before congress takes action, Ii
will pass from you forever. The In
dams own this porperty; they are
anxious not to be swindled out OF it:
they want something out OF ii and
they are anxius TO turn It over TO the
people OF the state. believing the state
will give them justice, because in
their experience in the past, thea
have not had justice at the hands of
the interior department They are
afraid TO trust to that system any
Longer; they look with alarm upon
the proposition of Incorporating them
as stockholders, including each and
every citizen OF the tribe. The only
solution they see to sell In lump
and 10 get their money readily is to
sell TO the state. The state could
use the s5,0O000O donated by con-
gress. and for the balance issue bonds
bearing low rate OF interest, run
ming for fifty years. By which those
lands could be bought, and the roy
atty would create an interest and
sinking fund that would pay the in
terest and fully pay on those bonds
and produce more than the amount
remaining TO be used for the benefit
Of the schools OF this state. AS a
business proposition, there isn't
better one offered to the people OF
the state OF Oklahoma.
III you will appoint this commits
sion and follow Il up with the right
kind OF a memorial the senate COM
mittee who went through this coun-
try will be in line with You, aud will
take II from the department OF the In.
terror and put Il where It ought 10
be, and this commission, after the
adjournment OF this convention. can
then go TO the tribes and deal with
them and after ascertaining the value
from the various reports OF the gov.
ernment which are ample. they can
strike some terms, or at least aseer-
tain from the tribes, definitely, what
they will take for them, and make
their report TO the governor as soon
as he Is elected; he would transmit
that contract to the legislature and
the legislature could provide for its
expense. by that mode. or by a refer.
end'lm vote. refer II TO the people OF
this state. and II the people wanted
lit they could take Il. and II they did
not, they needn't take II.
There would be nothing binding
under this proposition. | suppose we
could get a sufficient number on this
commission who viii serve without
charge, II necessary. because they
must get their funds from the future
state, because they couldn't get them
under this proposition | am sure, II
they bad done their work we'll, ! am
equally sure that II the people OF this
stats saw and believed that the CON.
mission had done the work worthy
Of a. that hody would make an ap- |
preparation TO pay them for thesr ser.