The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-10-13
AAskELL JuMps oN ROOSEVELT.
tContiruqd from page one }


seven hundred miles from the Osage
nation, so thar the Foster lease In
1895 was a rank wildcat proposition.
and OF course. the usual pioneer roy
atty of ten per cent was allowed. But
during the ten years. the leld was
developed. and found 10 be unusually
rich and ten years at this low royalty
was an ample reward 20 those who de-
veloped it.
BY 1908 Foster had transferred his
lease to the Indian Territory llluminat-
ing Oil company, wen known sub
sidiary of the Standard on company
Development showed that oil COW
cred six hundred and eighty thousand
acres, being the east part of the Usage
nation. also extending north into
Kansas, east into Indian territory, and
south into Oklahoma, and the whole
area is known as the richest oil coun-
try in existence at this date. The re-
mainder OF the Usage nation was bar
rem.
Congress gave you the power to fix
the consideration that the Usage peo
pie should receive. as their part of the
)il value. after the expiration of the
len year lease. 1t was we'll known TO
you at that time what the sublessees
we're paying for small tracts il. the
Usage nation and adjoining lands in
the Cherokee nation, ~ the Cherokee
leases passed through the Interior de-
partmetn, and their approval and the
royalties and bonuses received by the
land owners were a matter of record
and approval in the Interior depart
ment records. 1t Is scarcely possible
| that with these records before you,
you failed to notice that ten dollars
per acre cash bonus and one-siXth roy
atty was much below the average COM
pensation TO the land owner. Indeed
in many instances cash bonuses Of
| from fifty to even one hundred dol
lars per acre were received by tho
land owners.
A few acres found in the interior de-
2artment recorGs are as follows;
The I.annon family. seven hundred
acres. Cherokee nation, Immediately
Joining the Usage nation. interior de-
partment lease, made in 1908. cash
bonus forty thousand dollars. royalty
one.eighth We have eight or ten
| similar leases where general public
| Information shows cash bonuses sub
stantially as large as the above, anu
royalties running at one-sixth, but
your subordinate officers In charge nj
| the Indian office at Muskogee, on or
ders from tiie''iinterior department
this morning. refused to permit exam
| nation of the records to confirm same
accurately, but they are subject to
,our investigation, and you will find,
no doubt, that the lsannon lease was
lnly an average lease.
| And numerous other leases adioin-
ng the Usage nation give you the OPP
Dortunity TO know that bare one
ighth royaltyJh without any cash
,onuses to the 0sages was gross out
| age OH that nation.
Congress no Sooner gave you the
uthority to fix the amount OF compen-
alton than the Osages filed a written
equest with YOU for an opportunity 10
heard and produce evidence, which
hey could easily have produced show
ng you that a cash bonus of seven
| million dollars and one-sixth royalty
would be indeed b moderate eompen
| alton TO them.
You neglected to give the Osages
my opportunity whatever 10 be heard.
| The fact that six hundred and eighty
housand acres of rich oil land WIS
| he stake that the Standard Oil cont
lany was PLAYING for. and the land
lwners denied the right to be heard.
S something that will require u more
ucid explanation than Mr.. Pierce has
seen fit 10 give.
ANY practical business man is ready
| recognize that six hundred and
| Eighty thousand acres In one tract
II land is OF far greater proportion.
te value than the small tracts OF
| ew hundred acres each, ana ihe.a-
ore, the greater surprise that yon
| hould have fixed the royalty with
ut any cash bonus). much lower than
he Individual land owners we're secur.
ng on small trpcts There were no
such improvldent leases being made
n that whole combined field.
Mr.. Pierce suggests IN his letter 10
ne that as matter of fact il was moi
tnown at the time that the Standard
OIL company was the real party N
interest ] submit TO you that the very
act that Messrs. Guifey Barnsdale
md Senator Depew. well known Stand.
,rd Oil representatives. with others 81
the same odor, making Il personal ap@
cal 10 YOU for this low royalty TO III
Land owners, should have been ample
,videnCe that the standard Oil com
amy was the real beneficiary.
II was the same Senator Depew
Who induced you 10 grant the Prairie
)il & Gas company franchise over
he protest of Secretary Hitchcock.
ess than one year before that time;
md in this one transaction you gave
he Standard Oil company donatioit
rom The property OF the Usage In
llans OF more than enough TO pay the
'amous twcnty.niut million dollar fine.
shall insist upon the cancellation
lf this lease In the interest of these
itizens OF om' state. or thai congress
axe action 10 declare this improyident
md minus, lease void, and secure fof
he Usage nation the just and reasoai
,bie compensation that other owners
are recelving b
Marvellous as Il may seem, the dit
erence between the royalty you fixed