The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-06-29
LACK OF WORK DRIVES
THEM TO DRASTIC ACTION
Present Intention TO Take Up
Tract Of Land Near Mus
kOgee and COIOnize

Boston, June 29.--Driven to drastic
action by lack Of work. vast army
Of thousand swedes are preparing
TO pun up stakes IN central Massaellu-
setts. and go to Indian Territory and
establish colony there Their pres.
ont intention is to take up large lofs
Of land near Muskogee and colonize.
Already the Swedes of Massachu.
Isetts. under able leaders. have estab
llshed colony at Hettinger North
Dakota. Their next colony. accord.
ing to the leader OF their movement.
viii be in or near Muskogee.
Rev. G. A. Larsen, of Gardner. Mass
who Is the leader OF his countrymen
.m the colonization movement. said in
an interview:
NY people must seek happiness
and fortune in the west. The unsatis
factory conditions OF the eastern labor
market are forcing them to do this
In the present low ebb of industry in
New England, we have been harder
hit than any other division Of the
people. Something had TO be done.
and we have handed ourselves To-
gether 70 90 west.
There has been mucn suffering IN
the east Although the Swedish work.
men are skilled mechanics, carpenters
etc. they have found it
hard to make a living They are only
100 glad to journey to land of plenty
and till the soil
A few weeks ago a band from Wor-
cester made 81 settlement in North
Dakota and the report we have from
them encourages our bigger move
mont Already nave a thousand
families who want to join the colony.
As TO the exact place we will lo-
cate ! cannot say We are trying to
get location near Muskogee, where
we can take up land. am having q
friend in that section OF the country
make thorough investigation there
and II is likely we can make arrange
ments To settle In that sectiop
The present depression has caus
ed ans amount OF migration. and al
ready North Dakota, whore our first
party Went Is oyercrowded with set. !
tiers. Canada, also, | am informed |
is swarmed with homeseekers from
.le east
Our present plan of settlement is |
~ make equal division of the land. |
We viii band together during the
hard work of breaking ground and |
erecting shelter. We will make our /
homes and our living by the sweat I
'f cur brows. There can be no doubt |
If our success, for my country peo-
pie, While skilled in various trades
re good farmers and hard workers.
rhey know how to make the soil yield.
We have had a hard time this
winter and the lack of work OF any
has been discouraging Constant re-
ports from the west of valuable lands
hat can be secured for little or moth
ng, have appealed to US With vii
ing hands and the Unborn Lore OF
the Swedish people Of
win seek out their
homes where they can prosper and
ind happiness.
"WitAln a few weeks our plans will
,e complete We will secure through 1
aes to take ourselves and the bag
rage TO the new location. Hard as
Is To leave the east. where our
churches and schools are so well es-
eblished and where the Swedish peo-
De have become so well recognized
a social and political circles, our mi.
iratinn Is a settled thing
Further ! expect 10 see sdll other
arge bands OF Massachusetts work
neu follow How can they help see /
ng that The real land Of promise Hes
iut there ia the far west? Why do
hey stick to the SCOT ana smoke Of
when they can live as men
we're born TO live, and eniov ihe real
.9tisfactlon OF the homebuilder.
Although we have many memories
md many Bind friends here, We are
going where real happiness and real
nrcsnelity bloom on every foot Of
and