The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-11-17
NoArMnIn. loo1--NrnIL. lssp

ruosday November IG. 1907. oklahoma was
admitted into the mIj fellowship OF the sister
hood Of American commemorative This was
great event iu tho history OF our nation, par
ticultrly Zoo the history of the two territories
from which oklahoma wns constructed. But
for Tho real gala day In the history ~ Okla
homa We must so back 10 that day in 1888, In
April of that year. whom at the crack or rinc
a modern children of Israel swarmod across
tho borders OF the original oklahoma into the
promised land.
IThorc had never been anything Ike unto
that pilgrimage In the history Of America Nor
win there be again when II became known
that The federal government was To throw open
the Indian lands for settlement and that the
race was to go to tho swift without fear or ia
vor. that on a certain high noon in April OF
1889 the signal was to be given and that each
who stakcd his claim first was to have that
claim to hold forever aH his own. that prior To
that exact time no man would be allowed within
The coveted area. there started vast army Of
homescekors from ovcry point of the compass,
ali headed for THE central spot
Those who resided in old Indian Territory at
tho time win recall the phenomenon that pres-
entity manifested itself. Along every road lead
inK west the caravan moved steadily onward
The route by day was u pillar ~ dust thrown
up by every form Of transportation oxtaut Tho
one horse shay, loaded with pitiful assortment
% utensils aud clothing and only man and
hts wife bold OF heart seeking home out yon-
der, found place IN tho caravan of great wagons
loaded with the best available. by night the
trail was blaaed by thousands OF camp fires,
around which all talk turned on tho prom
iscd land ahead
other governments had portioned their lands
among court favoritea and servants OF the
king. but never before had government
disposed Of a prnolpality upon terms OF abso-
Lutte equality to all Never before did a gov
eminent IN n single day convert a pcasanrry
into Il landed gentry This great and Inspiring
act was left for the great republic OF tho west
ern hemisphere
And when the arrowheads Of the advancing
lines established control with the boundary OF
the promised land. It bent strcamed along the
border for many miles or until It cHme In con-
tact with the arrowhcads Of other lines from
other sections. then spread backward 90 a
depth Of many miles.
Presently tho population ot a state was de-
ployod about its boundaries awaiting the signal
TO go In and take possession Take possession
Of what? Vtrgn soil and nothing morc' And
what population u wasl
In later days men have maryelcd az the ac
complishmcnts OF this population, at the stntF'
achievements. Yet there is nothing to marvc
at Those people who took their all upon the
back cut their lines of communication ant
trokkcd west IN 1889 for the purpose OF cstab
fishing homes and carving their fortunes GU
nf the wastes, were OF the snit u the earth
They possessed wealth Tar greater than gol
or silver or Jewels of vast price, they posscsse
courage and they were ready 20 toll. In tn
veruacular Of that day and time, they had CUTS
1t was before the day OF communism and othe
radical sms Nobody believed society or goy
ernment owed them anything but chanc,
And they did not waste deal OF time worry
ing about the chance. Mostly they buckle
out and made chance Tor themselves
They conquered but not easily. only co
knows what the oary-day setuers of this stat
suffered for years, before the bright star
success rose to crown their sacrifices and tot
But It was by sacrifices and toll and co
operation and the exercise Of the finest virtue
known to man, that they came through vic
torous
The BIRTH OF oklahoma dates from 1859 an
not from 1907. We would like that fact to b
more generally observed. on that day one q
tho fairest Of Uncle SANS children first say
the light Of day There came other high light
in her career the opening of other lands eve
and anon, and finally the joining with her o
her twin, indian Territory then the full bloou
OF maidenhood in the official recognition &C
corded i,-r as nvr rirr sisters in 1917. But
Is the events OF 1889 that constitute the grea
epio