The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-11-16

was consoled for this setback by being appointed
doorkeeper of the house Of representatives in
Washington, job which he held until 1879
While there he made the discovery, as he be-
Ieved, that the lands in the western part of
Indian Territory, which had been ceded by the
Creek Indians to the government for occupation
by the other Civilized Tribes and by freedmen,
In reality belonged to the public lands of the
United States and were therefore open to settle
ment He had seen the richness of these lands
during his Indian campaigning with Custer and
he resolved that the land-hungry white men
should possess them. So he formed the "Okla-
homa Colony" and for the next FIVE years de-
voted most of his time to that project.
HE was a born orator." says Sutton, land he
became the evangelist Of that promised land GO
ing up and down the border. preaching that it
was sinful waste for that rich soil to be held
for a few Indians who would not till it. while so
many farmers were eager to go In and possess
1t and improve it Many thought him dreamer
and a crank but he knew that every colony
that went and was expelled stirred up the agi-
tation and fastened the day when the land would
be opened"
The principal opposition to Payne's project
came from the cattle barons, who were using the
land for free grazing and they had sufficient
influence with the federal authorities so that
every time Payne led his Boomers into Okla
homa, federal troops were sent to arrest and
eyict them. Despite studous efforts to keep the
matter out of the civil courts where the issue
could be tried on the merits of the case Payne
succeeded several times in getting it into court
where he won out and started back once more
to try again.
To aid in his project Payne established news
paper which had one Of the most unusual careers
in the history of American journalism. Grace E.
Ray Of the school of journalism at the University
of Oklahoma in her history of "Earlv Oklo homo
Newspapers has this to say about it:
"The Oklahoma War Chief, established by
David L. Payne as the official organ of his Okla
homa Colony was, like the colony illegal in it's
operation, and consequently had turbulent and
uncertain existence. 1t was established and main
tanned solely for the purpose of furthering
Payne's policy of advocating the opening of the
Territory to settlement The first issue was pub
lished at Caldwell Kansas. on January r. 1885,
but 1t seldom published two issues in succession
in the same place. for 1t was moved from town
to town along the Oklahoma Kansas line as
Payne was forced to move his colony, which was
almost constantly pursued by federal officers.
1.-The War Chief was issued weekly, more or
less regularly, but its size and style, and some
times even its name, changed percepubly as 1t
was moved about Sometimes 1t was entitled
the Oklahoma Chief and sometimes the Okla
homa War Chief. =.
I'm one of its issues the publishers stated that
they had been having trouble in getting paper
and supplies with which to print the paper. This
issue was printed on brown wrapping paper and
was smeared with grease Whether 1t had been
printed some paper In which the bacon and
other supplies had been wrapped. whether it
was stained with grease after being printed is a
matter for speculation. But the result was a
newspaper that was scarcely legible The two
inside pages were blank, indicating either that
there were other shop difficulties besides the
shortage Of paper or that the camp was forced to
move before the entire edition had been printed
One factor which makes the War Chief unique
Is that its publication resulted In an official
proclamation from Henry NJ. Teller secretary of
the interior. declaring that Anyone publishing
or assisting in publishing a newspaper on the
Cherokee Strip win be deemed guilty of trespass
and punished by fine Of 500 to 81 900 or from
one year to Eve years In the penitentiary, or
both" Zone can imagine what mighty roar of
protest against limiting the freedom Of the
press" would sweep the country If a cabinet
officer should issue such proclamation todayD
For a short time In 1884 Payne was a member
of Buffalo Bills Wild West show company and
his struggles with the federal authorities over
the settlement of Oklahoma made an interesting
story In the show program. especially when It
was told by the nimbie pen Of Col Prentss In