Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1885 — THE CATTLE KINGS MUST GO [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE CATTLE KINGS MUST GO

Capt Coach Has a Long Interview with Secretary of the Interior Lamar. He Is Told that All Unlawful Intruders in Oklahoma Rill Be Ejected. Capt Conch, with his counsel, .Sidney Clarke, visited \\ ashington last week, and had an interview with Secretary Lamar. The substanee of the interview was as follows; Capt. Conch gave a history of the Oklahoma question, and the view which he and the Western people generally take of it. The Secretar y took the view that the clause in the treaty setting this land aside, for freedmen and friendly Indians created a trust which made it incumbent upon the Government to preserve it in that status until such time as Congress nrght make another disposition of it. This point was discussed at length. The decisions of the courts for and against this position were quoted. Capt. Couch and Mr.

Clarke understand from what Lamar said;: on this point that the position of the administration is that it is not subject to immediate settlement under the land laws. The question of the occupancy of Oklahoma by the cattle men was then raised. Capt. Couch informed the Secretary of thelocation of the ranches, the amount of land occupied, and the names of the Eersons occupying it. He also told Mr. iamar that the cattlemen wi re allowed topass by the military on a pass from any of the cattle kings, and that anybody connected with-the cattle companies was allowed to* pass in and out of the Territory without question. Capt. Couch said that the settler® thought that if they were to be excluded: because the administration took the view that these lands were not open to settlement, it was right and just that the cattlemen. who are not only upon the Oklahoma, lands, but are occupying the surrounding Indian country under illegal leases, should, also be ejected. Mr. Lamar replied that they would be ejected; that all the cattle syndicates would be ejected. He said: “I agree with you on that, gentlemen.” He also affirmed that his feelings were all with the settlers, but that, on this one point of law as to the landsbeing open to settlement now he did not agree with them. As to the question of the appointment of a commission to negotiate with the Indians, the Secretarysaid that the administration would take early action upon it. He said, “Gentlemen. you may consider the administration, a little slow, but we intend to meet all these questions, and I think we shall meet them, in a way which will be generally satisfactory to your people. ”

CAPT. W. L. COUCH.