USA > Oklahoma > A history of Oklahoma > Part 6
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Threatened Indian Outbreak .- In the spring of 1885 many of the Cheyenne Indians became restless and . were reported to be buying and secreting arms and ammunition. The repeated attempts of the "boomers" to set- tle in Oklahoma and the presence of the stock men in the Indian country probably were GEN. PHILLIP H. SHERIDAN the real causes of the trouble. About the middle of the fol- lowing July, the stories of an Indian outbreak which was
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S5
STRUGGLE FOR SETTLEMENT
believed to be about to take place, caused the Govern- ment to assemble 5,000 troops in the Indian Territory and Southern Kansas. Gen. Philip HI. Sheridan, who .came from Washington, investigated the causes of the trouble and recommended that the cattlemen be required to remove their stock from the Cheyenne and Arapaho reservation. This was done. The expected outbreak never occurred.
Railway Construction .- The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company built a line from Wichita to Cald- well, Kansas, in the spring of 1880. Caldwell was on the line of the old Chisholm Trail, so the overland cattie trade from Texas, as well as from the ranches and ranges of the western part of the Indian Territory, centered at Caldwell for a number of years. In 1884, the Santa Fe also planned to build a line southward from Arkansas City. Kansas, to Fort Worth, Texas. This line was built in 1885-6. The St. Louis & San Francisco Railway built a line southwest- ward from Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Paris, Texas, about the same time. In 1887-8 the Santa Fe also constructed a line southwestward from Kiowa, Kansas, to Amarillo, Texas.
Opposition to the Opening of Oklahoma .- The opposi- tion to the opening of the vacant publie lands of Oklahoma to settlement came principally from two sources, namely, the cattlemen who had ranches in the Territory, and the Indians, who naturally wished to be let alone in their own country. The Oklahoma question continued to attract much attention both in the West and in Washington, where it was before Congress every session.
No-Man's-Land and Cimarron Territory .- In 1886 and 1887, large numbers of people settled in No-Man's-Land. That region was not then attached to any state or terri- tory. In the spring of 1887, the settlers organized a terri- torial government, selected temporary officers and chose a delegate to Congress. While this movement never received the approval of Congress, it aided in gaining recognition for the Oklahoma question.
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HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA
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ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND BY TRAIL AND TRAIN
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STRUGGLE FOR SETTLEMENT
The Oklahoma Question in Congress .- When the Fiftieth Congress convened in December, 1887, the Oklahoma Bill was again introduced. During the winter and spring of 1888 it occupied much time and attention. No action having been taken during the first session, the final contest came during the second session, in the winter of 1888 and 1889. After a hard fight, the Oklahoma Bill passed the House of Representatives, early in February, 1889. It was defeated in the Senate. The Oklahoma "boomers" in Washington, like those who had so long camped in wagons on the border, were defeated but not discouraged. They promptly tacked a "rider" on the Indian Appropriation Bill which provided that the lands of the so-called Oklahoma Country should be opened to settlement. The Senate was forced to accept the measure in that form. It provided also for the establishment of townsites and land offices but made no provisions for the organization of a territorial government. By the terms of this act, which became a law March 3, 1889, the president was to issue a proclamation giving thirty days' notice of the proposed opening.
The Opening Day Proclaimed .- March 23, President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation setting the time of the proposed opening of the Oklahoma Country to settle- ment at noon on April 22d, 1889. For ten long years the agitation for the opening of Oklahoma had continued in spite of defeats, disappointments and discouragements that would have baffled any but the most determined of men. Success had at last crowned their efforts but at a cost in the way of patient endeavor, hardship and persecution which those who live in a later day can scarcely realize.
The Most Thrilling Event in Oklahoma's History .-- Promptly at noon. April 22, 1889, the cavalrymen who patrolled the borders of the promised land, fired their car- bines in the air as a signal that the settlers might move across the line. A mighty shout arose and the race for claims and homes began. Hundreds crowded the trains of the single
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HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA
railway line that entered Oklahoma, thousands rode on fleet horses lightly saddled, other thousands rode in buggies and buckboards, and yet others, in heavy farm wagons, drawn by slower teams, yes, and some even made the race on foot! The scene at the instant of starting was one never to be for- gotten. It resembled the utter rout of a retreating army, rather than the orderly advance of an invading host. It was at once the culmination and climax of the story of American pioneering.
Summary .--- Like those of the previous period, a large part of the events of historical importance which occurred in the Indian Territory, during the years between 1875 and 1889, transpired in the western part. The pioneering of the range cattlemen and the agitation and repeated inva- sions of the "boomers" adds additional distinctiveness to the history of Oklahoma, and will leave its mark on the life and institutions of its people.
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STRUGGLE FOR SETTLEMENT
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS
Seventh Period.
1. What event signalized the doom and disappearance of the mighty herds of buffalo from the Great Plains? What effect did this have upon the Indian?
2. Tell the story of the range cattle industry in Oklahoma between 1875 and 1889. Why was the Cherokee Strip Live Stock Association organized? What part did this Association play during the agitation of the proposed settlement of Oklahoma ?
3. Briefly review the story of Capt. David L. Payne and the "boomers." Recount the struggles of the "boomers" in their en. deavors to secure homes in Oklahoma. What qualities manifested by the Oklahoma "boomer"' are elements of strength in the building of a state?
4. What were the Unassigned Lands? Where were they sit- uated ?
5. When did the outbreak of the Northern Chevennes occur ? What causes led to the restlessness and threatened outbreak of the Oklahoma Cheveunes in 1SS5?
6. Review the Spiechee War.
7. Give a brief history of No-Man's-Land.
8. Briefly outline the contest in Congress between 1884 and 1889 for the opening of Oklahoma to settlement. By what means was the measure finally passed through Congress?
9. When was the Oklahoma country opened to settlement ? Tell the story of the settlement.
10. What railroad building was done in Oklahoma during this period ?
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HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA
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EIGHTH PERIOD (1889-1907)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE TWO TERRITORIES.
The Wilderness Transformed .- Spring was already far advanced when the Oklahoma country was opened for set- tlement, yet many of the settlers plowed ground and planted corn, cane and garden seeds on the sod before attempting to erect temporary homes. Later in the season, prairie hay was cut and stacked and, in the fall, a few small fields of wheat were sown. In the towns and villages, tents and shanties, which served temporarily for business houses and homes, soon gave place to substantial buildings. Mean- while the people were dwelling quietly with no other law than that represented by the presence of numerous deputy . United States marshals, and several companies of troops of the regular army.
City Governments Organized .- True to the instincts and tradi- tions of the Anglo-Saxon race, the need of some form of municipal government was felt, and in several of the larger towns provisional city or village governments were effected by conventions and elec- tions. Though lacking in the power of municipalities created by duly constituted authority, these organizations largely accomplished the desired-ends by the wholesome influence which they exerted.
Attempt to Organize the Territory .- About a month after Oklahoma was opened to settlement, a call was issued for a convention to meet at Guthrie, July 17, to plan for the organization of a territorial government. Many were opposed to this movement, believing that the people should wait until Congress (not as yet in session since the open-
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HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA
ing) enacted the necessary legislation. The result was two conventions, one of which met at the town of Frisco and adopted resolutions of protest against the proposed terri- torial organization, and another which met at Guthrie, where after much disputing, it adjourned to meet again a month later.
FIRST POSTOFFICE AT OKLAHOMA CITY, APRIL 16, 1SS9
Congress Slow to Act .- When Congress met in Deeem- ber, 1889, a strong delegation of Oklahoma people was pres- ent, with memorials and petitions, to urge the prompt pas- sage of an act providing for the organization of the Terri- tory of Oklahoma. But Congress was deliberate and the people of Oklahoma had to wait five long months for the passage of a bill which undoubtedly should have been passed before the Christmas recess. The bill by which it was proposed to provide for the organization of a territorial form of government was not greatly different from the acts under which other territories had been organized. The people of Oklahoma were very impatient at the seemingly
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DEVELOPMENT OF THE TWO TERRITORIES
unnecessary delay. The Organic Act was approved by the president and became a law, May 2, 1890.
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The Organic Act .- The Organic Act provided that the territorial government should consist of executive, legisla- tive and judicial departments. The governor and secretary of the territory were to be appointed by the president of the United States; the other executive officers to be chosen by the governor. The Territorial . Legislative Assembly consisted of two branches, a coun- cil of thirteen members and a house of representatives of twen- ty-six members. The Territorial Supreme Court. as originally con- stituted. consisted of one chief justice and two associate justices, GEORGE W. STEELE all to be appointed by the president. They served also as judges of the district courts. The Supreme Court of Okla- homa was afterward enlarged, first to five and still later to seven members.
Counties Established by the Organic Act .- The Organic Act pro- vided that there should be seven counties organized in the new ter- ritory, the same to be designated by number until names should be adopted by the people. They were as follows: County Number One (Logan); Number Two (Oklahoma); Number Three (Cleveland); Number Four (Canadian) ; Number Five ( Kingfisher) ; Number Six (Payne) ; and Number Seven (Beaver). Governor Steele appointed a full set of county officers for each of these counties. By the terms of the Organie Act, the statutes of Nebraska were adopted as the laws of the Territory of Oklahoma until otherwise provided by the Territorial Legislative Assembly.
Territorial Government Installed .-- Immediately after the approval of the Organic Aet, President Harrison ap- pointed the first territorial officers. George W. Steele. of Indiana was named as governor. Governor Steele came immediately to Guthrie, which had been designated as the temporary capital, and entered upon the discharge of his official duties May 22, 1890.
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HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA
The First Legislature .- In compliance with the terms of the Organic Act, Governor Steele issued a proclamation July 8, 1890, calling an election to be held August 5, for the purpose of choosing the members of the First Territorial Legislative Assembly. The campaign was a short one. Party lines were not very closely drawn, as local questions, such as the location of the capital and the public institutions,
THE FIRST OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE, 1890
entered largely into consideration. The two houses of the Assembly met at Guthrie and organized on the 29th of August.
Doings of the First Legislature .- Shortly after the Leg- islative Assembly met and organized, a bill was introduced the purpose of which was to establish the capital of the Territory at Oklahoma City. The measure passed both houses but was vetoed by Governor Steele. A similar meas- ure, providing for the removal of the capital to Kingfisher, met the same fate. After wasting a large part of the session in wrangling over the location of the capital, the Assembly
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DEVELOPMENT OF THE TWO TERRITORIES
found time to attend to other business. The statutes of Nebraska, which had been made to apply in Oklahoma by the Organic Act, were amended and modified to suit local needs and conditions. Provision was made for the establishment of a territorial university at Norman, an agricultural and mechanical college at Stillwater, and a normal school at Edmond. The legislative session ended in February.
Election of a Delegate to Con- gress .- The Organic Act provided that Oklahoma should have a dele- JVF. gate in Congress, who should have all DAVID A. HARVEY the rights and privileges of a mem- ber of the House of Representatives except that of voting. The Republicans nominated David A. Harvey, of Oklahoma City, for the unexpired part of the Fifty-first Congress, and for the full term of the Fifty-second Congress. The Demo- crats nominated James D. Matthews. of Payne County, for the short term, and Joseph G. MeCoy, of El Reno, for the full term. The election in November resulted in the choice of Mr. Harvey for both terms.
Leasing the School Lands .- During Governor Steele's administration arrangements were made for the leasing of the school lands to people who would occupy and improve them. The money received from this source was divided among the various counties in proportion to their school population and used for the support of the public schools.
Steele Resigns-Seay Appointed .- Governor Steele hav- ing tendered his resignation, to take effect on the appoint- ment of his successor, President Harrison appointed Justice A. J. Seay, of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, as governor of the Territory, October 18, 1891.
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HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA
Political Campaign of 1892 .- There were three tickets in the field in Oklahoma during the campaign of 1892. The Democrats nominated O. H. Travis for delegate to Congress. The Populist nominee was N. II. Ward. The Republican candidate was Dennis T. Flynn, of Guthrie. The Republicans were successful, elect- ing the delegate to Congress and a majority of cach branch of the Legislative Assembly.
The Second Legislative Assem- bly .- The second session of the Territorial Legislative Assembly ABRAHAM J. SEAY convened at Guthrie in January, 1893. The session was a comparatively quiet one though a large number of laws were passed.
Seay Removed-Renfrow Appointed .- Shortly after the beginning of President Cleve - land's administration in May. 1893, Governor Seay was removed from office and William C. Ren- frow, of Norman, was appointed to fill the vacancy.
The Da wes Commission .- No. vember 1, 1893, Ex-Senator Henry D. Dawes, of Massachusetts, Mere- dith II. Kidd, of Indiana, and Archibald S. MeKonnon, of Ar- kansas, were appointed by Presi- i dent Cleveland as members of the WILLIAM C. RENPROW commission to treat with the In- dians of the civilized tribes with a view to securing agree- ments to take land in severalty and give up the privilege
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DEVELOPMENT OF THE TWO TERRITORIES
of maintaining independent tribal governments. The Dawes Commission succeeded the commission, which, during Presi- dent Harrison's administration, successfully negotiated sim- ilar agreements with the tribes in Oklahoma Territory.
Political Campaign of 1894 .- Dennis T. Flynn was re- nominated for delegate to Congress by the Republican ter- ritorial convention in 1894. The Democratic nominee was Joseph Wisby, of Guthrie. The Populist candidate was Ralph Beaumont. The election resulted in the return of Delegate Flynn for another term. The Republicans elected a majority of each branch of the Legislative Assembly.
Greer County .-- By a decision of the United States Su- preme Court in 1895, the Greer County lands, which had long been claimed as a part of Texas, were declared a part of Oklahoma.
RACE FOR CLAIMS, SEPTEMBER 16, 1593
Purchase of Other Indian Lands for Settlement .-- With- in a year after the opening of Oklahoma to settlement, the Government had offered to buy the surplus lands of the Towa, Sae and Fox. Pottawatomie-Shawnee, Kickapoo and Cheyenne-Arapaho Indian reservations and also all of the lands of the Cherokee Outlet. The work of persuading the
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HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA
Indians to accept allotments of land and to sell what was left (so that it might be thrown open for white settlement) was tedious. The Iowa, Sac and Fox and Pottawatomie-
THE TOWN OF PERRY THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE OPENING OF THE CHEROKEE STRIP
PERRY AS IT APPEARED THE SECOND WEEK AFTER THE OPENING OF THE CHEROKEE STRIP
Shawnee reservations were the first to be opened for settle- ment under such agreements, the date of their opening being September 22, 1891. The Cheyenne and Arapaho reserva-
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DEVELOPMENT OF THE TWO TERRITORIES
tion was opened to settlement April 19, 1892. The Chero- kee Strip and the surplus lands of the Pawnee reservation were opened for settlement September 16, 1893. The surplus lands of the Kickapoo reservation were opened to settle- ment May 25, 1895. In all of these openings, the people made a race for homestead claims at a given signal, as they did in the opening of the Unassigned Lands.
United States Court in the Indian Territory .- Congress passed an act (approved March 1, 1889) providing for a United States Court at Muskogee, Gen. James M. Shackle- ford, of Indiana, being appointed as judge. Six years later the number of Federal judges and districts was increased from one to three and in 1897 a fourth judge and district were added. An attorney, clerk, marshal and a full comple- ment of court employees were provided in each district. In 1904, the appointment of an additional judge for each district was authorized.
The Political Campaign of 1896. -The presidential campaign of 1896 had its effect in Oklahoma, though the people of the Territory had no voice in national affairs. Delegate Denis T. Flynn was re- nominated by the Republicans. The Democrats and Populists united in nominating James Y. Callahan, of Kingfisher County. Mr. Callahan was elected. The fusion forces elected every men- ber of the upper house and all but one of the members of the lower JAMES Y. CALLAILAN house of the Legislative Assembly by pluralities aggregat- ing ten thousand.
Barnes Succeeds Renfrow as Governor .- As the term of Governor Renfrow drew to a close, considerable interest was manifested by the people of Oklahoma in the selection of his successor by the new president, William MeKinley.
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HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA
The most active aspirant for the appointment was Cassius M. Barnes, of Guthrie. The -selection of Dennis T. Flynn, who had been defeated in his race for re-election as delegate to Congress in the pre- ceding election, was urged by many citizens of Oklahoma. Mr. Barnes was appointed. The in- auguration of the new governor occurred May 24, 1897.
The Two Territories in the Span- CASSIUS M. BARNES ish War .- The outbreak of the Spanish-American War, in the spring of 1898, found thousands of young men in the Indian Territory and Oklahoma who were eager to enlist in the mili- tary service. Under the first call for volunteers, two troops of cavalry were authorized. one in each territory. Under the second call for volunteers. Oklahoma was permitted to raise a battalion of four companies, which became a part of the First Regiment of Territorial Volunteers, the other two battalions being raised in Arizona and the Indian Territory and New Mexico. A number of young men in both Indian Territory and Oklahoma also enlisted in the volunteer service from adjoining states.
The Atoka Agreement .- The Dawes Commission reached an agreement with the representatives of the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations, April 23, 1897. whereby the lands of the Choctaws and Chickasaws were to be allotted in sever- alty to the members of those tribes. The Atoka Agreement. as it has always been called, marked the dawn of a great change in the Indian Territory and the decline of the author- ity and influence of tribal governments followed.
The Curtis Act .- The law commonly known as the Cur- tis Act, by the terms of which the United States government undertook to close up the affairs of the tribal governments
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DEVELOPMENT OF THE TWO TERRITORIES
of the five civilized tribes, followed as a natural consequence after the several tribal agreements to the allotment of lands. The Curtis Act provided for a number of sweeping changes, including the substitution of federal courts for all tribal courts, the surveying and platting of townsites and the sale of town lots, the enrollment of all tribes by the Dawes Com- mission and the definite determination of tribal citizenship, the allotment of lands, the leasing of mineral lands, the in- corporation of cities and towns and Federal control of tribal schools. This law went into effect two days after its pas- sage and approval (June 28, 1898), but many months passed before some of its provisions could be enforced.
Political Changes .- In 1898 the Republicans re-nom- inated Dennis T. Flynn for delegate to Congress. The Demo- cratic-Populist nominee was James R. Keaton of Oklahoma City. Mr. Flynn was elected. At the same time a large majority of the members elected to each branch of the Terri- torial Legislative Assembly, were Republicans.
Work of the Dawes Commission .- The duties of the Dawes Commission during the first three years of its exist- ence were entirely confined to efforts to persuade the In- dians of the five civilized tribes to accept the allotment of their lands. In 1896 the Commission was empowered to investigate and decide upon all tribal membership rolls and citizenship claims. This authority was increased and extended by the provisions of the Curtis Act, which clothed the Commission with power to supervise the work of allotting lands to members of the tribes.
Railroad Construction .- The years of 1889 and 1890 saw railroad building resumed in Oklahoma and the Indian Ter- ritory. From 1891 to 1897 there was but little done in that line in either territory. The greatest railroad development in the history of the two territories took place between 1898 and 1904.
Population in 1900 .- According to the Federal census of June, 1900, the Indian Territory had 392,060 inhabitants
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HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA
and Oklahoma had 398,331. The largest town in the terri- tories had a population of barely 10,000.
The Free Homes Bill Passed .- June 17, 1900, the meas- ure which provided for free homesteads to the settlers on the Iowa, Sac and Fox, Cheyenne, Arapaho and Potta- watomie reservations and the lands of the Cherokee Strip, was finally passed and approved. It was authoritatively stated at the time that the passage of this measure saved the people of Oklahoma fifteen million dollars.
Political Campaign of 1900. -Delegate Flynn was again nominated by the Republicans. The Democrats and Populists nominated Robert A. Neff, of Kay County. The election re- sulted in the choice of Mr. Flynn for another term. The Demo- crats elected a majority of the members of the upper house of the Legislative Assembly, and the Republicans elected a ma- jority of the members of the lower house.
The Statehood Question .-- The agitation of the question of DENNIS T. FLYNN statehood for Oklahoma began quite early in the history of the new territory. Soon after the Fifty-third Congress met, in December, 1893, Delegate Flynn introduced the first statehood bill in the House of Represen- tatives. From that time on, the question was prominently before the people of Oklahoma and Indian territories con- tinuously until the final passage of the Enabling Aet, more than a dozen years later. Many people favored the admis- sion of each territory as a state, or "separate statehood." as it was commonly called. Others advocated the "single statehood" plan, which was to have the two territories ad-
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