The Oklahoma Bill, and Oklahoma

              v.. *
OFFICE OF  THE
Indian Rights Association,
1305 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, April, 1889.
The Oklahoma Bill, and Oklahoma.
C. C. PAINTER,
Washington Agent, Indian Rights Association.
There is a degree of confusion and uncertainty in the public
mind as to the exact object proposed by the " Oklahoma Bill"
of Mr. Springer, and as to the present situation in Oklahoma.
Mr. Springer's bill, had it passed the Senate, as it did the
House, and become a law would, ipso facto, have erected a territorial government over that homeless waif of our public domain,
known as No-man's-land, lying west of the " Cherokee outlet,"
and outside the limits and jurisdiction of any state or territory.
It would also have cancelled such leases as the Cherokees have
made with cattlemen for grazing on the " Cherokee outlet," and
would have opened negotiations with the Cherokees, Creeks and
Seminoles for the purchase of whatever title they have to lands
lying west of the lands they occupy, including the "outlet,"
from the Cherokees, "Oklahoma" proper from the Creeks and
Seminoles; also with the other Indians in the Indian Territory
west of the civilized tribes for a reduction of their reservations,
and their settlement on allotted lands; and for the consent of
all these for an extension of the newly organized territorial government of Oklahoma over all the lands thus acquired, and the
inclusion of all these Indians, excepting the five civilized tribes,
within the limits of the new territory.
It included in its provisions not an inch of land outside the
"Public Lands," or "No-man's-land," except as it might be
purchased from the Indians, and it extended government control