Sidney Lee Chapman was born and reared in northeast Mississippi, moved to southern Texas, married and farmed a few years, afterwards came to Erin Springs, in the Indian Territory, farming two years and then moving to Chickasha, in January, 1907, he owned and operated the Red Ball Transfer and Storage Company, also the Central Blacksmith shop, and a half interest in the Davis Restaurant and Confectionery store, and was a member of the merchant's association. For more than two years he was employed by the Rock Island Railway Company, in the blacksmith and sheet metal department, of the local shops. He moved back to the farm in 1915 renting land and the second year bought a farm and schooled his children. All except the oldest son graduated in high school. This son volunteered for service in the World War, took training in the Coast Artillery, at San Francisco and went overseas.
Gentlemen - the question is, if something is not done we will lose freedom and personal rights, and the question is, how will we get it back. The (trust) corporations own the wealth of this nation today. We note some one wants to make a law to make it a violation to say bad things against corporations - which act alone speaks in thunder tones that what we have said is true, and which only means that you we are their slaves by that making a whip - to whip you with.
Gentlemen, if the people and the law-makers of this country will stand for such laws, we do not have the same class of citizens as composed the original thirteen States. The tax question alone would be easily settled if it were equalized including revenues of all kinds - and enforced correctly it would cut our taxes sixty-five per cent, and by using economy.
The people of America were made victims of taxation by the Lords of England, meaning the same as corporation and trust of this nation - the right and privileges she took from our people xxxxxxxxxxxxxx proved to be her greatest disaster. That spark of selfishness that lies in the bosom of every man and woman should be cultivated to help others - rather than for others to help us. To allow the money "gogs" a small minority, to say to the people
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you must yield to taxation - you work a hardship on them, and then tax them in a thousand indirect ways, drive them to poverty, and hear their prayers for protection in our Parliamentary, but yet make laws for the classes - You will hear them someday.
France in her drunken state of riches, taxing directly and indirectly brought on the bloodiest war of history. God brought Napoleon in the spirit of Alexander the Great, which caused those aristocrats and their Lords <, to> know who exiled him, from which he escaped and gathered an Army and destroyed the Lords -- which war restored France and made them one of the greatest nations
History only repeats - when other nations asked Germany not to be a xxxxx God of power, but be a nation of wisdom, so let us refrain from power - and be wise. Let us look back to our Constitution to be Bill of right, one of the fundamental principles of our nation. The Pilgrims of the Mayflower were a star of light to the American people - to be a light of liberty, we would do well to look upon them as a lighthouse for our guidance to the ship of government; that it strikes no hidden cliff which is gradually built up by the grafters of America. The voice of the people is crying out, in tones of no uncertain words - to save the citizens from the commerce sharks of New York. George Washington and the thirteen states gave us a constitution for the people, a democracy in the form of Government by the people - not classes, free, so long as our freedom does not interfere with the rights of others.
The system of monopoly of the various trusts hedges out the rights of our citizens; this being true - what will the outside world say - who have taken our form of Government, laid down their Monarch form, and followed the Western star in the new world. As the immigrants set sail toward the setting sun, riding the angry waves, talking and dreaming of the promised land of milk and honey, their hearts went up in prayer and joy
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Let us glance at the xxxxxx Corporations, their trusts, and lobbyist - We are now in chains of commerce, one bank, one railroad system, one manufacturer, one cottonseed oil mill, and gin company, one chain of stores, and one publishing company, oh God, where is our freedom. Shall we for the masses bravely stand, or from the classes cowardly retreat, the day is not coming, but is here, when we must stand together in our lawmaking. If we are honest with our people, and ourselves - we will not serve the corporations and trusts of our State and nation, rather than the people.
We want to give notice to the trusts (the money gogs of America) if your greed does not cease, there will be some great man, in the spirit of Alexander the Great, Washington, or Woodrow Wilson who will take down your sails and blow out your Light-house.
At the age of 18, standing on the streets of New Orleans, Abe watched a sale of the xxxxxxx slaves, and said: "I hope I will live to see slaves sales not to be" He asked for freedom, and they gave him war - he asked for peace - his life went out. His life today stands out in brilliant rays, while the rights of the people ebbs away. Oh, politics where is thy sting, oh, parliamentary, where is thy victory.
We ask the Legislature of xxxx the states and the parliamentary of this Government what has become of the Bill of Rights given the masses by the people and for the people. The trust and monopolist is the same disease to our society ad the creeping paralysis is to our body.
Let us say to the aristocrats of the Wall Street Treasurers, the power of this nation IS THE PEOPLE and the waves of your lust will no more beat down their power than the waves of the ocean will beat down the lofty cliffs of "Gibraltar " while the nations of Europe through their centuries come and go, the walls of Gibraltar guards the narrow strait.
Document 3
Sidney L. Chapman
An idea of the perils of the day:
Taxation.
Monopolization of Commerce
Monopoly of our parliamentary of both state and nation which has destroyed out right and liberty.
Taxation and monopoly of commerce, monopoly of society, and our freedom and rights which destroys our freedom and liberty.
Ad valorem taxes and taxation, has brought the same ruin to us that John Ross and his people suffered.
The Pilgrims and the thirteen states suffered the same fate by the money gogs of England. The power of this government is the people. The grafters of New York will never beat down the powers of the American people than the waves of the sea will beat down the lofty cliffs of Gibralter; while nations for centuries come and go, the walls of Gibraltar still guards the narrow straight.
Document 4
Sidney L. Chapman
Mr. Speaker, -----Mr. Chapman:
We possibly in the Indian Territory Days had visions of some day standing in the Legislative Halls of the coming new state, which we have experienced.
As I look back over the wars and treaties by our Government with the Indians, I cannot see where the treaties were carried out fairly.
After studying the history of man, and believing he came from the East - then finding in the Western new World, with the great minds of its inhabitants - we wonder where was the garden of Eden.
The Prestige of no government goes higher than its subjects - let us stand as a monument of justice,
As to the law makers of this state, laws should be made for the people, and not classes. Where is our freedom and liberty, the Declaration of Independence. <gave us>
Gentlemen if something is not done, we will lose our freedom and personal rights.
If the people and law makers of this country will stand for class legislation, they will come to misfortune.
The people of America were made victims of taxation by the Lords of England.
France in her drunken state of riches, taxing directly and indirectly brought on the bloodiest war of her history.
History only repeats, when nations asked Germany not to be a God of power, but be a nation of wisdom.
The system of monopoly of the various trusts hedges out the rights of our citizens.
Let us say to the aristocrats of Wall Street, the power of this nation is the people.
We ask the Legislature and our Government what has become of the Bill of Rights.
Document 5
Sidney Lee Chapman,
<1907 South 14th Street, Chickasha, Oklahoma>
Was reared near Greenville, Prentis County, Mississippi; Baldwin was his railroad town, his father's name was Solomon D. Chapman. In the fall of 1870, his people came West in an Ox and horse wagon from South Carolina.
Smith Phillips, Sidney L. Chapman's grandfather was a nephew of old Uncle Ransom Phillips, who was 116 years old when he died, and he died in 1908. On the beautiful evening of January 3rd, 1893, he started the long-looked for journey to which he had looked forward to since the age of sixteen, landing January 6th at Lexington, Texas, Lee County, which had long years been noted as the wild and wooly West; this was his first voyage to the land once known as the great American desert, though some what disappointed, as he had seen no Indians. He hired to a farmer the first year, after that, farmed for himself. In the year of 1894 came his first long trip in a covered wagon to South Texas, near the Gulf of Mexico, viewing the broad plains, sleeping on the ground, gazing at the sparkling stars, and listening to the howls of the wolves, (when one feels nearest to his Maker) his heart and mind went up in prayer to God for himself, and his people back home, antelopes and deer were a thrill to a boy who had never seen them before. On this trip he saw many things which he had dreamed of seeing, and here he saw the first girl ride horse-back, at a rapid pace, handle a rope and run races horse-back; she could also handle a six-shooter. In the year of 1895, out in a cow-camp, he met the first real tilt with the k/cow-boys of the West. The foreman told him when arranging for the camp, he could wash the dishes, as he gave the orders to the other boys - he said, "My dear sir, I don't know anything about washing dishes" I am a good horse master, and had rather do that kind of work. The foreman replied, "do as I say". Chapman replied, "I don't want to wash the dishes", and more than that, I will not. About that time a cow lariat was thrown around his neck, and hung him on an Oak limb, until they thought he would say yes; let him down, "how about it" they <he> said - "I will not wash the dishes" up he went the second time; held twice as long as before; let him down - "how about it" said the boys - "I will hang here until sun-down before I will wash the dishes" said he. Up he went again
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and hanged as long as both times before; they let him down, and yelled - "how about it" Chapman staggering two and fro, said in a strangling way, "I will wash them" with a yell and laughter the cow-boys said "You are alright, we can depend upon you" you may take <, care> of the horses, we will wash the dishes". Chapman won the great confidence of the boys, and the young people of the community; became one of their leaders, also a leader in the Baptist Church, Sunday School, and Community work. He became a member of the Old Mount Olive Church at Greenville, Mississippi, when he was 14 years of age. During the year of 1895 or 1896 he and other, with several covered wagons started on a trip to Wharton County, Texas, near the Gulf. On one occasion they came in contact with a mad-dog - Chapman lead the attack, the dog turn on him, he emptied his six-shooter, though in spite of his speed, he barely made his escape, and the dog was shot down at his heels; late one evening, as they were rolling over the broad prairies the cattle trailed and bellowed behind them; they carried their guns on their lap; their trail was lost, and they had no guide, no place to sleep, with darkness overtaking them - finally they halted, and counseled with each other, finally selected a star as their guide in the direction they were going - thinking they would come to a settlement - on they drove their teams, which were well tired out, and halted again, counseled together, and Chapman said, "boys, let us light out lanterns, and give the distress signal" which was three shots in quick succession, they watched anxiously, and in a few moments a great headlight sent out its welcome rays - by that they were brought to safety, and arrived at friends for several days.
While on this trip he saw several places where difficulties were settled out of Court in the style of the West; it was a great pride to him to handle a rope, but never learned to ride broncos as some of the other boys did, but he was hard to beat getting off of a horse - or getting out of the way when a horse would fall.
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On the 3rd day of November, 1903, after selling out his farm and implements, and a small bunch of cattle, started in a covered wagon to the Indian Territory with his wife and three children. Stayed at Cleburne, Texas, for the winter. On March 20th, 1904 made a loop up in the Indian Territory by train back to Cleburne, and started in a covered wagon with his family on May 6th, first landing at Marietta, Indian Territory. In August he made another trip through the mountains and prairies over the rich lands of the Washita Valley the Queen of the West, made up his mind that Aron Springs and Lindsay was the place to start farming in the Indian Territory. there you may remember, he met the pleasures and displeasures, in breaking ranches into farms. After two years of farming in November, 1906, he made another prospective trip across the plains into the Mountains of New Mexico, and during that trip filed on 160 acres of land, where he experienced the worst snow storm he had ever seen, where there was breaks or canyons it was level with the plains, the cow boys coming in to headquarters, their horses would fall into those places, and go out of sight, down into the snow. During 1907, while his wife and children were visiting her father's family in Texas, on April 22nd, he started alone in a covered wagon to cross the Texas Stake Plains on into the plains of New Mexico. While on this trip all the beauties of the plains were enjoyed, not much to be seen, antelopes, wolves and ranch cattle. He had great respect for the cow men and boys, they were of the American type. While camping at night, he would gaze at the sparkling stars, and listen to the snort of his mules, and the howling of wolves. One day to try his marksmanship, he killed one of those big loafers (wolves). In crossing the Canadian river at Tuscosa, Texas, his team and covered wagon caved into a quick-sand hole, and he came very near losing them. This was an old town, and a watering place for people crossing the plains, and an old camping place for the Indians before white men know of it.
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It was said the first twenty-three buried there died with their boots on; this town was between Amarillo and Dalhart, Texas. He made up his mind while out in New Mexico only a short time, not to stay, and returned to the prairie land, the Indian Territory, and help to bring in the new state, help in its development and make it one of the best in the union. He told his friends New Mexico was beautiful, plenty of scenery and starvation - that the country was for cattle, not farming. About May 15th, 1907, he harnessed his trusty mules to the covered wagon - this time to start toward the rising sun, several hundred miles, alone, no signs of life except cattle, antelopes and the howling wolves to cross the wide plains of the West, - as he looked in every direction, as far as the eye could see, he wondered over the mystery, and planned for prosperity, and how rapidly the new state of the Indian Territory would advance, now churches, Court Houses, new school houses, new farms and good roads, as he would look back and see the sun apparently in the grass - he struck camps again for the night, fed his mules and spread his blankets, laid down - not so lonely - as he would look into the heavens and watch the sparkling diamonds of the skies. There he realized he was out on the frontier of the new world - a vision came to him that reached beyond the sun, moon and stars out into the frontier of eternity, where there are no sun, stars or moons - no more than there was human settlement around His camp, his vision reached on through the settlements of the skies on and on - and looked back could hardly see a ray of light of the largest planets or sun - on and on, finally so far beyond there was not one dim ray of light to be seen, and at last - out on the frontier of eternity, not a ray of light, a vast unlimited space of darkness, what could it be, elements, knowledge and force, folding and unfolding wisdom, (God) eternal space.
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The psychology of this vision was so penetrating it lead him to believe that the endless dome of eternity was inhabited in settlement or groups - he further believed that those groups, settlements of moons, stars and other planets will live out their purpose, and go back into the element of elects of that it was made. The spirit of vision passed on through the millions of miles of this dark dome of eternity, at a might speed of thought, crossing the frontier, over the great deep, but void - for millions of miles it dashed onward - and a dim ray of light untold millions of miles could be seen still beyond, yes at last, this vision is now into another settlement of the inhabited eternity, space with no limit.
One night camping alone on the Western plains, after a hard day's drive back to the promised land of Oklahoma, (Indian Territory) fed his mules, and spread his blanket, laid down thinking of God and <for> the successes of the day, again to listen to the howling wolves, watching the planets of the heavens, and meditating over his work - after his arrival back home and his boyhood days, when there were no responsibilities, and were happy days of youth. He was then camped on what is known as the "Three Million Acre Ranch" of the English syndicate of Texas; he will never forget the hospitality of the Texas cow boys, the cow boys and ranchmen were friends to the stranger - when he was hungry they fed him, if he were a stranger - they took him in; there was a principle of charity deposited down in the bosom of Chapman for the pioneer Western settler - that will never die; they have watched over his safety, over his health, and over his spiritual welfare - which will always be stored as a treasure. He now rises for another day, traveling toward the rising sun, and could still see nothing but the vast plains, cattle, wolves, and every now and then bunches of antelopes. As he passed again, near the old town, in the Canadian River Valley, at Tuscoca, his mind went again to the grave yard on the apparent desert of the cow boys, ranchers, and officers and out-laws that departed this life with their boots on, and wondered if they went to the sweet bye and bye, and the happy hunting ground.
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This old town, a land mark, noted to the old tribes of Plaines Indians, Mexicans and whites as a place of plenty of water, which was the main object in crossing the broad country, this was the roughest drive during this round-trip.
In crossing the Plaines, had many breaks on account of the river - this time the camping was in a wagon yard at Amarillo, 3,300 feet above sea-level, apparently, the sun would rise and set in the grass on the broad plains; next morning he started on an Eastern course, thinking he would reach the cap rock, the day was good, passing farms occasionally and small ranches - late in the evening, he stopped at a stock farmer's home, this man's name was Baker, within 5 or 6 miles of the cap rock. He met this man on his trip West some weeks before, so Baker said - "take out your mules, and bring them in the barn, you must stay until morning," and he did. He will never forget the hospitality shown by this new friend, and his family --- the morning came, he reined up his trusty mules to the covered wagon and in about one hour and a half he peeped over the noted cap rock of the plains - just then he grabbed his brakes, and carefully wound his way down to a lower climate, and the last of the plains of Teas were left behind - getting back into farms, small ranches, hills, sand and rough country -- into the wagon yards again, and finally back into Oklahoma (Indian Territory) Chickasha. Then teaming, hauling sand and rock; later bought out a transfer & storage company, later known as the Red Ball Transfer and Storage Company. In 1928, he visited his old home Baldwin, Mississippi, where thirty-six years before he had told his friends, relatives, and loved ones good-bye. Upon his arrival, meeting those schoolmates, with families of married children, - yes, Grand-children, he could hardly realize they were the school-mates of 36 years ago; then the pictures of youth and beauty, but now their lives were well spent and worn away- most of the older neighbors and friends had taken their reward, -the test came when he met his oldest sister; he could not see the health and beauty
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that and decay had worn away. Again, when he went to the old Mt. Olive Baptist, in which he had been a member at the age of 14 years; saw his father (Solomon D. Chapman) ordained, and had heard him preach his first sermon, and many years later, heard him preach his last sermon in the Indian Territory - just before he departed this life.
Sidney L. Chapman strived to live the training of his father and mother - to be honest and upright before men and women, and fear nothing - but God, and obey the laws of our country. His ambition to lend a hand to others in time of need, and a word of comfort to the distressed never failed.