The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1899-12-06
MEnoRIAL TO CONGRESS.
Prepared by COMMITTEES at Public Schoo
Association at Purcell.


Association at Purcell.
Through the courtesy of Hon.
FL. e. Potterf, the ARDMoREITE is
in receipt of a typewriter copy
of the memorial prepared and unan-
lmously adopted by the Public
School Convention recently held at
Purcell, copy of which will be
sent to congress together with a
paper prepared by Superintendent
Benedict, which treats along the
same line.
Be it resolved by the people of the
Indian Territory assembled at the
Free School Convention at Purcell,
Indian Territory, that:
Whereas, In every other state and
territory in the United States, con-
gress and the state governments
have abundantly provided for a per-
manent public school fund by pro-
ceeds arising from the sale and rem
tai of vast acres of public lands, by
proceeds of lands and other property
and effects that may accrue by es.
cheat, and from sale of estrays, from
unclaimed dividends or distributive
shares of estates of deceased per-
sons; also all grants, gifts or dIvises
that have been or may hereafter be
made TO the government and not
otherwise appropriated by the tenure
of the grant, gift or devise, and from
fines in many instances all of which
continually add to said permanent
fund which is invested or loaned and
the interest or income each year dis
tributed to counties or school dis
tricts according to per capita, with
out regard to wealth of such county
or district, and being often sufficient
to maintain school in each district
several months each year unaided by
local taxation; and
Whereas, In every other state and
tsrritory in the United States local
taxation may be voted or assessed
by the people therein residing on
the lands, and personal property, by
tax on occupation and a per capita
tax sufficient to maintain public
schools from three to ten months in
the year, and
Whereas, The United States on
taking charge and control of Cuba,
Puerto Rica, and Manila, in the Phil J..
ippine Island, have at once and with
out delay, established public schools,
free to all residents and has provid-
ed for the maintenance thereof,
showing its confidence and firm be-
lief in the maxim too true to be de-
MED, viz: that intelligence and
virture are the safe guards of liberty
and the bulwark of free land good
government, and that in order to
establish and maintain a free and
go cd government the youth must be
properly educated and able soon to
discharge the duty intelligently and
virtuously of citizens and ftly handle
affairs of state when the army and
navy are withdrawn; and
Whereas, There 10 now residing in
the Indian Territory fully 2UO, 600
white and negro people not Indians,
which number is daily increasing
and it is no longer questioned that
these people will. remain and be a
permanent part OF the population;
and
Whereas. Congress has the gov
ernment and control of the Indian
Territory and especially of the white
and negro people residing therein,
and there is no permanent school
fund to assist in maintaining public
| schools in the Territory, no provi-
sion or authority at all for establish
ing and maintaining public schools
In the country; little or no real estate
| taxable for years to come, a people
poor in taxable wealth, whose child
| rem are growing up in ignorance,