The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-04-09
CHICEASAW SCHOOL FUND
is Short 10 the Extent Of
One Hundred thousand


Washington, April s.--A Shortage
exists amounting 70 nearly sioo,ooO 70 the
K payment Of salaries TO school teachers In
the public school IN the Chickasaw hction
which win continue for an indehite per-
ioe unless the Chckasaw authorities con-
cedc to the interior department supervis-
ory authority over the school system in
the nation. In other words unless the
concession Is made, the teachers m
the nation win go without larsc por-
slon OF their salaries during ihe past
year.
Mr ID H. Johnston. governor OF the
Chickasaw tribe OF Indians, Is unwilling
to make the concession demanded b.
Secretary Hitchcock before the depart
ineut viii advance q dollar with which
90 lquidate the indebtedness 20 the
toachcrs.
At present the school system IN the
Jh.ckastw nadon is wholly uader the
control OF the tribal authorities. For
some tlmc past the officials of the de-
partruent in the territory have reported
that there vas fragrant abuse and eN-
travagancc In the distribution or the
school funds and that WITH much less
money the federal authorities could give
. O
school system. The fact that there Is
shortage OF nearly 100000 I'm the school
expenses over the money available is
looked upon as corroborative evidence
j Of the statements submitted. There is
in the United States treasury a. consla-
cradle sum Of money belonging 20 the
II Chickasaw nation derived from coal. as
4 phalt and other mineral royalties which
Il ..l
the school indebtedness. But Secretary
Hitchcock, acting upon the recommenda.
I tion of Special Agent George Wright. anc
superintendent OF the public schools ol
a the territory, Prof. John b. Benedict. ro
fuses absolutely TO advance single dol
lar of this money unless the 6niviais O.
\ the Chlckasaw government arc winni,
a to allow the department 10 supervis
the school system, particularly the EN-
4 ployment OF the treacbers aud the distri
button Of the funds.
Governor johnson. who Is now In Wash
ington. is unwilling 10 ooncede this. am
claiming that the CEickasaw treaty viii
The federal government provided that tn
Chckasaw nation should have complet
control over its public school system II
also denies the charges that there ar
abuses and extravagances existing IA
claims that the royalties from the Goa
and asphalt lands were intended 10
school purposes and were to have bee
distributed by the tribsl governments Sec
retary Hitchcock, however. holds to tn
opposite View. and IT is evident that ur
less Governor johnson comedies The DC
mands OF the department he will retur
20 the territory without any additiona
10 rsrlfh fg ha oh fu an
school teachers
II is, not the desire Of Secretary Hitch
cock to assume absolute control Of th
school system in the nation. What h
desires ana insists upon, IS that the dc
partment shall exercise supervisor
authority in order That certain abuse,
which he believes exists, may be pre-
vented IN the future
Ii is admitted at the department tina
possibly some Of the friction existed be
tween the department and the natio
over tha school system has arisen by
lack Of diplomacy ON the part of II
representatives in the territory speci'
Agent Wright, who IS admitted 20 be
thoroughly honest. eonsclentio6, and car
able Official, Is nevertheless somethin
of an autocrat. He believes mere
force than in persuasion and it is probaI
that the present differences been handle
at their inception In a more cOncilator
N spirit they would have found solutio
before this. II is understood that Spec
iai Agent Wright desires TO divest ti
Chickasaw nation Of any control over u
school system whatever, and that this e'
treme position assumed some time ae
aroused spirit Of resentment among Il
ChcSasaw people TO such ar extent th'
they are now unwilling 10 concede Il
government any authority In the matte
In fear that its authority would be gra,
ually extended until within a short tin
they would have no voice in the MAJ
egement OF their school anssrs wha
ever