The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-11-28
School
AppropriationDesired
by the Indian
Territory

Special to Daily Leader.
Washington, D. c., Nov 2S.-Colonel
Clarence u. Douglas Of Muskogee, In
dian Territory. yesterday met by ap.
pointment President Roosevelt and
discussed at length the condi ions pre-
vailing in the Indian territory The
particular feature most considered
was that of the public school system
for the children Of the six hundred
thousand American citizens, growing
up in ignorance in the territory Presi-
dent Roosevelt seemed much interest
ed in the conditions prevailing there.
and asked Colonel Douglas for a sug-
gestion as to what should be done in
the matter The reply was that the
president might in his message TO the
regular session this winter aggres-
sively. vigorously and affirmatyely
recommend to congress an appropria-
tion to establish a public school sys
tenn In order that the children there
should not grow up in ignorance, and
as necessary consequence, in crime
The president called Secretary Loeb
to him, and began to dictate a para
graph to be made a part Of his mes
sage. then turning to Colonel Douglas,
said. "st down at the desk with Mr.
Loeb and write such a provision as
you think would be proper. and such
a recommendation as should be made
to congress for the education of the
children of the territory, and that will
be incorporated in my message to the
regular session Colonel Douglas
wrote in substance this: The special
attention of congress is called to the
deplorable condition existing in In
dian territory, where the children of
a population of more than one-half a
million citizens are growing up with
out any provision whatever for their
education, such as are provided for
the children In the other states and
territories of the Union. It is the
duty of congress to make some pro
vision to correct this great evil, and
to this end it is earnestly urged that
congress make an appropriation suf.
dcient to provide q public school sys-
TEN for the Indian territory,
The president said to Colonel Doug
las that a nobler mission no man had
ever come to Washington on; that his
life work shows that he is in favor
OF education; that for the sollier clti-
zen Of Indian territory he has, the
highest regard by recent events. and
that for the people of Indian territory
he desires to do al that may be done,
TO bring about the highest type Of
American citizenship.
Colonel Douglas has a solu ion for
the Indian territory problem which
has been vexing congress for a great
many years This solution Is that the
regiment of which he is colonel and
the first regiment, OF which Jas, e
Humphries Of the southern district, is
colonel, should Immediately revolt and
declare war against the United States;
that this revolution begin about 6 p.
m most any Afternoon after the Colon
bian government had agreed to recog.
nike The republic Of the Indian terri
tory that following this. France
Spain and England should be asked to
recognize the new republic This be-
ing done nthe light of the precedent
established in the recognition of the
government OF Panama. the United
States OF America would no doubt
recognize the independence of the In
dian territory Probably by 10 o'clock
the following day this last recognition
could be secured and the question
would be asked by the diplomats Of the
new government to the Indian terri
tory; What is your desire?' To
this the reply would be. the reoogni.
aion Of the government of the Indian
territory as usij organized; then the
admission of the Indian territory as a
state into the Union Columbia, no
doubt. would recognize the independ-
ence OF the Indian territory and the
United states government could not
do less, in the light Of recent events.
After the territory had been recogniz-
ed as a republic, any kind of an appli-