The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-21
CLAIMS CULTURE
FOR KENTUCk|ANS
OF THE MOUNTAINS
Feudists No More Represent the
Mountaineers Than the Scum
of Chicago Represents That
City, Says Mr.. Yerkes.

WASHINGTON, D. c., July 90
Kentuckians do not enjoy the advertis-
ing their state has received in connec-
ton with the Breathitt county feud.
So much has been published about the
mountain feuds in Kentucky and the
political murders of the state that there
is an impression abroad which is not
complimentary to the people of the
blue grass region. Some of the news
papers Of the North have suggested
that Kentucky needed more school
houses as civilizing agents, and we'll
iEtentioned people have offered to turn
over missionary funds to spread the
gospel of education among the heather
of Kentucky. The Hon. John w. Yer
kes, commissioner of internal revenue,
is from Kentucky, and he resents what
he terms the misrepresentation of his
state. Mr.. Yerkes has travelled over
Kentucky more extensively than any
other man Of prominence, and he
knows the mountaineers as well as the
planters and stock breeders of the blue
grass region. Three years ago he was
the Republican candidate for governor,
and he travelled over the whole state.
mountains, and held political meetings
in Jackson and other towns which now
have regulations for lawlessness. He
never carried arms, and never was mo-
Tested. He looks upon the murder of
Mr.. Marcum as a political murder, as
were those of DR.. Cox and John Cock
rell last year. Marcum was KILLED
because he represented the contestants
who claim to have been elected to
county offices last fall.
But, whether these murders are the
result of family feuds or political
feuds, Mr.. Yerkes insists that they are
not due to the lack of schoolhouses in
Kentucky. He says there are school
houses all through the mountain dis
tricts of Kentucky, and the people sup
port schools Jackson is not in the
wilderness. 1t has railroad, court
house, two colleges and public schools.
1t is in as close communication with
the civilized world as are most of the
smaller towns in Kentucky.
The Public in Error.
"The public mind is in error regard
ing the Kentucky mountaineers," said
Mr.. Yerkes. The people of other
mountain counties you can find only
poverty ignorance, and vice; that the
people are without ambition. aspira-
ton, intelligence, or any of the ac-
compartments of civilization. Kodak
pictures are taken of wrecked cabins
and published as representative homes
of the mountain people. You might
just as well present photograph of
the most disreputable shanty on Mas
sachusetts avenue and say it is a true
picture of the residences of that BEAU
tiful avenue of homes.
Pulaski, Whitley. Laurel, Knox, Bell
and others I might name are mountain
counties in Kentucky. yet at their
county seats you find waterworks, ele-
trio light plants, substantial and at
tractive school buildings, large church
edifices, commodious storehouses,
strong banks, handsome homes, and
men and women the full equals in point
of education, culture, and travel of the
residents of many states who look upon
the mountaineer as a wild animal
rather than as a human being,
brother man.
I'm the past fifteen years broad, lib
eral work has been done in the noun
tain regions for the cause of educa-
tionaI advancement of the people. At
Jackson, in Breathitt county, has been
erected a beautiful stone and brick
building. called the S. P. Lees Collegi-
ate institute. which is under the con-
troll of the board of trustees of Cen
trail university. at Danville, KY. This
building was erected through the lib-
crafty of Mrs. Lees. of New York city
and Mrs. II. F. Mccormick. of Chi
cago, and Mrs. Lees has recently given
to the trustees of Central university
fund as endowment for the institute.
Children of Feudists in College.
"This school has fourteen instructors.
309 pupils, a department of manual
training and domestic science. an ele-
trio light plant. and in 1901, through
the liberality of Mr.. Stanley McCor-
mick, there was added an excellent
chemical equipment and a complete
outfit for thorough course in free
hand and mechanical drawing. In adj
dition to the teachers connected
with this institute there are over
sixty public school teachers giving in
struction in the public schools in this
county.
Among the students attending the