The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-09-21
FIERCE RACE WAR IS ON
Negroes Dissatisfied with
School Facilities and OF.
ficers Interfere.

"Wilburton is in the th.oes OF
race war. In which words. threats and
demonstrations have been tho only.
ammunition used to date On the sur
face the town is as peaceful and quiet
as a summer day. but underneath is
a slumbering volcano. which would
fash forth into an eruption OF battle,
murder and sudden death on the slight.
est provocation
The negroes OF Wilburton are dis
satisfied with the school facilities ar
forded their children. and insist that
they will continue the present agits.
tion until the matter is adjusted
Monday. when new brick school
building for the whites was being dedi.
Gated. the dissatisfaction Of the ne
groes eliminated in resolve to de-
mand admission for their children to
the white school At the beginning
Of the afternoon session thirteen Of
the colored children Of the town. led
by six Of the older negroes. presented
themselves at the new school house
and demanded admission This being
refused, they marched away after some
words with the school authorities. and
il was hoped that this was the end OF
the matter
People will talk, however whether
they be white or black, and since Mon.
day threats, rumors of plots and couu-
ter-plots have been flying about the
streets of Wilburton. until the school
board. which feels responsible in the
matter. wired Marshal Pritchard to
come down and protect them. The
marshal is in attendance on the Ant
lers court. and could not get away. but
telegraphed the office here and Depu-
ties Lee, DoweD and Hunt were sent
over.
All were heavily armed. and as they
marched up the main business street
of wilburt0n they looked to the full
the grim manifestations of stern au-
thority.
who are the fellers with guns2"
asked a by-stander as they went by.
Deputies came over from South
Town to settle the Niger business.
responded the one questioned.
Without a word they turned and fol
lowed behind the officers as they
marched to the court house Here the
citizens gathered. sauntering in one
by one. leaning against the fence and
whiting while they meditatiyely
chewed tobacco and talked in under
tones. Underneath the careless de-
meanor was a feeling of bitterness and
determination manifest to any close
observer.
Under a spreading oak tree in the
court house yard the school board
gathered in executive session with the
deputies. II appeared that some of
the agitators among the negroes, as
reported TO the board. had been ad-
vising their fellows that the negroes
are entitled TO admission to the white
school, and the white folks may as
well get used to it first as last"
On the other hand. no overt act had
been committed since Monday, except
by irresponsible children Of both col
ors aud in the meantime the board
had placed an arrangement which it
was hoped would avert furthed trouble
and give the colored people satisfae-
tion. Just outside the city limits Jim
Degnan conducts a private school for
the children OF his negro miners. He
has agreed TO move his school with
in the city limits and take the city
children into the school the board to
pay their tuition
Bob Fortune. the colored deputy
marshal at wilburton. when asked
about the matter. said
II have. tried to keep out Of the
trouble as far as possible. on account
Of my position as an officer | don't
think there is a particle OF danger OF
any trouble All that our people want
Is school for our children. and OF
course they ought to have il. But they
haven't any idea OF violating the law
In any way"
do you think the arrangement
about the Deg2n school win settle the
trouble2"
II thins so. il a good teacher is pro
vided The one Degnan had last yeai
couldn't divide 30 without uslne
straight marks / am satisfied. how
ever that the colored people here are
not looking for trouble All they wan
is a school for their children"
The members of the school boarC
are worried. but are trying conscien
tiously TO do all they can toward pre-
serving the peace and giving salts
faction to all concerned They are il
close communication with the mar
( shal's Office here and can throw
posse Of deputies into the field OF
very short notice Following is IN,
personnel OF the board
Dr. J. F. Macarthur president Com
mercial club CRep) r Evans, drug
gist Dem) l.. G. Hysmith, post
master tRepD; l., L. Sims. merchant
Deml ID l. Wood. editor Gazette
. (RepJ3 r. f. Lester. lawyer. (Dem