The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-06

Tor Kentucky mountaineer by the way, is looked upon as one of the greatest pub lie benefactors in the city. It is interest ing to note that his two predecessors were also from that same mountain region, a section which is not generally credited with producing great educators, although famous for organizers. Ed Vaught a Tennessee mountaineer, and l. N. Hol- comb. a Kentucky mountaineer, organized this public school system
 In the Indian Territory the peculiar tribal governments have prevented the advancement of the school system to the point attained by the Territory of Okla homa. Until two years ago there were no free schools for white children eX- cept in the incorporated towns. Then Con- gress gave money to increase the tribal school capacity, and to provide for the attendance of children of non-citiZens of the five nations. The tribes have main tained good district schools and seminaries for the Indians, as well as for the negroes Each of the five nations, Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole has Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole has had systems of district day schools and of cen tral boarding schools, which will be adapted under statehood to the system of district schools and county high schools. The Indian mission schools have been d potent factor for good for more than 50 years and they will continue under the new regime without interruption.
 In the incorporated towns of the ln- dian country the schools have been or ganized along progressive lines and are as good as those of Oklahoma. Under statehood the university normal and tech nical colleges and preparatory schools will be opened, of course, to the whole state, to Indians as well as whites. The territorial legislature of Oklahoma and the councils of the five nations long ago decreed separate schools for negroes, and this separation is continued into the new regime by express language in the con- Stitution
 In this connection the much discussed Oklahoma constitution by solemn ordi- nance decrees that the North American Indian is of equal rank among the races with the white race. The fundamental law of the new state declares that the words "colored' or "colored race" or negro" or negro race shall apply to all persons of African descent. It then adds: "The term white race shall in clude all other persons" Thus Indians are taken into the fold of the "doni- nant" race.
 There are many negroes who aye mem bers of an Indian tribe who have no In dian blood whatever. There htye been
  Africans may share in the wealth of the Indians, but they are, and have been for years, socially without the pale and sep arate schools have been maintained Tor them. The full-blood negroes who are members of the tribe are products of the Civil War. Many of the Indians were slave owners The Creeks had more ne gro slaves than there were Indians in the tribe When the slaves were freed md fifizaua these negroes became citizens of the Creek nation. When the Indian lands were allotted they were per- mjtted to share the lands. The federal government, however, gives them more latitude than it does the Indians, for they may sell their lands at will. while the Indian is surrounded with restric- tions.
 Negro education is provided for in the constitution which directs that the schools must be separate, but must be impartially maintained The negro schools in Okla homa are said to be excellent. They de- vote much attention to instruction Tn prac- tical things. The common schools or Okia- homa are no better of course, than the schools of other states. But the wonder is that they are as far advanced as they are. for this is the frontier. When Abra- ham Lincoln was boy Kentucky was a much older state than Oklahoma is a habitation. His struggles for the rudi- ments of an education are familiar to every American boy and girl. After near ly hundred years the same race of peo- ple plants another colony to the west ward In the twinkling of an eye the pioneer is as we'll established in his civil ization as are the people whom he left in the east That is the marvel of it all.
 Tomorrow: The New Empire of the Southwest.