The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-06-07

HiAtiiQtHi VI uDllN IuNllUCIlOU Is one
OF the most important and responsible
In the state | w0irld not accept
the Office II | did not feel that ! can
iill il to the interest and advantage of
our people | think I understand the
duties Of the orice and ] pledge my.
self 20 discharge its duties fearlessly
and honestly TO the best of my ability.
and TO the interests Of all the people
cf the state. regardless of race.
color or previous condition OF servi-
tude II has been my privilege to- be
a citizen of Oklahoma and Indian Ter
rltory for more than fifteen years. In
November, 1891. moved from Texas
to Norman. where | spent delight
ful year Since that time 1t has been
my fortune TO live In Oklahoma city
El Reno, Muskogee Pauls Valley,
Chickasha. South McAlestsr and Sui
phur. In all these cities ! tried TO
be helpful in building a good citizen
ship and now have friends in Them all
who are enshrined in my heart to
stay there forever
In 1893, ] was appointed by Hon
w G. Renfrow. governor of Okla
homa. State Superintendent of Public
ilHAiNl4AiOn anu hA~0illtiAt AultiNis hH
Superintendent of Public instruction
| was at the head Of the public school
system of the Territory and WIS cleo
ted president Of the Territopin t>oard
of Education and was also elected
president OF the Board OF Regents of
the Territorial Normal Schools and
was also a member OF the School
Land Board During the nearly four
years that held that Office the public
school system of Oklahoma was form.
ulated and systematiZed and made
one of the very best In the word We
do not claim credit for all the work.
We had a brilliant and devo,ed Ter
ritorial Board OF Education, some of
whom were republicans. and together
we started the University, the Nor
NAL schools. the, city and district
schools and secured the enactment Of
GOOD laws, together with liberal ap-
propriations for the work We also
| had throughout the Territory q band
of teachers as loyal to duty and as
consecrated to The service of the state
as any world ever saw. II cleo
ted il will be a great pleasure for me
to clasp hands with them in the work
again. II was my fortune to conduct
the first Territorial teachers nsii-
tute held in oklahoma made the
FIRST speech delivered in Oklahoma In
favor of separate schools for the ne
groes. II viii be conceded that took
the leading part in keeping negroes
out Of our Territorial schools and in
separate district and city schools un-
ti the democratic legislature passed
separate school law in 1897. In
! S94 a delegation Of negroes appeared
before the board OF Normal School
Regents at Edmond, and demanded
admission to the Edmond Normal
made them speech and told them
school AS president of the board ]
that their admission into the Normal
school would cause serious friction
and trouble that | was their friend
and wanted them to have Just as good
schools as the white people, but want
ed them separate. ! told them that
! they could never develop or have
any leaders or teachers under united
school SYSTEM that IL would be
vastly better for them as a race to
have separate schools. and that II
they would withdraw their claim for
admission as superintendent of Pub
lie Instruction. backed by the COVER
nor and the Whole administration
/ would recommend to the legislature
that they be given separate schools
mst as good IN every way as the
white people had and that ! would
recommend that an appropriation be
made and they be given a Territorial
school of first-class character, combin.
ing the features of an Industrial
school. a normal school and uni
versity They were delighted with
the plan and said that was exactly
what they wanted We shook hands
with them and they departed In good
spirits and well pleased | kept faith
with these colored people When the
legislature met i'm Gnthrie, January
8. 1905, I made my report 10 the
body. In my report these words Will
be- found
Separate schools: There is no
longer reason 10 doubt that the
weight OF public opinion In okla
homa Is IN favor of separate schools
for the education Of the white and
eolOred races. Here | desire to say
that one OF the great needs Of the
Territory Is an institution ct higher
education for the colored people. /
earnestly recommend that provisions
be made for the establishment Of one
Institution OF higher education. com
binins the features Of "A normal school
and Industrial school and university,
for the exclusive use OF the colored
people OF the Territory Our colofed
citizens are rlghtfully anr justly en-
titled 10 all educational advantages
enjoyed by the white race trust
that this recommendation may speed
ily take the form Of law
recommendations -3rd. Enact a
Territorial Separate School Law
(See journal OF the council proceed
ings Of the Third Legislative Assem-
bly, Of the Territory Of Oklahoma. be
ginning January s. 1895. ending Mch.
3, 1895 Pages 20. 81 al SD
The legislature was overwhelmingly
republican. They paid no attention
to this recommendation for separate
schools. though they enacted into
law most OF my other recommenda-
lions. In 1886. the democrats aud
popllisls elected a vast majority IN
the Territorial legislature and IN 1891.
enacted into law every one OF inY rec