The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-03-04

proyince Of the federal government to
interfere with the regulation by South
ern states OF their domestic anairs'
There is in the South a stronger feel
ing than ever among the intelligent
wellto-do and influential element II
favor of the industrial education OF the
negro and the encouragement OF the
race to make themselves useful mem
hers of the community. The progress
which the negro has made IN the last
fifty years from slavery when l1s
statistics are reviewed, is marvellous
and it furnishes every reason to hope
that in the next twenty-five years
still greater improvement in his con-
dition as a productive member Of So
ciety. on the farm, and in the shop
and in other occupations, may come.
The negroes are now Americans
Their ancestors came here years ago
against their will, and this is their
only country and their only flag. They
have shown themselves anxious to
live for it and to die for it. Encoun-
terng the race telling against them,
subjected at times to cruel injustice
growing out of it, they may well have
our profound sympathy and aid in the
struggle they are making. We are
charged with the sacred duty of MAX
ing their path as smooth and easy
as we can. Any recognition of their
distinguished men, any appointment
to office from among their number, is
properly taken as an encouragement,
and an appreciation of their progress
and this Just policy shall he pursued.
But it may well admit of doubt
whether, in the case Of any race, an
appointment or one of their number to
a local Office in a community in which
the race feeling is so widespread and
acute as tcinterfere with the ease and
AdClily WIFI WHICH Inc lOSdi bCfCAh7
ment business can be done by the ap-
pointee, is Of sufficient benefit by way
of encouragement to the race to out
weigh the recurrence and increase of
race feeling which such an appoint
ment is likelyto engender. Therefore,
the executive, in recognizing the neg
TO race by appointments must exer-
else a careful discretion not thereby
to do it more harm than good On the
other hand we must be careful not to
encourage the mere pretense Of race
feeling manufactured in the interest
of individual political ambition
Personally T have not the slightest
race prejudice or feeling, and recogni- |
tion of its existence only awakens in |
my heart deeper sympathy for those
who have to bear it or suffer from it, |
and | question the wisdom of policy |
which is likely to increase it. Mean !
time, if nothing is done to prevent, a |
better feeling between thenegroesand |
the whites in the S0Hth will continue
10 grow, and more and more Of the
white people will come to realize that
he future of the South is to be much
benefited by the Industrial and intelli-
gent and weA-to-do will be acquiesced
N, and the right to vote will be with
Ield only from the ignorant and irrRs-
1Onsible of both racss.
There is ons other matter to whiRh
shall refer. It was made the subject
If great controversy during the cleo
ion, and calls for at least a passing
'eference now My distinguished pre-
has given must attention to
he cause of labor, with whose strug-
lie for better things he has shown
he sinceresb sympathy. AT his, in
itance, congress has passed the bill
king the liability of interstate car
iers to their employees for injury sus-
aimed in the course of employment,
Ibolishing; the rulR of fellow-servant
md the common Paw rule of compara-
i've neligance. Do has also passed a
aw fixinRthe compensation of geNern-