The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-07-17
THE NEGRO IN OKLAHOMA.

II must be evident to all thoughtful
citizens that those persons who were
instrumental in securing an injunc-
tion against the submission of the
proposed grandfather clause" amend
ment were inspired neither by negro
philism nor zeal in behalf of the gen
eral welfare, but by the hope of con
tinuing the black man as political
asset in Oklahoma.
Back of the application for restraint
loomed the figure of Jim Harris, poll
tical boss and chairman of republican
state committee, VINO realized that II
the proposition is submitted thousands
of white republicans will join with
the democrats in voting for it and
knew that. If adopted, the people-made
law will stand every test as to legal
ity. jim Harris knows that major
ity of the voters of Oklahoma favor
the proposition because Caucasian
supremacy in Oklahoma is vital ne
cessity in Oklahoma and in every 9th
cr state where the black man is De.
coming numerically strong.
Residents in the western half of
Oklahoma do not, many of them, real
ize that the negro question has reach
ed a critical stage in Oklahoma. yet
T. hAI y
thousands of negroes settle in eastern
Oklahoma, and in many of the coun-
ties of that section they hold the bal
ance of power. Had the blacks not
slept on their rights they could have
nominated candidate for congress in
the Third district of Oklahoma. There
are today 3S negro officials in Mus
kogee county They have 23 officials
in Wagner county, where the repub-
lican state chairman resides. and are
arranging to put out complete ticket
in that county. Okfuskee county has
is negro officials. There are from
three TO 3S black men in office in
twenty counties of Oklahoma, includ-
west side Logan county has a negro
commissioner and a negro member of
the legislature.
IN A RECENT SCHOOL ELeC.
TlON IN WAGNER COUNTY FIVE
NEGROES WE'RE ELECTED DlREC-
TORS TO TAKE CHARGE OF FIVE
WHITE SCHOOLS.
These are facts which would enable
thinking men to realize what negro
immigration is doing in Oklahoma.
While there are many republicans
who will vote for the proposed amend
ment, there are, on the other hand,
some democrats who are inclined to
oppose the restrictive clause which
would compel educational qualihca-
tion. One Of these was found In FL
Reno the other day. He was asked
what he would do in the event negroes
became predominant in FL Reno.
Il would leave the town. was his
reply
is that what you would do if you
resided in the Third congressional
district, where the richest oil and gas
wells in the world are located and
some OF the finest farming lands in
Oklahoma" was asked.
is that the situation there" he IN.
quired.
Yes"
I'm f-r the grandfather clause.
was his determined response.
This El Reno citizen. like many
others who are not in close contact
with the negro question had not seen
the matter in that light.
There is another phase of the Ques-
ton that many persons have not con.
sidered. 1t is the matter of taxes in
the future There are 11O0. 600 ne
groes and only 10000 white persons
in the state of Mississippi yet the
whites pay 80 per cent of the taxes.
while the negroes get 60 per cent o.
the tax funds for their schools.
This is the white mans burden"
which the people of Oklahoma must
expect 70 assume unless they act