The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-10-16
.BALL|NGER STRUCK
A POPULAR CHORD
CLEANUP ON EAST SIDE DEMAND
ED BY ALL LASSES-GoRE'
STATEMENTS BELIEVED.

STATEMENTS BELIEVED.
The visit of Secretary Balinger OF
the department of the Interior TO Okla
homa recently and his statements that
he was studying Indian affairs with a
view to betterng conditions in Eastern
Oklahoma have revived interest
throughout the Chickasaw nation in
the movement set on foot by United
States Senator Gore for thorough
sleansins of conditions among the Five
Civilized Tribes. Perhaps never be-
fore in the history of these nations
has there been such a widespread in
| terest in a revolution of the manage
ment of Indian affairs and the elimina-
tion of grafters, to the end that the
indians may become citizens in fact.
Secretary Ballinger struck a popular
/ chord when he declared in favor of
I the development of the states re-
sources in this generation.
1t is general opinion among repub-
licans as well as democrats that there
must be effected a separation of the
black and red races in former Indian
Territory. so long as no distinction
is made civilization among the In
dians must remain at a lower standard
than that contemplated by the organ
I i2ers of the state and the makers Of
the constitution and laws. Unless Sec
retary Ballinger proceeds at once TO
clean up the government schools he
will miss the most important step in
his efforts to rid Oklahoma of un-
toward conditions. If the government
is to continue to operate schools III
Oklahoma for the Indians it must draw
line of demarcation so indelibly that
there will be established a social dis
| tinction between the Indians and the
negroes. Self-respecting lndians-and
/ there are thousands of them in Okla
/ -depreciate as much as do the
whites a condition of affairs that com
pels them to mngle socially, in schools
at least. with negroes of part Indian
/ blood.
indians Study Democracy.
/ The Indians as a whole are anxious
! that the government schools be turned
| over to the state at the earliest pos
sble convenience, so that conditions
may be improved under state laws.
Promises made to the negroes by the
| republican state chairman and his can
dilate for governor are driving hun
drCds of Indians to a study of the
methods employed by the democrats
and the promises of the democratic
platform The Indians naturally are
democrats. They have been kept up
der the yoke so long by a national re-
publican administration that they de
mand the advent of democracy in the
nation and a continuation of democrat
ic progressive policies in the state.
Strangely enough the republican
platform does not make a single prom
isc to the indian 1t was famed at
a time when a revolution had been
started in the eastern section of the
state and when more than $4,000 In
dians were demanding their just de-
serts as citizens of the United States.
Not word of hope does the platform
contain as a basis of reform from such
an intolerable situation as the congress
sional committee found during its in
yestigatiOns at Muskogee, McAlester
and Sulphur Intelligent citizens of
this section argue that had the repub-
Leans desired a single reform In the |
conduct of Indian affairs they passed |
up the most opportune time in the his
tory of their party, time when they |
could have demanded republican |
party house cleaning and perhaps have
saved the day.
Faith in Senator Gore.
Democrats and republicans alike
over the eastern half of the state have
faith in Senator Gore. His integrity
has never been questioned save by
those interested in private contracts
with the Indians and certain republi-
can politicians who felt called upon
to uphold the hands of Jake Hamon,
former republican chairman. who was
in the eyes of all the peo-
pie when he sought to discredit the
testimony OF Senator
core. with the testimony Of Gore
md Congressman Creager "a republi-
,an) on the one hand and that of
10 I