The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-01-11
SUSPENSION Of
SCHOOL OFFICIALS
BELIEVED THAT POLITICS is
PLAYING LEAD IN SUMMARY
SUSPENSION OF OFFICERS.

ing lNc suspension cl superintendent
Benedict and the supervisors Of In
dian schools of the various civilized
tribes by the secretary OF the inter
ior some sensational developments
will be made when a thorough in.
vestigation is made. Frederick H.
Umholtz. supervisor OF schools Of
the Chickasaw nation has held the
position little less than three
years. The latter portion of that time
he ihas made his headquarters i'm
Ardmore. lie was seen Immediately
after receiving a telegram from the
supervisor in charge at Muskogec
notifying him to turn all records and
papers over to Miss Edith Thomas,
clerk. upon the receipt by mar o.
charges and suspension sent by mail
and he refused to make any state
ments for the press. His only state
ment was that he hoped the investi.
cation that followed would result i'm
the better equipment of the schools
as h. was interested much more in
the Indian children of the Chickasaw
nation than he was in any charges
that might be made against him and
alton when the department had fin
ished its investigation. Beyond this
he would make no statements.
Prof. Umholtz was president of
the Central Normal at Edmund from
1901 to 1906. He Is member of the
Association of 'S9ers of Oklahoma
and is a well known school man of
the state.
In his work here he has had super.
vision of the Bloomfield Seminary at
Colbert, Chickasaw Orphans Home
at Lebanon, Rock Academy at Nap-
anucka. Harley Institute at Tisho-
mingo and Collins Institute at stone
wall.
During the month of December an
inspector from the reservation
schools named Early came to Okla
homa and made an inspection of the
schools of the Five Civilized Tloes
and it is presumed that suspension
of the school officers followed the
filing of his report When the inspec-
t.t tiait.I hr,bnnSf Hama /.
stated the dining room was so cold
he left the breakfast table without
finishing his meal and sought warmth
near the stove. There has been (;
lack OF equipment for the schools
and acquisitions or rather recommen
dations OF the supervisors for better
equipment is said to have gone by
unnoticed. The inspector having
been accustomed to the reservation
schools where the expenses are
borne by the federal government. ex.
pected better equipments than the
are furnished, by the tribes them
selves.
Politics HAY have had something
to do with the summary suspension
of the officers. 1t is said that Con
gressman Creager and Superintendent
Benedict are not on very friendly
terms and that Supervisor Falwell OF
the Creek nation would like to hav,
the place either held by Indian in
spector Wright or Superintendent
Benedict and it may be that politica
/ jealousy among the Oklahoma repub
licans may have had something TO d,
with the suspension.
p, w. Horn, superintendent of tn,
city schools of Houston, Texas, wal
some years ago appointed by Super
intendens Benedict to visit the Chick
asaw Normal schools and inyestigat,
the school system In vogue here. Nj
Horns report showed that very goo,
work was being done but the success
was brought about by the reasol
lHSl SOOu IcdCneTS were employee
and not on account of the good sys
TEN. The Chickasaws maintaine
control of their schools while tn
other tribes surrendered them TO n
government and the schools of III
Chickasaws had a poor system Will
they were run under the supervisio
of the tribe.
Many of the pupils are full blood
and il is a very difficult matter t
do good school work with them Tn
Indians have tired of their school
and have asked the department {
the interior to discontinue them Thi
action was taken at the last legisl.
| ture The present trouble will prol
| ably accentuate the ineficiency ,
the schools, will bring to bear iii
| superior advantages offered Ind a
!. children in the state schools waeI
thaV will have the hpnaff nf aggnoi