The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-06-22
Couldn't Put Negro Over Indians.

Couldn't Put Negro Over Indians.
Washington, June 13.-When
Greek meets Greek, there follows
tug of war, according to the classic
allusion; but when Indian meets ne
gro there are explanations to be
made, and sometimes they are not
such satisfactory or explanatory ex-
plantations.
This has been the case in the past
few days in re the announced ap-
pointment of w. T. Vernon, the ne
gro who was until recently register
of the United States treasury, to the
position of superintendent of Indian
schools under the jurisdiction of the
give Civilized Tribes" in Oklaho-
ma. 1t was stated at the White
House a few days ago that Vernon
had been given this position, and the
colored voters of Kansas, Vernon's
State, were pleased by the action of
the president. But within couple
of days the dispatches from Oklaho-
ma indicated that the Republican
voters of that commonwealth were
not so much pleased. The two Re-
publican representatives from Okla
homa were up in arms in short
time, and things began to look blue
for the black man who had been
named as overseer of schools for the
red man.
Then it was that. explanations be-
gan to take place. 1t was said that
there was something wrong about the
announcement that Vernon had been
appointed to the Oklahoma position.
AS this did not seem to be a COM
pletely explanatory explanation, or at
least did not seem to go far enough
to suit some of the Oklahomans, it
was then announced that Vernon had
not been given the appointment, and
that the whole thing was an error
that the whole story was wrong.
And so Vernon is not to be super
visor of schools for the Indians, ac-
cording to the latest announcement
unless this announcement, too, is an
error. What he will do is not known.
He has been separated from the pay
roll as register Of the treasury, and
he is not exactly attached to anything
just now in the way of employee. His
political friend, Senator Curtis, is ex-
pected to look out for him, as he was
supposed to have done in this Okla
homa matter, but the senator does
not know just yet where he will place
Vernon.
Politically, Vernon is Gin bad' in
Kansas. He was a number of years
the head of a big negro industrial
school in that State, State institu-
tion, for the organization of which he
deserved most of the credit. When
he came to Washington to take up
his duties in the treasury, at the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Roosevelt, it is said
that he retained the presidency of
this school, and allowed it to be run
by an acting president, Vernon ex-
pecting to return at the end of his
political service in Washington. He
kenw that his political job was
Republican reward for his political
services in Kansas, and he knew that
political rewards do not always last
long.
But while Vernon has been in
Washington, things have changed in
Kansas. Joseph L. Bristow has sue
ceeded Chester I. Long in the senate,
and Governor Stubbs has been hold
ing down the gubernatorial cushion
for some time. Neither of these gen.
tlemen is a friend of Vernon, and he
(Vernon) has been compelled to give
up his absentee presidency of the COL
lege. Besides Mr.. Taft has seen fit
to reward J. G. Napier, a Nashville
negro, with Vernon's federal job, and
Vernon is out. The decision to make
him superintendent of the Indian
schools in Oklahoma having result
ed in such a fizzle, it remains to be
seen just where he will land.
The Office of register Of the treas
ury has been held by negroes for a
long time Judson w. Lyons, of Geor-
gia, held the place before Vernon,
and J. c. Napier is now on the job.
The long service of colored men in
this Office has given rise to the state
ment, which is true in a sense, that
the paper money of the United States
is mo good' without the signature
of negro.
Mr.. R. B. Hartzog, son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. V. J. Hartzog, is now living in
Atlanta, Ca, where he has charge
of, the Atlanta office of the Sheridan