Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 20 July 1923 — Page 1
THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC NEWSPAPER IN DELAWARE COUNTY THE MUNCIE POST-DEMOCRAT
VOL 3. NO. 27.
MUNCIE, INDIANA, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1923.
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $2.00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE
YOUTH OF MUNCIE ORGANIZES ANOTHER KLAN
SCHOOL HEADS AT MARION ARE KMIXMEMBERS Correspondent Says They Belong To Organization of Hate Mongers. Preacher Constable Shines At Van Buren
MR. SHUGART DENIES THAT HE BELONGS TO THE KLAN Our Marion correspondent writes that Frank C. Shugart, Marion milk dealer, whose name was published last week as a member of the Marion klan, has made an affidavit that he is not a member. Personally the editor of this newspaper does not know Mr. Shugart, and if, as he asserts in his affidavit, our correspondent was mistaken in labeling him as a klansman, we wish to ex- J tend our sincere apology for classing ■ him as a member of this undesirable! organization. We accept Mr. Shu-j gart’a sworn statement that he is not ’ a member as proof in itself that our correspondent was mistaken. Klans-
ReV. Booth Astonished the I men are instructed to lie to “aliens”
Nations By Making Klan Speech.
(By Staff Correspondent)
Marion, Ind., July 20—The readers of the Muncie Post since having been favored with the two issues before circulated in Marion, are beginning to awaken to the menace of the invisible empire in Marion and Grant County with a vengeance and are seeing the propagating efforts of the sinister viper as expressed by a citizen concerning the public schools
of that unfortunate Klan
county.
when asked about their membership, but ivhen the denial comes in the form of a sworn statement, the PostDemocrat is willing to accept it as final and conclusive. PINK COX, SUSPECTED OF GIVING FEDERAL AID IS ACQUITTED
“Pink” Cox, arrested about a month ago by Policeman Hankinson ( on an intoxication charge, has been
ridden: acquitted by Special Judge Claude
Ball, and thereby hangs a tale.
It is alleged that the county super- Several months ago Harry Cox, a intendent of schools, Albert R. Hall,' brother of “Pink,” supplied certain is a member of the Klan and while | evidence for federal officers who were
presumably undertaking to instill in youthful minds the basic principles of a great and free constitutional republic, he aids and abets by his membership in this freak organization an -empire-which is presntnpttous -eacrugh to adopt a standard greater than the constitution. Can a man then be honorable enough to direct the educational destinies of Grant county youth who would take his corporal oath to support the constitutions of both the United States and the state of Indiana and at the same time belong to an organization which today disregards the bill of rights and all other laws of the land which does not meet with the approval of these 100 per cent fools? But this is not the half of it, for it seems that the intelligence of the people must be further insulted by other so-called educators In the city schools for it is further alleged that the city superintendent of schools, Elbert Day, Professor Kindler and Paul A. Hill of the south Marion, schools are all members of the Klan and it is wondered at by the citizens who are acquainted with the facts that these wreckers of organized government are permitted by the school authorities ?nd the state educational board to hold positions as teachers; for it would naturally be supposed that these oath-bound Klansmen would not wish to give to the Jewish child nor the Catholic or negro children advantages of education to say nothing of the prejudice held against so-called weak kneed Protestants by these self appointed law givers. It is to be hoped that the public as well as those in authority over the matter of hiring teachers and professors for schools and colleges will make demand that such men be removed from their positions of trust In the guidance and mind molding of future citizens, or that they will at least be compelled to fore-swear allegiance to the invisible monarchy and declare their fealty to the great United States Constitution as it has been written by our immortal fathers. . . Our first stop in the county this week was at Van Buren. It happened We reached this little Grant county city the next day after their weekly band concert. There was nothing unusual about the appearance of the Rev. G. Raymond Booth, ex-deputy sheriff, constable and klan orator. Immediately after the concert was over Rev. Constable Booth was introduced and, taking the word of an exklan member for it, it was the most radical and vulgar address ever made
investigating alleged official misconduct in Muncie. He made an affidavit, which is now in possession of the government, that Policeman Hankinson hid across the Street ffom the home of Sidney Allen, on Kirby avenue, and saw Hugh Berry deliver a consignment of whisky at the home of Sidney Allen, and that the officer 'waited until Berry got away and then searched the Allen home for the liquor, making no effort to apprehend Hugh Berry. According to “Pink” Cox, he was accused by Hankinson of being the one who made the affidavit, when, in fact, it was his brother. He says he was also upbraided at the police station for his brother’s act in aiding the federal investigation. He was arrested by Hankinson together with “Kid” Korns, who, it is said, threw a'way a half pint of liquor when the arrest was made. The charge against Korns was not pressed but Cox .was placed on trial and acquitted after it was conclusively proved that he was not intoxicated. He says the officer, In arresting him, searched him roughly, tearing up a new eight dollar silk shirt. As an interesting sidelight, it might be mentioned that Hugh Berry, the colored man whom Harry Cox
(Continued to Page 3 )
KLAN DEFINITIONS
Ku Klux Klan: A sugar coated pill about the size of a croquet ball with a quarter of a pound of strychnine in the center. One Hundred Percent American, ku klux standard: A man who boasts of his patriotism in time of peace and lies out of it to the conscription board in time of war. Cyclops: Generally speaking, the; prize nut of the community. Wizard: An Imposing title attachedi to a bag of wind. Kleagle: Ti e wise guy who get* most of the money. Ghoul: The sucker who gives it to
him.
Law and Order: Illustrated by klan motto: ‘Not for Self but for others.’ Protection of Pure Womanhood; Ditto. The Holy Bible: Something klansmen talk about continually but never
read.
Klan Christianity: The exclusive attribute of a masked order 'whose
members hate everybody else.
White Supremacy: Restoring the negro to his former happy condition
of slavery and subjection.
More White Supremacy: “Riding” colored men who refused to vote for j Dearth, Hoffman and Van Ogle and
in an Buren township and the large audience stood in amazement all j
through the speech and breathed a protectIn S colored ^tleggers, booze j haulers and gamblers who threw la
with the ku (klux at the last election.
(Continued to Page 3.)
DEARTH’S JIM CROW DECISION
In the case of Henry B. Alexander, colored attorney, against the city of Muncie, in which the plaintiff sought to recover damages for being ejected from the “white side” of McCulloch park, Judge Dearth held that the city was within its legal rights in excluding members of the colored race from that portion of the park which custom has given to the white race. The judge thus establishes a precedent in Indiana, which will stand unless reversed by the higher court, if we have properly interpreted former decisions, to the effect that a new meaning is to be read into bill of rights, namely that the guarantee of equal privileges to all citizens, regardless of race or religion, is a mere scrap of paper, to be disregarded by the citizenship of Indiana, just the same as the white citizenship of Georgia and Mississippi establish their “jim crow” cars and disregard the negro’s constitutional right to vote on election day. The republican party, to which Judge Dearth and City Attorney Arthur McKinley belong, has long bunkoed the negro voter of Indiana by appealing to his prejudices. Politicians of the Dearth stripe have implored him to st&nd steadfast by the grand old party—the party which freed him from slavery and made him better than a white man. They sought, and secured his vote, through the argument that the republican north afforded the negro a safe asylum from the tyrannies of a southern autocracy which hanged, burned and> flayed alive unfortunate negroes charged with certain crimes, and that the negro was deprived of the opportunity to secure an education, was excluded from the privilege of voting and was not permitted to mingle in any way with the whites or to enter any public conveyance occupied by white men a? ‘ T women. In a large measure the north did make good its promises to the negro, but now that republican politicians have fallen into the arms of the southern rebel-conceived ku klux idea, a brazen attempt is being made to restore him to his ante-bellum status of slavery. The ku kluxer secretly swears to force “white supremacy” upon the unfortunate negro and the mandates of the “invisible empire” are executed by men elected to office by the aid of negro voters. Custom has always decreed that the two races shall be segregated at McCulloch Park and the arrangement has been mutually satisfactory. Naturally colored people feel easier and more at home in an assemblage of their own race and it would have been naural for them to have selected a part of the park as their own if there had been no “unwritten law” sanctioning the arrangement. , The unwritten rule, however, has never been regarded here as a hard and fast rule. Occasionally colored people are seen on the “white side” and white are frequently seen on the “colored side.” According to Judge Dearth’s decision a dead line has been established and no colored person may step foot across that line without violating the law of the land. We desire to make the unqualified assertion that Henry Alexander, of African descent, had just as much right to stand across the dead line established by the Dearth decision and listen to a speech made by a white man as Judge Dearth had to step across his own dead line to the colored section and make a speech to colored people, as he did a few weeks ago, for the purpose of trying to coax them back into the fold of the party that has been absorbed, locally, by the ku klux klan.
AnACKING SYMPTOMS WIU NOT CURE POUCE ILLS WHICH ARE SAPPING LIFE OF COMMUNITY
0 Knights of Purity, Following Example of Their Elders, Proceed To Take Charge of the Situation and Will Regulate Evil Doers.
(By the Editor) Innumerable rumors of alleged scandalous, immoral and brutal actions on the part of this or that member of the city police force are rife< in Muncie and friends of the PostDemocrat are wondering why we do not devote space each week to the various episodes forming the basis of the rumors. I want to make myself perfectly clear in this matter. I have no feud with any member of the police force. On the contrary my sympathies are With them. They are merely crea-
Occupational
Tax Reminder
Is Set Forth
By doing a little detective work the editor of the Post-Democrat last Friday discovered the identity of the person who called up and threatened us with vengeance of the “Knights of Purity,” and thereby hangs a tale. It stands for white supremacy, separation of church' and sate, law and order, pure womanhood, being, in effect practically the same as the ku klux klan, and adopting practically he same fanastic costume. The leader, a mere youth, whose name we withhold because of a warm friendship for his family, declared to the Post-Democrat editor that his idea in calling up and putting out the death threat was that it would secure hia order considerable free advertising.
OHIO PREACHER REPUDIATES RUN IN SUNDAY SERMON (Wapakoneta (O.) Daily News)
Continuing his discussion upon
I He said he had observed the methods of the klan in securing free advertising and the transmission of threats by the klan and the actual flogging and tar and feathering of persons antagonistic to that organization was always followed by an access of members who wanted to get
even with their enemies.
The young man denied that his or-
Americanism which he began a week 'ganization left the note at the Partago, Dr. W. T. Williams, pastor of low restaurant, threatening Mrs. the First M. E. church, Sunday Partl °w with a whipping. He says morning addressed a large congre- Sergeant Finney, of the local klan, gation of men and women Sunday denied tliat n ote came from his orforenoon at American Legion hall ganization, so the people of Muncie during the regular morning worship have to decide which organizaof the church. Services were held tion was responsible for that threat, at the Legion auditorium owing to Mrs - Partlow has reopened her
the fact that the congregation is restaurant. She says two ku klux having its own church auditorium P oIi cemen told her the klan did not redecorated. leave the note, and she said they Dr. Williams set at rest all doubts, ou S ht to know. She said the police if any existed in the minds uf his hcr 14 coy ld not'have been the auditors, as to his position regard- klan ’ since the klan ’ in issuing its ing “an organization 'which is both P leasa nt little warnings, always sent unamerican and unchristian accord- typewritten communications and hers ing to the teachings of the denomina- was in lon S hand * Being reassured tion of which I am a member.” He b y the tw0 great official authorities said early in his sermon that he had on ku klux Practices, Mrs. Partlow been held up as an apostle of such * s now running her restaurant wlthan organization and had received let- ou ^ fear of molestation, ters commenting upon his reputed The young man who heads the “lining up with” an organization Katekts of Purity announced to the which sought to teach a kind of ed it o r of the Post-Democrat, at a Americanism with which he said ho conference held at police headquarwas not in sympathy. He denied * ers which Detective Fred Puckett connection with any organization of I^rMcipated, that his order was going such a character. ol® an AP Muncie. The congregation was very large “Where are you going to start,” inand It was noted that a larger num- < l u i red Mr. Puckett, her of men than usual were in at- Wherever it is needed,” he replied, tendance, proving that thinking men ^ ^ ou need cleaning up, Mr. Puckare giving the subject of Dr. Wil- ^ ou no ^ be ov ®rl°oked. If Ham’s sermons much thought before ^ eor g e Dale and his newspaper stand they weigh in with an organization our wa T> we will take George Dale, that he characterizes as both un- ( ^ Sergeant Finney and his ku klux American and un-Christian. ' «an,g need cleaning we will not overThe following is taken from Dr. ^ ook tberni '' T Williams’ Sunday morning sermon: Thus ' il wil1 be observed, the We have said a large number of y ou ^ b °f Muncie, following the distimes during these latter years that tin £Uished example of their elders, America is the greatest gift of God are organizing to out ku klux the ku to mankind save that of His Only klux klan. * Begotten Son. This is no small say- “ We bave J ust as “uck right to ing. It covers an exceedingly wide pul1 off tbes e stunts as the ku klux area. To some it might appear ar- klan, and I defy any ku klux official rogant, if not foolish. But, be this, of Muncie to arrest us for doing the as it may, we believe it at this mo-" ver y tbin g 3 that are done by the ment fully as zealously as when we order to which they belong,” declarmade the declaration first. We have ed ^ be T° un S nian, and to this the used it under various circumstances, ed itor of the Post-Democrat heartily
Sometimes we have engaged it to a ^ reed -
comfort dying soldiers. Other times will be seen on the streets we have employed it to console brok- f re Quently in full regalia,” said he, en hearted parents as they received * n a l a t er conversation with the Postthe bodies of their sons into their Democrat. ‘ and I don’t think the homes. “Bear in mind,” we used to police or sheri ff will dare to molest
tell them, “that they have not died us ’ cons i der i n -g fk® fact that invain. The altar on which ♦>’0^ have allowed the klan to do
have placed their life is worthy of it all. America has filled their’s and your oblation With meaning be-
they
they lla,ve cmuweu me itiaii io uo as it
pleases.”
He also said that inasmuch as the klan officials have made it a point to
cause America is the greatest gift! clean-up law breakers who are in
Washington, July 20.—The commissioner of internal revenue is reminding all district collectors under his
tures of an organization which binds J them, against their will I believe, to
I a program to which they must sub- bureau that payment of the miscellanscribe or lose their jobs. j e ous occupational taxes, the special j With but two or three exceptions tobacco manufacturers’ tax and the | the members of the police force were special tax on the use of boats, pro-
! compelled to join the ku klux klan. I vided for j The chief belongs and the board of, must be
safety belong or are so utterly blind % penalties are to be avoided.
i to the ku klux control of the depart- | ment that they are unfit to serve for I an instant. What the police department needs
of God to mankind save that of the Man from Nazareth.” This is the, way we tried to open their eyes to the grandeur of the Itfand of the free” as they wresteld In the grip of death and agony and lead them to the greatest of all gifts, and occasionally we were successful in ac-
complishing both.
So, if America is what we believe
by the revenue act of 1921, j it is, and it is, what should it mean paid on or before July 31, to the peoples of the earth? If
America is what we allege it is, one of the- two greatest gifts, this is the question with which we must strive.
On or before that date, capital stock tax returns also must be made. Every domestic corporation is required to make a return, even though the law
is a thorough overhauling and the, may indicate that it is exempt from
(Continued to Page 3.)
(Continued to Page 3.)
bad with the klan and protect others, the Knights of Purity would make a specialty of cleaning up joints that are protected by the klan. “In that way,” said he, We will, lick the plat-
ter clean.”
He said that on the first Saturday night they were out on a regulatory trip, the police said nothing to them, thinking they were klansmen of some superlative degree. He said he even gave one policeman an order to regulate traffic better at his corner, and that the policeman obeyed him. It will now be interesting to wit-
We must understand it well enough neSs ^ be 2 row th of the new order and so that we become willing to fix our- of tbe contes t between the Knights selves upon it, and if we should find of Purity and tbe the ku i klux klan to see which one can d®
(Continued to Page 3.)
the best job of cleaning.