Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 1 August 1924 — Page 2

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FRIDA AUGUST 1,1924.

POST-DEMOCRAT

THE MUNCIE

A Democratic weekly newspaper representing the Beramecrats of Muncie, Delaware County and the

Eighth Congressional District. The

«9.1y Democratic Newspaper k

In Delaware 6o.

photograph taken with the twelve women who tried him' the first steps in reorganizing the regiment. Active re- &treet ' < tbat ’8 *¥* ftor ne ts^or»* sasr him 2 " iity ' The "* w “ * 8 ' nii “ tor ,~H?iSS 5

State encampment. But Ku Kluxers are barred.” 1

Speaking of women juries, the people of Delaware county practically as a whole, are “again’ ’em.” The lawyers of the Delaware county bar, almost to a man, say

_ tc iqoi ^ things privately that would not look well in print, when Entered as second class matter January a ^! ag ^ e( i to give their opinion of women juries. It is said the postoffice at Muncie, Indiana, under the Act ot March j ghgj.jff Harry Hoffman, who wears a size forty-four 3, 1879. I nighty and a No. 6 pillow case at klan snake dances, car- ”" Price 10c a Copy $3.06 a year. |ries the Kamelia roster with him all the time in order that —— ——r———‘ •— rzrw no mistakes in selection may be made.

Office 733 North Elm Street. Telephone 2540

GEO. R. DALE. Owner and Publisher.

Muncie, Indiana, Friday, July 25, 1924.

More about women on the jury. How does it come that the same names recur, term after term? There’s j Nina Sample, for instance, a familiar name on recurring Ijuries. She swore at one time, when t estion as to her

Office seeking republicans of Indiana who are depend- j qualifications as a jurywoman, that she belonged to the ing on the klan to put them over are worrying mightily if em ale kluxers. And there is Mrs. 0. M. Dick. We don’t these days. They feel that they are lost unless the foiTh- ] m Q W w fi 0 g^g jg or where she came from, but we do kno^ right Charles G. Dawes come into the state to prove that j g^g sa {- on ^g j ur y ^a^- convicted the editor of the

baked.

Wonder if she knows that a invented the ice cream cone?

Jew

... would seem that if she devoted more-

“Factional religious fighting in this organization is time to business and making money going to end,” declares Col. Deitsch, and the way to end it enough to pay her wiis, she would is to get rid of klansmen. This is a revelation of the klan’s j be raore popular with her creditors, malevolent genius which must not be underestimated. I Most people thiDk she is &0 ° p 61 ' ce ^ 1

When an order committed to religious and racial bigotry can undermine a military organization the most complac-

ent of onlookers may well be alarmed.

With ku klux Sheriffs, ku klux Judges, ku klux legislators and ku klux Governors, as is the condition, in part or entirely, in many states, about all that is needed for a

despotic government is a ku klux militia.

The attempt to ku klux the 138th Infantry, apparently, has been foiled. But it has not been foiled by inertia. The klan in this instance has been licked by a fighting man.

AUTO LICENSE REVOKED; KLUCKE'R GOT IT BACtC Earl Harris, roller sheet worker, had his auto license revoked for 6 months, but got it back in 36 days through the efforts of Rufus Burtojs, who fixed it with the mayor. Madam Pigot is an aunt of Harris and a great

friend of Burton.

SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE, ETC.

The experiences of Dr. C. Lewis Fowler, who fell, among the Philistines of New York City last month while 1

there is one live wire left in the party, and they fear to | p os ^_j)g Tnocr at f 0 r libeling a kluxer ’way last October, j the, Democratic national convention was in * progress

have him come lest he. tell what he thinks of the klan. 1 anc | there she was, God bless her, as large as life and twice Dawes despises the kluxers and. makes no bones about j as natural,’ in the famous twelve who were photographsaying so. He has demonstrated in the past that if he has e( j w jth Judge Dearth and the bootlegger. How do they anything on his mind he gets it off without asking the am ,g e t on so often? There are thousands of women in Delaor consent of any man, set of men or political organiz- wa re county. Why not scatter the honor a little more

ation. The pussyfooting politicians would be afraid to ask promiscuously?

him to keep quiet about the klan, for that would set him j

going quicker than, anything else and they are now try-i MINORITY REPORT ON KLAN ISSUE ON ing to hide from him their desire that he stay out of Indi- i DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

ana, knowing that would bring him here if nothing else

would.

Sheriff Harry HofTman and Prosecutor Van Ogle were quoted Sunday by the Star as saying that Prohibition Enforcement Director Bert Morgan should be retained. These high minded officials are desolated that Senator Watson should so far forget himself as to permit mere politics to influence him. Thus they have lined up in apposition to Watson. If, as some have suspected, the soft pedal was used in the federal investigation which involved the official conduct of these two men, they have certainly forfeited the right to expect any further consideration. Having definitely aligned themselves against Watson and with Morgan, the entire truth should come out. Senator Watson has his opportunity to show up the entire bunch.

' KU KLUX, OR ANTI-KU KLUX. ■ (The following excerpt is from an article by Oswald Garrison Vlllard, Editor of The Nation, on the Democratic Convention. We give the part in which he treats of the Ku Klux Klan debate on the evening of June 28:) As a case-hardened reporter, I admit that I would not have missed that night session for a great deal, and that I got thrill after thrill as though I were the veriest tyro, in hearing men and women say out loud that they would prefer to have their party wrecked and wracked and ruined rather than have it, as Wendell Phillips used to say, silent in the presence of a sin that threatens the fundamentals of our American life. It was worth days of exhausting heat and still more exhausting platitudes of hypocrisy and of driveling laudations of politicians, ninetenths of whom are now holding higher office than their abilities entitle them to. j To see men and women fight like William Pattangall of Maine, Mrs. Carroll Miller of Pennsylvania, and that most amazing Georgian, Andrew C. Erwin, who evoked the most spontaneous and # enthusiastic ovation of the convention, was nothing short of a treat. Mr. Erwin is a poor speaker and he was, at first misunderstood. But soon that great gathering realized what he was about— “I’ve been trying,” he explained, “for years to get you Yankees to look into this Klan business”—and what it meant for a Georgian to take the stand he did. So, like all American crowds, it applauded a brave man as he deserved to be cheered. For once some of the standards were “trooped” to good purpose, a worthwhile parade was formed, and the audience let itself loose. Yet that plain ocular demonstration that courage pays in American politics, that our people are longing and thirsting for bravery and independence in public men, and that any man who is ready to risk everything, yes, perhaps even his life in Georgia for his convictions is a certain winner, passed over some of the politicians’ heads. We were treated once more in whining appeals not to disrupt the party, to remember the innocent but misled members of the Klan whose motives are so good and so high and so patriotic that they have to express them by skulking around at night in masks and nightgowns and discriminating against equally worthwhile or better Americans who happen to be Negroes, or foreign-born, Or Catholisc, or Jews. The crowd’s sympathies were-nearly all one way, and besides the men and women of principle the Catholic bosses and senators fought as if to show us^what they could do all the time in this country if they only engaged themselves with issues, with genuine reform, with sound political principles, instead of devoting their lives to miserable schemes to placate a voter here and, a voter there. Yet the Klan won by four and a half or five votes. But of what avail is that victory? How ridiculous to tell the country that the Democratic Party did not name the Ku Klux Klan in its platform when speaker after speaker got up and called that abominable society by its correct designations! Mr. Bryan and his Klan allies may really feel that they saved the day and protected the party from disruption. That is ridiculous. Every one of the millions who listened to the proceeding over the radio knows that the heart and soul of that convention were opposed to the Klan and not only wanted it described, but actually described it as it is.

REPRESENTS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE The Democratic National Convention in dealing with the Ku Klux issue has imitated the cowardly attitude on this subject of the Republican Convention at Cleveland. Substantially both platforms says the same thing, though the Democratic plank employs more words to say it in. Both set forth familiar constitutional platitudes; each sedulously avoids giving them special application. The representatives of the klan claim the Republican plank as a victory for that organization, and it is to be assumed that the Democratic plank will be no less satisfactory to it. But there is this difference between the two conventions. The Republicans did not allow the Ku Klux Klan issue to come out into the open. They preserved at least the outward semblance of party harmony. Many Democrats tried to minimize the klan issue as negligible, or to suppress it altogether; but it became obvious from the moment Mr. Underwood was put in nomination that it was to constitute the supreme question before the convention. The convention proceedings centered around this almost from the beginning, and they culminated Saturday night, after hours of such passionate struggle as have seldom been witnessed in national gatherings heretofore, in what was almost a drawn battle. In a victory for co wardice by

a margain of about four votes.

The Democratic Convention was spli rlmost in half on this subject. Never before, except in the Democratic conventions of 1860 and that of 1896, has the party been so divided against itself, so torn by a great internal con-

vulsion. '

The two freedom planks submitted to the convention were identical in language till they reached the heart and vitals of the question. There the majority of the platform committee was afraid to go on to the logical conclusion. They did not want to offend the klan’s million or so voters., they could not bear, in the language of Senator Owen, of Oklahoma, that stronghold of the Ku Klux Klan to say anything that would reflect upon “the many good citizens among its members.” The minority report, defeated by four votes, had the courage-to mention the klan by name as an offender against fundamental American principles and to pledge the party to fight that or, any other secret political society which undertakes “to interfere with the religious liberty or political freedom of any citizen, or to limit the civic rights of any citizen or body of citizens because of religion, birthplace or racial origin.” This minority rather than the majority represents not only real Americanism, but real Democracy. The voice of the party speaks in the rejected plank. It is to be noted that of the majority vote of 546.15, two hundred and eighty-two were cast by delegates from Southern States. The minority vote was a splendid Democratic roll of honor, and Maryland, the home of freedom, has the right to be proud that all her sixteen votes were cast on the side of liberty. One Georgian, Andrew C. Erwin, had the manhood to vote for the anti-klan plank, and

should serve as a warning to those who set the house on

fire and then complain of their own blisters. Dr. Fowler is the man who held the first open klan

meeting in Muncie, speaking one Sunday afternoon over

two years ago to a large crowd in McCulloch park. From the klan standpoint the good doctor made a

perfectly elegant speech, but in a tolerant community, where such strange doctrines had never before been advanced, there was strong minority in the audience who could see no reason why an unknown outsider should come to Muncie for the sole purpose of slamming certain classes whose good citizenship had never before been challenged.

Fowler publishes an anti^Catholic, anti-Jewish, anti-

Negro paper called the American Standard. During the New York convention boys sold the sheet on the streets. The office of the Standard was stormed by angry Catholics and Jews and on complaint before a magistrate Fowler and his son were locked up in the Tombs where they suffered a great many indignities and were finally released under heavy bonds, charged with libel and inciting riot.

There seems to be no question that the man was treat-

ed in a high handed manner by his captors and the magistrate who handled the case, all of whom were apparently of the classes and faith so abhorred by all upright klansmen. i

But the incident goes to show that the one who ap-

plies the torch that torches others should grin and bear it when the flames singe his own whiskers, instead of giving vent to bitter complaints, as the doctor did in a long editorial in the issue of his paper following his arrest and

incarceration.

At the time Dr. Fowler spoke in Muncie, we had a peaceful community, but his bitter and uncalled for denunciation of a large portion of our citizenship in an audience of thousa.nds, the majority of whom seemed to be in a frame of mind to accept his utterances as the gospel truth, started civil war, fraught with dire results. The editor of the Post-Democrat knows what it means to be arrested and locked up in jail and sent to the penal farm with common criminals of the lowest type, which, it seems, was also the lot of the doctor, from his own statement, although his imprisonment only lasted two hours, while the newspaper man had eleven days of it, all told. According to the statement of the doctor, those who caused his embarrassment were Catholics and Jews. The grand jury, sheriff, prosecutor and judges who handled the cases against the Post-Democratic editor were all kluxers, and every person who knows anything at all about the cases knows that the prosecutions were wholly

unwarranted.

It is notorious in Muncie that the klan had threatened to “get” the Post-Democrat and that the local klan organization regarded the discomfiture of its publisher as a notable klan achievement. The first night of his imprisonment the klan held a big jubilee meeting at which one enthusiast proposed that the editor be taken out and

lynched.

The element of fair play was entirely lacking in the klannish mind in that instance. They simply rejoiced and gloated over the torrent of indictments and convictions that were poured over a man who had the courage to dissent from their treasonable views and from their standpoint there was no injustice in the transaction. They had the numbers, the officials were all klansmen, the cap-

tive was an enemy, so crucify him!

Dr. Fowler and hundreds like him, spreading the new

WILES DENIES MEMBERSHIP ' MAY HAVE TO REPEAT DENIAL The Zanesville representative of the Post-Democrat has received a letter written by Wm. P. Wiles, denying that he is a member of the Ku Klux Klan. He may be out now, but he was a member, according to a positive statement of an ofSeer of the local klan. I have it on go d authority that he is a member of Joe Knights of the Flaming Sword. At ::o distant date Mr. Wiles may be equally emphatic in denying membership in the K. F.

S.

It would seem to be the part of wisdom for people to investigate before joining organizations that work behind masks. THIS POOR KLUXER THINKS HE IS A VERY BAD MAM The Post Democrat newsboy has been greatly amused by the antics of a kookoo Boob the past few weeks. . This fellow stations himself near the lad and indulges in a steady stream of profanity and indecent language that would shame the mate of a Mississippi river steamboat. But the boy never bats an eye. He has seen skunks before. Language failing, he fixes his deeply sunken eyes, glittering with the fires of insanity, upon the boyv gnashes his teeth and twists his fingers, as if in his mind’s eye he saw the boy helpless in his grasp. And what does the poor boy do? He laughs and calls out, “Muncie Post Democrat—read all about the kluckers! ”

KLAN DESECRATES OLD PIONEER HILL A disorderly mob of Sheeted Shimmy Shakers, accompanied by a lot of kids out for a good time, went out t6 Pioneer Hill, Friday night of last week and satisfied their sense of decency and good citizenship by bunting the symbol of Christianity. Ho*r do Zanesville Christians, who revere the Cross and what it stands for, feel about this.sacrilege?

NOTICE TO

ELECTRIC CONTRACTORS

t0 StU n d ^ M , ai f ? rotestan < t 1 and Dt : m °- gospel of hate, are directly responsible for jadTciaT klan and^’an^th^time^ ^JPra the’klan^or’an'^other^rffMiza- i lynchin ^ a11 , 0 H th . e Un ^ d Sta ^ s ' They startedlt, and

The Board of Education of the School City of Muncie, Indiana, |rill receive sealed bids for the rewiring of the Jefferson school building at their office, Central High School, August 19, 1924, at two-thirty P. M. The Board leserves the right to reject any, or all bids. Plans and specifications may be had at the office of Houck and Smenner, architects. Board of Education, FREDERICK F. McGLELLAf* GEORGE L. HAYMOND EDWARD TUHEY August 1-8-15.

Court NuHifies An Anti-Catholic Rule

Cowardice and political expediency controlled the re- t . rri |j pf | hv } r lcia mac lmer - y con ' school board

suit of the vote. Even Virginia Democracy, which in the great Know-Nothing campaign before the Civil War

• Not content with the six months apcLfive hundred

dollars that was handed to him, WeMefendSfit in a liquor m c^se tried a few day? ago in the circuit court; had his tion Of four commissioned officers is announced, as one of

trampled religious and racial proscription under foot as an unclean and poisonous thing, had but two and one-half votes to cast for its femiline symbol of liberty and its historic motto—sic semper tyrannis. But it had twenty-one and one-half votes for the new gospel of religion and po-

litical discrimination.

KUKLUXING THE MILITIA.

(St. Louis Post-Disptch)

There are a lot of well-meaning people who sincerely believe that the Ku Klux Klan is a species of hysteria which will wither away and die if ignored. Such persons do not know the klan. Col. Deitsch, commander of the 138th Infantry, the First Missouri National Guard Regiment, does know the klan. He has seen it perform. His

experience is illuminating.

The klan, Col. Deitsch says, has demoralized the regiment by shattering discipline. So acute is the situation that drastic measures have had to be taken. The resigna-

pool, maintained by tli*

trolled by the other side. ~~ 8C hooi board m th. nm ward pubiie The Fost-Democrat docs not justify, the conduct of TtZ, T c"' ZT JUClge, Catholic or kluxer, inflicts unjust punishment directed that a writ of peremptory merely because he has the power to do so f and has his vie- mandamus issue to the defendant* tim at his mercy. The judge who does this is a criminal in the casc (members of the cam^-

and a scoundrel himself, and will eventually be repudiated

by all honest citizens.

The cowardly klan invented the system of using controlled court to destroy its enemies. It should not kick at an occasional infringement on its patent.

ANOTHER

(Continued From Page 1.) them out into the field to go and get the results. I am sorry that it will be. necessary to wait until Sunday, but it will be impossible to prepare ft constitution prior to that time and haTe it all ready. This will reqnire our working night and day to get it in shape so that - w* can put this across.'’ ‘

“As soon as I became interested

this organization,

gie school board) requiring them t9 admit parochial school children to use of the pool under the same term* and regulations as pupils in lik*

grades in thp public schools. This brings to an end, unless fb*

school board appeals the local court* decision, a case which has attracted action of the school' board in barrins

I was satisfied that wide attention for the past year. ,Th*r

it was impossible for a Kleagle to Catholic school children from th* function and live on $2.00 a member; pool last summer was declared by and I shall insist that this be raised many Catholic residents of CarnegS* to $3.00. Also the local organization to hare been inspired by that borshall receive 25c per robe, and the ough’s branch of- the Ku Klux Kia» Kleagle 25c per robe.” , led by one or two ministers who**

anti-Catholicism has been notoriou*

POP-KORN

LIZZIE

LIKES TO BLOW OFF

in the district, for years and who ar* now outspoken champions o£ s tifev

Mrs. Lloyd,-the hell: icat of ■Marietta hooded order;—True Voice,