Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 3 October 1924 — Page 2

PAGE TWO.

THE MUNCIE POST-DEMOCRAT

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1924.

THE MUNCIE POST-DEMOCRAT. a Democratic weekly newspaper representing the Demniocrats of Muncie, Delaware County and the Eighth Congressional District. The only Democratic Newspaper In Delaware Co. Entered as second class matter January 15,1921, at the postoffice at Muncie, Indiana, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Price 10c a Copy—$3.00 a Year. Office 733 North Elm Street. Telephone 2540 GEO. R. DALE, Owner and Publisher. - ■!! ■' ■ ,1^/,, - ■! II ... ■-■■I—. I M ^ ■ I .. Muncie, Indiana, Friday, October 3, 1924.

j other affidavit and while the special judge was frowning ' at it, Ogle somehow or other took a tumble and moved to dismiss the case, the motion being promptly sustained. A spectator says Ogle “sniggered” when he asked the dismissal of the case. How about the poor fellow who had to eat Sheriff Hoffman’s jail grub for four months, because meddling officials did not know the law? It is

ting it alone? Was the I. W. W. curbed by taking no notice of it? If Christian Science is assailed for its vulnerable attitude against the doctors, do the Christian

Scientists take no notice of it?

If the Ku Klux endorse candidates on the county ticket, shall the candidates blacklisted on account of their creed, lie down and say nothing? If the Ku Klux

Muncie and Fairmount, West Virginia, have traded Methodist preachers. The klan has just become active m | • West Virginia. Possibly Brother Ketcham will get there j in time to receive another of the Man’s great free will! offerings. The kluxers have quit putting it out here. »

The klan boasts that it is the friend of the negro. The Muncie colored ladies and gents who received the yellow klan checks for fifteen dollars, swear to it and Bob Graves, acquitted twice by klux judges, can easily prove it. Well, Well, a voice from the grave! The editor of the Post-Democrat has just been advised that he must go, to trial at Winchester October 21 for carrying a gun. It will b e two years in November, since we were arrested at the polls in Whitely by Sheriff Hoffman. If the gun had hung fire as long as the case, nobody would have been hurt. Chief of Police Benbow advised us to carry that gun after a bunch of black masked kluxers had attempted our life and that of our son. He now declares he did not do it. He will get a chance on the witness stand at Winchester to lie or tell the truth and we don’t care a tinker’s darn which he does. If he wants to perjure himself, that will be

his business. ,

r

The victims of the Boilings steal ought to feel good over the dismissal of the cases against Harold Hobbs and others in Portland. The Randolph county grand jury investigated and retained indictments on the strength of the testimony of those who had bee fleeced. By the way, wha f has become of the great Doliings investigation in Delaware county?

dr. McCulloch popular here. The largest crowd that has assembled here this year to hear a political speech greeted Dr. McCulloch, the democratic, anti-klan candidate for governor of Indiana, in the court room in Muncie Tuesday night. Every seat was filled and standing room was at a premium. Many leading republicans of the county were present and they openly declare they will support Dr. McCulloch. No decent, conservative republican in Delaware county will support the Dollings-klan candidate. Dr. McCulloch is a real man, who appeals to real people. He served two years in France in the World war and was mentioned for bravery under j fire. He was doing hospital work within the firing line while “Majah” Jackson was acquiring his military title at Purdue, which was as far away from home as he got during the fracas. Dr. McCulloch could also sport a military title, won on the field of battle, but he is a modest man and does not believe in this major, and colonel and briga-dier-general stuff that seems to be the stock in trade of most of the stay-at-home patriots of the Boilings-Jackson

type.

BOB GRAVES ESCAPE'S AGAIN. It seems after all that if Bob Graves, colored gambler and bootlegger, is ever to be put out of business, the remedy suggested by Chief Benbow two years ago will have to be used. “Just let the neighbors get so sore that they will up and run him out."’ Bob just laughs at the law. This time it was Clarence E. Benadum, late klan organizer in Ohio, who, as special judge, gave Bob another clean bill of health. The last time it was Special Judge Harry Redkey, another kluxer, who sent Bob on his way rejoicing, to sin some more. City Judge Coons always dodges when Bob is arrested. We don’t blame him. He and Bob belong to the same political machine, therefore Bob has a word or two to

say in the matter.

Every time Bob is turned loose by some “special judge” especially selected for the purpose, he goes back to the “red light” fortified with the knowledge that he can do as he pleases. That is a bad thing for Bob and a

bad thing for Muncie.

WHAT IS KLANCRAFT? We honestly seek more light! There w T as a time when we thought we had the formula rather clearly in mind. But that was before certain things happened! We had been told that it stood for the protection of womanhood. Several recent occurrences, some of which have been given considerable publicity and others not so much, completely explode that theory. Klancraft does

not mean that!

We had been told that it stood for the enforcement of law. That declaration has become altogether untenable. It is not even necessary to call witnesses to the stand to prove it! It is widely admitted and even more widely known, that it does not stand for that—against

its own members!

We have been told that the klan was in politics for the purpose of eventually controlling every vestige of government, from township officer to chief executive of the United States. We now have the assurance of Wash Hudson that the klan was never intended to be put into politics! And if anybody should know Wash is the man! Wash also says the Man is against intolerance, bigotry, race or religious hatred in all forms. Let us quote him exactly as he is quoted in an authorized interview: “* * * the Americans who are in this organization know that whether preacher or priest has his hand upon the throttle of the machinery of government, intolerance will prevail and human liberty will cease. Therefore, these patriotic men and women of America are against interference of the church

in the affairs of our government.”

However inaccurate the premise may be—and mind you we do not assert that-—the postulate is indubitably sound. But no less an authority than Wash— one with even more authority, as the event proved—contradicts all that Wash says. Dragoman Jewett declares: “* * * the Ku Klux Klan stands for certaip principles which have been pretty well advertised and therefore need no restatement here. When a man or a public official stands squarely for those principles, the strength of the organization forms automaticaly behind him; and when a man or public official stands against those principles or aligns himself with those who oppose them, the organization moves by the same rule to eliminate him from the political panorama. There are thus two ways in which one can incur the displeasure of the Ku Klux Klan. He may oppose the organization and its principles, or; he may form political alliances with the enemies of the order and thus become an enemy himself, even though he may personally find himself in accord with the broader tenets of the klan.” Mr. Dragoman Jewett’s analysis is dearly in line with Oklahoma’s experience with the Man. “When a man or public official stands squarely for klan principles,” says Jewett, “the strength of the organization

forms automatically behind him.”

That explains the indorsement of Pine by the klan —he stands squarely for klan principles; but it does not remove the prevalent dispute concerning klancraft. The public knows from the record it has made that it does'not stand for morality and the protection of womanhood; that it does not stand for law enforcement. The Hon. Wash Hudson says it does not stand for intolerance, bigotry or political machinations; that it opposes the interference of “both priest and preacher in matters of government”; while Dragoman'Jewett insists that it does stand for all of the things Wash says

it doesn’t.

Will somebody explain? Or does it really stand for all things to all men—at so much per?—Tulsa, (Okla.) World.

high time that some of these klux officials who persist in | gain memberships by denouncing the awful things gomdicting and arresting people without cause be given a ing on in the convents, and calling for convent inspecdose of the law themselves. tion, shall the convents take no notice of it ? Does not

silence give assent ?

The side that doesn’t answer is put out of court. The candidates discriminated against because of their religion will, if they do not assert themselves, be tacitly kept out of office. And the offices will go to the Ku Klux or to our “judicial” fellow citizens who, while not members of the Klan, realize that there are more offices to go around if the Catholics don’t get their share. And they realize, also, that they themselves are made more available as candidates because, they are “neither

Catholics nor Ku Klux.”

PREACHERS OF HATE.

A leading citizen of Herrin, 111., has written us on conditions in that hate-cursed town!

Let us quote from his letter:

About preachers—I am at a loss to explain the motive of their actions. How can ministers of the Gospel

The result is that the boys on the police force are dis- j of Christ speak so rebelliously from their pulpits? They

eouraged. They know that protected lawbreakers cannot be convicted and R takes all the pep out of them. As a direct result of the protection that surrounds pet law breakers in Muncie, bootleggers and gamblers flourish

here as never before. What is the answer ?

PROSECUTOR OGLE “SNIGGERED.” A young man named Miller, wno had lain in jail four months charged with an offense of which he was not guilty, was given his freedom Monday. Miller was arrested and brought back from Illinois last spring on a warrant charging him with contributing to the delinquency of a minor girl, the charge being filed by Mrs. Snyder, probation officer. The girl in question was the wife of Miller. She was only thirteen years of age, but she consented to the marriage and her parents were willing. Nobody seemed to be worked up over the matter but our great and good prosecutor and the probation officer. Miller was thrown into jail and after four months imprisonment his case came up for trial Monday before Special Judge Will White, who looked over the affidavit and declared it was bad. Prosecutor Ogle prepared an-

have abandoned the Gospel for a more new and modern gospel—that of the Hooded Order—“Pillowslips.” It is these men that the K. K. K. look to for inspira-

tion and encouragement!

How can we blame the poor ignorant devils for their actions when they think and feel that while following the advice and guidance of those preachers of hate they actually believe they are honoring the All-Holy God? Summings up the whole situation as I see it let me say that these preachers, these “money-changers of -the Temple” are simply preachers of hate, agitators, and a menace to any peaceful community.” Comment on this would be out of place here!

“DON’T NOTICE IT.”

“The Klan is getting too much notice. The way to treat it is to let it alone. Then it would soon fade away.” We realized why our grocer said this. He had customers on both sides. The Klan issue is disturbing his business. He does not want' things further stirred up. However,, is this the way we treat other public questions? For instance when there was foreign propaganda during the war: Did we ignore it, take no notice of it, refuse to meet it? Was Bolshevism killed by let-

SHALL WE FIGHT THE KLAN? Few will dissent from the proposition that the Klan has no place in politics. The proposition is true, as far as it goes, but it fails by understatement. Not only has the Klan no place in American politics, but it has no rightful place in the life of our people, or of any people who honor truth and champion fair dealing. But, unfortunately, the Klan is with us. It is m all parts of the country, North as well as South. It is not without representation in the counsels of both the great parties, although the Democratic candidate has disowned it in language that cannot be misunderstood. Whereever it has gained a foothold, it has distinguished itself as a social menace. Into peaceful communities it brings the hateful spirit of bitterness and discord. In this democracy of ours, founded to realize the principle that no man shall be either privileged or penalized because of his color, ancestry or creed, it sets up a standard of racial and religious discrimination* One glance at the Bill of Rights of .the Federal Constitution and at. the State Constitution, will suffice to show that the spirit of the. Klan is hostility to the spirit of liberty, as we have conceived it in America, and to the spirit of Christianity. Hence, when the politician says that the Klan has no place in politics, his statement is to be received with reserves. If he means that its purposes are incompatible with the purposes written in our Constitutions, we agree. But if he would imply that no man may be suffered to utter a word in condemnation of this band of hooded cowards, or that no political party when making its appeal for the votes of. American citizens, may disapprove even by indirection; an association which aims at the destruction of religious and political liberty, we know him for what he is—the man who, with his fellows, has made the term “politician” synonymous with all that is hypocritical and dishonest in public and private life. From time to time the question is asked why America is concerned to notice the Klan. “Here the Klan means nothing,” *is the tenor of some letters received. “Are you not attributing to it a power and an importance it does not really possess?” It is conceivable that in the more cultured and religious sections of the country, the Klan is negligible, but that this is true of the country as a whole is not the case. In probably eighteen states as a factor in politics, it is dominant. In sixteen, it is a pov : er which the politician dares not antagonize. It nominated and elected a Republican Governor in Maine, and fought a battle which at one time promised victory against a Democrat in Texas. To say that it is negligible in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, or even in New York, would be to disregard the plain facts. Nor have its activities been confined to politics. At this moment, a New Jersey grand jury is investigating the charge, apparently well-sustained, that certain school boards are refusing to employ any teacher who is either a Catholic or a Jew. Similar cases of discrimination have been reported from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and there aie communities not fifty miles from New York or Boston in which upright men and women are subjected to inconvenience, insult and loss, simply because they are Catholics or Jews. If this hateful spirit gains strength, the spirit which moved the Fathers of this country to write a Constitution for a Government in which all men might be equal in the eyes of the law, must die. “So long as such an intolerable body dares raise its head among us,” w T rites the editor of the New York Times, “there is nothing for it but to strike our hardest.” The thief, the murderer, the highway robber, and the law-breaker of whatever description desires nothing more than to be let alone. He does not expect to be welcomed; all he asks is to be tolerated.. Toleration of the Klan is the policy, it would seem, which some of our politicians would force upon us. It is a convenient policy, perhaps, but one which invites disaster and canonizes cowardice.

j body if this action was not taken. | Just why he failed to arrest these bej liggerent birds, or at least place them j under a peace bond was not clearly brought out. The correspondent for the Post Democrat is inclined to take the chiefs reasons with a pinch of salt. It has been very clearly shown in other communities where the klan have control of public officials that rioting, incendiarism and murder is exactly what these “guardians of liberty” strive to bring about Herrin, 111., is a striking example of this. The notorious klan reformer Glen Young used every despicable kind of lie and propaganda to incite riots and killings in that town. How well he succeeded is common knowledge. He was finally indicted by a federal grand jury and released on a §30,000 cash bail put up by the Ku Klux Klan. When he was summoned to trial two weeks ago by a United States deputy marshal he had forfeited his bail and fled to parts unknown. This has been the proceedure of the klan in every instance. While a great many of the members do not realize it the cold, hard fact remains that every klansman is a contributor to the delinquency of our flag, places himself in the position of a traitor to his country and bows his knee to the god of lies !! NEWARK HIGH YELL Kitchie Koo, Kitchie Koo Who are we, who are you? We are hicks, we are sticks. We are little seeds of hay, Fiz! boom! bah! K. K. K.! WE WONDER Why Texas Slim was permitted to make Newark his hang out all summer? Why was he brought here? Why did the sheriff have to finally get him? Why was he not arrested by the police force six weeks ago? Why are there more vagrants, crooks and shady characters in Newark now than ever before? Why was Walter Beinhour suspended from the fire department? Why was he reinstated? What does the leather bag contain that Mayor Stevens carries up the stairs to the Koo Koo’s nest so frequently? Why does he leave it there? Why does he not take it to the mayor’s office? Who is at the head of the “coke”’ and “snow’ distribution in Newark? Are local doctors selling this stuff? How are boys and gilds in the high school getting these drugs? Who is bringing this stuff to town? Who’s who in Newark? Who is Sulky? Who is Spotty? Who? Licking Co. Good Citizen T'cket Sheriff—Fred Vogelmeir. County Clerk—Guy Chilcote Coroner—Dr. S. S. Richards. Probate Judge—Harvey Alexander Recorder—Cary McMillan In this list we have both Republicans and Democrats—but not idansmen. Let’s elect the citizen ticket. In the national and state fields the Post Democrat takes pleasure in supporting John W. Davis, for president. Vic Donahey or Harry Davis for governor. Billy Morgan for representative. Look ‘em over. They’re all right. Judge Moore is a candidate to succeed himself. We do not believe he is a klansman. He has no * opposition. He will be reelected. Prosecutor Ashcraft has a clear field but we shall withhold our vote. May others do like wise. Selah.

RUBE COPS

(Continued from Page One) deafening roar. The point of the matter is, that, if there is any man in Newark well qualified q) know REAL OBSCENE LITERATURE when he sees it or hears it, that person is chief Swank. Stevens and Holmes attend a little better grade of burlesque but Rine Bros, attend only t«nt shows and vacant kit side splitters. The entire coterie including officers Berry * and Mwrray know literature from the j ground up but not loo far up. j When Chief Swank was questioned

on the witness stand concerning his indefensible act ef confiscating and burning the public press he ignored the “Obscene literature” alibi and informed Judge Moore that he did it to prevent a murder and possibly a riot He stated in court that he had received telephone calls and numerous unsigned letters threatening to “slay, kill and eat” the editor and Nevvarl; reporters for the Post Democrat. Upon being questioned further he stated that two men had called upon him and demanded the placing of a ban upon the sale of the hated publica. tion. Swank further admitted that these men threatened to kill some-

Davis Is Assailed At Klan Gathering

Washington, N. J.,-—One of the largest Ku Klux Klan demoustrav : ons in New Jersey began here this afternoon with a public open air meeting at Washington Heights and ended this evening with a parade and a secret initiation. Men and women members of the Klan from Pennsylvania and New York participater in the ceremonies. The principal speaker at the demonstration this afternoon, Dr. Bernard B&s of Philadelphia, assailed the candidacy of John W. Davis as a. conspiracy on the part of Ro man Catholics to gain ascend-gncj in the Government of the Uniter! States. He read a letter of which, he said, copies had been widely distributed among Catholic families, urging all to vote for Davis as a means of helping the Catholic cause. Tw"i babies, dressed in the regulation Kl;;o uniforms, with masks, were baptized, and Charlotte Schilling 12 years old, of Pittman, N. J., said to be the youngest “Kluxorette”' talked about the Klan and the public schools.