Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 16 January 1925 — Page 1
MI-KLAN DEMOCRATIC
THE POST-DEMOCRAT
VOLUME 4—NUMBER 50.
MUNCIE, INDIANA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16,1925.
TEN CENTS A COPY—$3.00 A YEAR
KLAN FIGHTING TO I “WINDY" STEVENS Control ASSEMBLY A JOKE FINANCER
Jackson Starts Ship Of State On Perilous Voyage The “Old Man” ‘Banished’ By Hiram Evans, In Control Of Situation, And The Bossert Gang Will Lose In Proposed Klan Legislation, Muncie Bunch Given The Cold Shoulders
Post-Democrat Legisktive Bureau, Indianapolis, Indiana. Indianapolis, Jan. 16.—Indiana has swapped governors again and Major Ed Jackson has started on his perilous voyage. Never in the history of Indiana has a governor taken the reins of office which will be put squarely up to the new chief executive. The Ku Klux Klan nominated Ed Jackson. The klan was united at the time of the primary campaign. At that time D. C. Stephenson, known in klan parlance as “The Old Man,” was until that time the supreme power in the order. He was “banished” by Hiram Evans, the imperial wizard, and Walter Bossert became the Grand Dragon and the titular head of the political department of the klan. But the “Old Man” retained his power with the klux rank and file and Bossert found himself at the head of a divided army. Outside of the klan Stephenson has more power over Hoosier kluxdom than Bossert with his generalTfcommission.
FRIENDS OF EXGOV. M’CRAY WILL ASKJflS RELIEF Claim Freedom Would Be of Great Aid To His Creditors.
Ft. Wayne, Ind., Jan. 14.—A carefully planned movement to secure the release of former Governor Warren T. McCray from the federal j prison at Atlanta, Ga., where he is
It will be recalled that the PostDemocrat early in the game predicted that the battle for power between the two klan leaders, Bossert and Stephenson, would come atter the election. It came and Stephenson holds the whip hand. Bossert Is Licked. Bossert’s candidate for the speakership, Freeman of Kokomo, was defeated by Leslie, backed by Stephenson, who seems to be ace high with Governor Jackson and the republican state
committee.
One hundred guests attend the inaugural dinner given in honor of Gov. Jackson Monday night and it was no1 ticed that D. C. Stephenson and his “chief of staff”, Fred Butler, were among the guests while the name of
serving a term of 10 Lo 20 years for j Walter Bossert did not appear on' the using the mails to defraud, has al- I guest roll. The Muncie guests were ready been launched by his friends | Mr - aml Mrs - George Ball.
Joe Tluffington, a klan leader of Evansville, has established head-
or less ; ( l uarters a t the Lincoln hotel and klan
learned here
and attorneys, it was
yesterday.
The movement is more
subrosa and those who are back of i it are awaiting for the first oppor-1 tunity which is likely to bring theiv success. i It has been suggested to creditors 1 of the former governor, it is under- j stood, that if he were released from j prison he could help to straighten out his financial affairs for the bene- j fit of the creditors. This is regarded by local attorneys who helped to !
l
put McCray into bankruptcy as a
members of the legislature who belong to the Bossert faction are frequently seen going in and out of his rooms. In order to make themselves solid with the suckers over the state who paid ten dollars for the privilege of hating Catholics, the Bossert gang is trying to round up enough votes in the assembly to pass the compulsary education law, the purpose of which is to force the parochial schools to close their doors and compel all Catholic
The galling defeat
county republican organization, which sought to defeat Cal Faris for house
I children to attend the public schools.
piece of subtle propoganda. The;.- j The salllll( , defeat of the Delaware
believe that the affairs of the gover nor are in such a shape that he
could do little toward unscrarn ^li n ?'| p ar ii amen tarian, has caused consider- ^ em- |able quiet amusement around the state “The crimes for which he . was , house w H- W ii liams jr., Muncie sentenced could easily be multiplied j p os tmaster and political boss of Dela50, one of the attorneys said. ‘Mi i ware county, assisted by Sheriff HoffMcCray deserved what he got and j mari( Prosecutor Van Ogle and other more. The public has no possible j rganization luminaries, merely got the conception of the state of his af- i ] lorse laugh. Cal got the job and he f a ’ rs -” j is not a klansman, either. The MunIf the attorneys who represented \ c j e machine republicans enlisted the the local banks which forced the j a id of Walter Bossert, the grand former governor into bankruptcy j dragon of the klan, in their fight on were to ask his release on the | p ar i s> Speaker Leslie, said to have ground that he could benefit his j been quietly encouraged by Governor creditors by helping them drag his i Jackson and D. C. Stephenson, named
business out of the hole, President | Paris for the place. Coolidge might lend them an ear, it! Too Much Territory,
is said. But there is every indication | This merely goes to emphasize the that the local attorneys are content 1 we ll known fact that the Billy Wilto allow McCray to continue to , liams machine has no standing whatteach the men’s Sunday school class ever with the republican party outin the Atlanta prison. ' side of Delaware county. It is pretty It was learned yesterday that one well understood that the Williams local man has written to President gang lost what little standing they Coolidge asking clemency for Me- had with Governor Jackson when they
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BOOZE!
The grand jury, on adjourning the other day, made a report to Judge Dearth, in which the declaration was made that the police department for the past four months had been very lax in its
efforts to apprehend violators of the liquor law.
In connection with this bald statement it was asserted that the sheriff, Harry Hoffman, and his aids, were worthy of complimenary notice for their conscientious efforts to break up the
liquor traffic, or words to that effect.
As an antidote for this poisonous dose of hot air we can think
of but one thing to say, and that is “APPLE SAUCE!”
On election night the republican machine celebrated its great victory by a drunken party at the Hotel Roberts. The management of the hotel contributed the booze and food, as a sort of a token of regard for the gang that had made its headquarters on
the third floor of the hotel during the campaign.
Sheriff Hoffman, republican county chairman, was a prominent figure in this Bacchanalian feast of Belshazzar where unlimited liquor was served and drank in honor of a republican victory.
Other prominent officials took part in the drunken orgy.
Booze and food were free to all who cared to partake. Drunken songs and ribald laughter could be heard for a block in either direction from the hotel. No effort was made to conceal
from the public this disgraceful proceeding.,
The grand jury should have been more specific and should have censured the police for not raiding the Hotel Roberts and arresting Sheriff Hoffman and others who were making a mock-
ery of law observance.
This drunken orgy, being a ipatter of general knowledge,
should have been investigated by Lie grand jury, but it was not. Instead the sheriff was praised for what the grand jury pleases to
term his efforts to curb violations of the liquor law. It is highly improbable that Judge Dearth has been kept
wholly in ignorance of this no-tc^:,^ clrinking^-party. -If he knew of it, we leave it to the public to surmise what his opinion may be of the report made by the grand jury, in the light of the real character and habits of the sheriff who received such ful-
some, and unmerited, praise.
Whatever other faults he may have, Judge Dearth is not a booze heister and we believe that he is sincerely and conscientiously opposed to the illegal manufacture and sale of liquor and
the drinking habit in general.
If Judge Dearth has really kept himself informed concerning the personal habits of some of his closest political and official friends he cannot but be aware of the fact that the drunken party at the Hotel Roberts is only one of a series of such disgraceful
performances.
A booze party held at a private home during the campaign was attended by national political celebrities as well as a choice gathering of local booze fighters, including a number of females. Everybody got gloriously drunk, including the women. These things are notorious in Muncie. The facts concerning these open violations of the law are easily ascertainable and if the grand jury and the prosecuting attorney had cared to do so they could have secured the evidence and returned indictments. This thing of making goats out of a few poor laboring men and sending them to prison for having a pint of white mule hidden under the bed or in the woodshed, while public officials, sworn to uphold the law are allowed to violate the liquor law openly and impudently, is making a mockery of justice in the city of Muncie. If Judge Dearth really wants the iaw enforced, regardless of whom may be hit, he cannot but be aware that he can never get a real grand jury investigation that would serve to check this evil, as long as Prosecutor Ogle directs the activities of the in-
vestigating body. .
Ogle himself has been a participant in some of the drunken political didoes and simply will not act, where himself and his friends are involved. A real grand jury, presided over by a real prosecutor, could very easily do the business. If Judge Dearth hopes to obtain, and keep, the respect and good will of the public, he must divorce himself wholly from political associates in office who make light of the law they are supposed to uphold.
K His Statements Are Ridiculous Says Councilman, Who Says That Only Rigid Economy Will Pdll City Through Financial Difficulties. i Newark, O., Jan. 15.—“Ridiculous” was the brand applied by a Newark councilman to “Windy” Stevens’ statement that Newark was well able to finance water main extensions and a fire alarm system. As a matter of fact the city is in bad financial shape and under the present klanarchist administration things are going from bad to worse. This administration has another year to run and using the first year as a criterion, the second year will find the city on the rocks.
Instead of practicing economy wherever possible, the Klanarchists 'have overlooked no opportunity to | | throw away money with both handsi It is no exaggeration to say that at ' least $20,000 has been literally I “thrown away’’ during the past year, i Neither Windy Stevens nor Clamjorous Fulk seem to have the slightjest idea of th e value of municipal ■ money or credit and proceed on the j theory that “there is plenty more i where that came from.” j How much longer will the people of Newark stand for these ‘drunken
sailor” finances?
—o—
V LITTLE EXPLANATION
SEEMS TO BE NEEDED
J;. (Tlie,. report .9? ^tjeeath or irte tor
I 1 of the Yrmyilrlruil /'rmft • c-4./-.-r.ro ' them
FIVE MEN AWAIT DEATH IN CHAIR AT MICHIGAN CITY
One Man To Die Friday;
All Have Appeals Filed; Largest In History.
Michigan City, Ind., Jan. 13.— j Within the shadow of the electric chair in the state prison five men are pacing narrow cells on “death
and wondering whether the
of the municipal court shows some i imposing figures, but a careful readi ing of these same figures leaves the reader in doubt as to just what they
! are worth.
The report shows that 2132 case were tried in the court, including 303 cases of intoxication and 156 liquor
1 cases.
j The gross revenue of the court was j $28,623.66. Keep that in mind, j Of the 156 liquor cases several were /fined $1,000 and costs, several more j$500 and costs and practically all the ! rest of them $200 or $300 and costs. Now 156 cases at the low rate of $200 each would produce $31,200, to j say nothing of the $1,000 and $500 j fines. Why the discrepancy? J Now, understand, no one is chargj ing any officer of the court with disj honesty. Far be it from such-
Two of the prisoners are scheduled to pass down the dark corridor to the .electric chair this month.
Mexican to Die Friday
The first to die, unless something intervenes will be Jose Castro, a Mexican, who shot and killed Paul Eudich, Indiana Harbor detective sergeant, last March. He was convicted in the Lake county Criminal court. Castro’s electrocution is slated for early Friday morning. Castro’s case hak been appealed to the state Supreme court, and he is hoping for a stay of execution and favorable action of the high tribunal. Pete Vergolini, Gary child murderer, is to be executed Jan. 30, according to present plans. He was convicted in the Lake county Criminal court last October, for murder-
But, however, and notwithstanding, ■ . „ ,, .
what of the hundreds of traffic vl0 . | “ f-^ar-oM glrl alter assaulting
lation fines at $10 per, dragged from the purses of poorly paid mechanics
and debt-harassed farmers?
The statement has been made that most of the traffic fines w r ere remitted. If that is the case what is the use of employing the entire police force to tag automobiles, only to have the alleged offenders fined and the fines remitted? Is the municipal court a vaudeville show or a court of
her.
John Thomas Shaw, colored, will pay with his life Feb. 20, for the brutal murder of Mrs. Helen Hager Whelchel at Indianapolis, last winter. He w r as sentenced in a Marion
county court.
Joseph Parker, who was convicted in the Vigo Circuit court for assisting in the murder of Stephen Kendall, a Terre Haute detective, is
Kass Kounty Klan School Superintendent Backs A nti Parochial School Bill
justice? I dunno. j booked to die in “the chair” May 19. ! It is possible that there is an ex- | iias ^ een granted two stays of planation that will ‘‘explain” this ! execu tion by the Supreme court. He confusing matter and Newark people i originally was to have died last No-
are anxiously waiting for it, bearing \ vem bor.
i in mind the old axiom, “Figures won’t j Fifth Man in Row
jlie, but liars will figure.” ; fifth man in “death row” is
o ' Edward Barber of Terre Haute. The
! SMITH POOL ROOM i cia J r of his execution was changed
PATROL HOFSE ANNEX j from Jan - 16 t0 May 29 by the state Because Smith, who runs the Or- Supreme court, last week. He was
jpheum pool room, is a good Klan- sen t e nced to die by the Clay Circuit ( archist, he was permitted to operate court for helping Parker murder the —— —— punch boards for weeks after the detective.
._ .. . ; privilege was withdrawn from oth- Of the five doomed men, Vergolini
ers. This pool room is next door to is the only one whose case is not
tolerance legislated religion is their p a t ro i station, and after the Klan- pending in the high court. No atsupreme objective. The program archist policemen got tired of punch- tempts have been made to save him laid out by the Klan is far from be- ing the bag in the gym at the patrol from death. To all appearances he 'ing constructive to the principle of station they stepped across the alley would go to his death today without
LOGANSPORT, In<|., Jan.
Supt. Ira Kessler is sitting on
tack as Kludd of K. No. 39, watching county schools,
pledged members of the Klux Klan of the legislature oil up their
machinery and start grinding out the icanism,
anti-parochial school bill
parochial school bill the Klan program.
true Americanism. It is destructive , an fi punch the board for S change, to the highest ideals of manhood and I It was on ly when a “soft drink”
womanhood. We are watching with in parlor with a bootlegging annex, put trocution draws nearer, terest as to the number of revolu- U P a holler that Sugar Murry told Never before in the history of tin
the paroachial schools, andjtions the wheels of the Klux
in the Cass chine will make before some
member of the House throws
O
16.— posed to
a yet he placed the Bible
In a nut shell, he
is simply opposed to all things Cathold olic. Ira K- K. K. shows that Amer-
is not the supreme object-
The anti- ive of the Klan, or of himself, as is the first on superintendent of Cass county
schools. Imperialism, ostracism, in-
Ira Kesler is op-
a holler
ma _ Smith to let up for a while, as they real could not afford to get the “cash”
the bootleggers sore.
I So the police now have more time to look for the slayer of Dennis
Beatty.
i IS MURRY WORKING FOR KOL-
| TIER’S COURT?
signs of emotion. He is the least affected of the five as the day of elec-
prison, Warden Fogarty said, have five men been in “death row” at one
time.
much needed monkey wrench in their
wheels.
Our state universities, colleges, High schools and public schools are committed to a purely secular sys-
tem of education (excepting in the | Why should Officer Harry Murry (Continued To Page Three.) ^ (Continued to Page Two)
Ice cream may be shipped without ice or salt in a dry container a double-walled metal vessel witl two inches of cork between. Iowa has the lowest illiteracy ir the nation, with a percentage of 1.1