Fiery Cross, Volume 2, Number 9, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 February 1923 — Page 1

"Otlt COUNTRY-In her intercourse with foreign motions, may she always he right but right or wrong, mur country still I "Stephen Decatur.

v mMreathes there a man with soul $0 Who never to himself has said Thi$ is my own, my native land!" "VOLUME II-N UMBEIi kii ki iiy miT IIU IILUA UUI 111 LARGE NUMBERS SATURDAY NIGHT STRANGE KLANSMEN MARCHED THROUGH BUSINESS SECTION OF THE CITY. FIERY CROSS BURNED ON PUBLIC SQUARE Many Visitors From Neighboring Cities Were Here. Noblcsville, Ind. The Knighta of th Ku Klux Klan made their first r public appearance in Noblcsville Sat- ' urday night. Despite the fact that weather conditions could not have been much worse the crowd was large. . There was a dense fog and mist during the afternoon and evening which . developed into rain about the time the parade started, but these conditions ",did"iot prevent the people from retnaioing on the streets after the dem onstration. The business section of the city was , thronged with people and automobiles were lined ..up two and three deep tawer the public square and for a tiuaro jj& . two each waym the ubllc square. Special j m cam .ladMwjftyangqyc -imTfc tbanon a4 tha Lebanon delegation frought along a drum corps which leaded the line of march. J In the absence of a national speakVer who was scheduled to be here but Iwho failed to make railroad connections, there was a short address to the

nKlansmen by Rev. A. H. Moore, pastor of the Christian.Church, the meet

ing being held in the K. of P. armory. Reverend Moore devoted most of his brief address to the subject of patriotism and his belief in the principle of the separation of the church and the government a theme which he discussed in a recent sermon on the Ku Klux Klan and also since the revival meetings in his church have ttarted. His remarks were frequently applauded by the Klansmen. The parade formed near the Horse Show Grounds on North Oth street and as it passed the cast side of the public square a flaming cross was burned on the southeast corner of the court house yard. The cross wasabout eighteen feet high with a cros, arm perhaps ten feet long. It was made of gas pipe, asbestos and other

A Wnatcrials which were thoroughly

J 'oaked in oil. The marchers passing by claid in their white robes and peakEjhapcd caps standing out prominently i n the bright light of the cross made e weird scene. Following the Lebanon drum corps, v rhich headed the parade, there was al color bearer carrying the American flag. Then followed six Klan.smen car

rying another flag, each having hold j of a corner of the emblem and two in the center. Immediately in the rear of the.se six color bearers came an automobile carrying a cross with white, red and blue electric lights. The Klansmen all clad in robes, wearing black gloves and with their arms folded brought up the rear. There were 219 in line and so far as known all of them were btrangcrs. It is thought that none of the local Klansmen took part in the parade. At least many whom their friends suspected of being Klansmen were seen on the street watching the procession. They marched down 9th street to the Masonic Temple, over on Hannibal street to 10th street, north to Hare's shop, then west to the west side of the public square on Conner street, north a distance of one square, east on Logan street and north on 10th street to the Old fair grouds where they disbanded. Ifost of those in the line of march carried red lights which they burned at interval along the route. Whether or not the people turned , . out in such large numbers to see the demonstration because they were members of the organization or whethj ; tt they braved the elements through tb secrecy which surrounds the so- ' V dety U not known but there is a gen1 fiaral impression that the Klan is grow- ' Irug by leaps and bounds in Hamil- ,'' Ar Const j NoMcsvilla Ledger.

lace

dead 9 SOUTHERN OHIO IS WELCOMING KLAN1SM REV. BROWN PREACHES IN NEW CONCORD, OHIO. CAPACITY AUDIENCE GATHERS New Concord, O. Southeastern Ohio has not been so aroused on the subject of "Klanism," since the burning of "The Firey Cross," some weeks ago, until on last Sunday night, Janu ary 21, when the Rev. Frank L. Brown of the Methodist Protestant Church delivered the first straight-f rom-the shoulder sermon on the ''Ku Klux Klan," as he sees it. Long before time for the service to begin, the large auditorium, with a seating capacity of more than 1,500 people, was more than filled standing room being at a premium. Mr. Brown stated plainly in the beginning that, "He was not Klansman, only a man 'on the outside,' " but for quite a time had been giving this much talked of subject considerable serious thought, and that his delivery was in response to a solicitation from many of his own congregation as well fas other churches. Rev. Brown's text was taken from the 8th Chapter and 32nd verse of John; "And ye shall know tha truth, and the truth shall make you free." Rev. Mr. Brown talked along a practical line, stating what he said he felt he could say conscientiously and truthfully ini pictured.the order of the -'Ku. Klux Klan," as in his expressed sincere laitn in the principles which are practiced by this organization, which he thought were founded on the soundest of American principles. He referred to the Protestant Bible as being God's Bible safe to be in our public schools, the book as a guide in our churches and in our homes the homes of a people, who love light and freedom, and not subject to any individual potentate power or sectarianists and this is one of the "K. K. K.," in his opinion, a union of school, church and home, brought to us years ago by the Dutch of Holland and which became the grand Ameri can system of today. He expressed his belief that had Columbus not come to the little island of San Salvador in 1492, the new world would today be dominated wholly by Catholicism. And that he believed the Lord purposely waited a long hundred years, and longer, 14921609 in order to find men, Protestant men to the core, who came across in -the "Half Moon" and to make our land 100 per cent American, which stands out today as one of the strong points of "Klanism," in his opinion and as he sees it. Reverend Brown spoke fearlessly, though in his audience were many Catholics and negroes. He referred to sections of country where Catholicism is strong, stating that in schools, teachers were compelled to in the reading of the Bible, substitute the words "He"' or "Him"' wherever the words Jesus Christ appeared. And to think and know that such a condiI tion exists in a supposed free country, inhabited by 68,000,000 people of Protestant belief, gives us something to think about and just wonder if the "K. K. K." or any other organization fearless enough to promulgate and stand by principles strongly opposed to such conditions, isn't a pretty good thing after all. "Who are members of the Ku Klux Klan?" "What is it?" Mr. Brown answered this by saying: It is an organization to which every one is not admitted and membership is made up of white, gentile, native-born persons. In other words, ''One Hundred Per Cent Americans." That is my understanding of "Klanism" Jews, negroes and Roman Catholics can't belong. "I see no fault with the organization." said the speaker. ''It is purely a Protestant organization, believing in and supporting the laws and government of oui land." Reverend Brown referred to the wearing of white robes by members of the Klan, and said : "For the same reason that any order of secret work, so-called unusally as a point of dig nity and exclusiveness wear robes and regalia, and conducts its affairs be hind closed doors. ' (Continued on Fag 8.)

INDIANAPOLIS, piPADf TAIOSHTtAKQ OPPOSITION MELTS AS AMERICANS PERSIST IN TREADING THEIR OWN SOIL. (Special to The Palladium) Portland, Ind. In opsn defiance of a city ordinance lomidding the appearance or parading of masked persons on Portland streets and in face of a warning by Mayor Thomas Fleming, delivered at the outskirts of the town, members of the Muncie Ku Klux Klan appeared at the corporation line abouc 8:00 o'clock Wednesday evening, led by Capt. E. A. Fulton of the local National Guard unit, unmasked and in military uniform; and later paraded through the main streets. Captain Fulton did not accompany the marchers after they entered the town, according to the testimony of watchers. He appeared among them only while thry were outside the city, and Inter proceeded down town where he was noticed on the sidewalk among the spectators. Just before the parade a local anti-

I SsS V THIS

HP

The Parker-Coco Judicial Burlesque The Parker-Coco judicial burlesque at Dastrop, La., failed. The governor of Louisiana, in his attempt to fasten responsibility for the atrocities of last August upon the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Stopped at nothing short of utilizing the state militia and1 reviving an obsolete form of public questioning which was, in this case, perverted from its original purpose gnd used as an instrument through which he vented his spleen. The militia should never have been called out, yet the whole country was patrolled, including the lake suspected of containing the bodies of Daniels and Richards.. In spite of the governor's guard and his alleged and much advertised thoroughness, the lake was dynamited under the shadow of his cannonade, where 1,000 pounds of explosive an unobtainable quantity) was discharged. Yet his guardsmen, sent there for the sole purpose of "observing everything that took place within sight or hearing," knew nothing or saw nothing until the two bodies were seen floating on the surface of the water. It has not been shown that any,of this was even possible. The dynamite, or its purchase, has not been detected, nor proven even to be a possible fact. Neither has it been proven that these southern lakes themselves, infected with reptiles and fish life, would permit bodies for nearly four months to rest undisturbed and in such condition that the blood stains from the wounds could still remain to disclose the character of wounds.. It is known that these conditions are physically Impossible, as it Is also known that embalmed bodies might lie in these waters for two or three days, and that the embalming fluid placed in them at the clinic, from which they were obtained, would protect them for some days in the water without loss or change. It is also known as a psychological fact that fractures as medical tests are produced at clinics upon bones and muscles precisely as this claim by Dr. Duval. The Klan has in no way interfered, directly or Indirectly, in the Parker-Coco proceedings. No possible charge could be brought that the Klan has in any way, manner or form, hindered the free hand of the state authorities.. We now regret that no Indictments seems possible. We may not be given the opportunity any defendant la entitled to under the laws of America to appear and answer charges. These charges have been circulated, and now settle down as unsubstantiated lander the state's officials have spread throughout the country.

- ' rospoct all hontstnton in tktir jit fjTi I eonoiefforu mhtthtr emt cn , Ai:-( iffiiatii oar rtguirtmtntM ornat" 1

IND., TIIIPAY; FEBBUAEY 2, 1923.

Klan ' newspaper editor was threat 'eiftJai -an anonymous note, with abdtfetion' on aecontof his attitude, v TJIfjaansinsuaatrto plsfcs announced some time ago, appeared1 at the corporation line with 100 members robed and masked for the parade and headed by the Muncie Klan band. The mayor, mounted on a fire truck, and backed by thirty deputies, the three regular policemen and the fire men, who had laid hose by his orders, pleaded with the mob, which included several hundred unmasked men, among whom no local citizens, except the guard captain, were recognized, of the Klan, the ordinance against wearing of masks, and the probability of rioting if they persisted in parading. The leader replied that "we have been going all over the state parading in every city, without experiencing any violence, and we are going to parade here. We do not expect any violence." In view of the overwhelming num bers of the invaders, and to prevent a clash the local authorities consented to forego enforcement of their ordinance and failed to offer further resistance. The Klansmen paraded quietly, with no overt demonstration from either side. An early report that fire hose had been slashed was said to be erroneous. Richmond Palladium.

STOPS!!

AJV WILL GT A JUST TfWAL S SUCH MLN WILL GB.T BOT A SENTENCE MASSED, AND A PENALTY PAID ACCOtfOY6 TO tw. mm iii MOST NOBLE ORDER OF CRUSAD ER HAS WEIRD AND IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIAL. Luther A. Huston, writing in the Muncie Morning Star of January 20, declares that England has an order which is very similar to the Ku Klux Klan of America ; it is called the Most Noble Order of Crusaders. It is said that the ritual of the Crusaders is weird, mysterious and elaborate. The initiation ceremony is declared to be most impressive and it is said no effort is evaded to impress the candi date with the solemnity of the obli gation he undertakes in allying him self with the Crusaders. The newspapers of England have given considerable space to chronic! ing the doings of the Klan in this country, and there has been much editorial comment with regard to what they call "this crude outcropping of American life." Of course we have from time to time witnessed the lu dicrous spectacle of Englishmen com ing over here and criticising anything and everything American. Their viewpoint is most amusing on the very vital things that obtain in this coun try. 1 We consider Ruyard Kipling one of the masters of English and litera ture, and yet his American notes are absolutely the funniest things we have ever read. A so-called English worn an, Lady Asquith, who really was born in this country, but who this country most certainly does not care to acknowledge as a native, since she has become so thoroughly anglicised, also spilled some very amusing re marks during her sojourn in the United State not long ago. We merely mention these two cases to show our readers, that the English view of our national life can hardly be taken seriously, and the fact that the English consider the Ku Klux Klan of America a joke further bears out our judgment along this lijxe. To live and be at all times, without any equivocation or faltering a pure 100 per cent. American is not easy, and is no joke. WIDOW EXPRESSES HER APPRECIATION MRS. TROTTER GRATEFUL FOR ATTENTION 8HOWN DURING BEREAVEMENT. whose husband and father, a Klaus- j man, recently died, have4 sen the fol-j

' jP

FIVE

PQIMDf INDIANA; FAILS tOltOP

PATRIOTIC AMERICAN CITIZENS

Antics Amusing to the Best Citizens jif Hoosier Town Klan Wonders What Use Thrv Would Have Fop Him II They Should Abdik Mim!

KLAN HAS MEETING AT COLUMBIA CITY TEN MASKED KN1GHT8 OF THE "INVISIBLE EMPIRE" STAND i: IN AISLES DURING SPEAK- . t Col&nbia City, Ind. Ten members MSxtt iKu : Klux Klan wearing the flowing, robes and host-like hoods of the fxftfhsmt anpwp ' stood with f old6; arms. n the aisles ox the city hall auditorium -a like ojimrte- sentinels tobightfhite; ubljnOTting" of the KJatt'wasan progress.; t $ 4peaKer who ta&ed oh the purisoandtfeitoerples ther Klan was intrci i ; Indiana: jSfepeakw:-,?wwv:tlie but ne was introduce ey; ; s xaoea Klansman, .who removed lushood as he presented the minister. The pre siding officer was a stranger to" the Columbia City audience and it was believed that the others who appeared in regalia were also from out of the city. It was estimated that more than 1,000 people were in the audience. Much of the standing room was taken. The speaker refrained from sensationalism. He made no reference to the Mer Rouge affair, but challenged anyone to successfully impeach the motives of the Klan, which he said was an organization of American-born white gentiles, banded together for the purpose of promoting the advance of Christianity,. Americanism and the law. He declared that there are 273,000 Klansmen in Indiana at the present time and that not a single member was afraid of being exposed. He said he had met fifty or sixty members of the state legislature who belong to the Klan. The meeting had been advertised for several days and had led to much discussion among the citizens of Columbia City as to the real purpose and intent of the organization. Many people attended the meeting out of curiosity, it was said. The fiery cross was burned upon the sky here during the holidays, following an organization meeting of the Klan. Journal Gazette. KLAN BRINGS STILL TO THE SURFACE MARION, AS WELL AS VANDERBURG COUNTY, SCENE OF ACTIVITIES. Marion, Ind. Roy Pontieus, 1280 South Boot street, this city, was fined $100 and costs when home brew was found at the above address. The raid was said to be the result of information given by the Ku Klux Klan of Richmond. Three more stills were discovered on the night of January 29, in Marion and it is said that fifty-six stills have been brought to light in Vanderburg County, within the past few weeks as a result of investigations by the K. K. K. lowing little note of appreciation to this office, with the request that it be pnnted: "To the Indianapolis Klan: ''Please accept our deep apprecia tion and thanks for the lovely flowers received. MRS. LEE TROTTER and DAUGHTER.

CENTS PEB COY

MaM ' PARAtiE OF The. mayor of Portland. Mr. Flemming, has rendered . bis position as mayor ot that city almost impossible. . In the flist place, te ave out false reports, saying that he had been threatened with, abduction by the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. It is, I lauon to ngure out just wnat tne ftjan 3; would do with Mr. Plemmlng .if. lt had nun. Tne iaea ot aDaucjong mm is to - Intelligent people, allly beyohit the point ot interest . ' i ; The mayor gave out a further: false ; statement to the effect that the Klan had cut the fire hose in his city,which he knew - was - Xatee and the public kaew was ialae.-:'"- -.Vi.?.!

Mavor Flemmine also cave out- a '

further statement that the, KTa held lyS;

a parade in Portland in violation of a r ; eity ordinance in force at the time the ' . "' - ? parade wai,held, Xhwm9'i&9p&t&: city ordlnanc4a if owe ther tteep ft&tMjp Vf!

parade :wa.helcy troV there: H'M' jbtdtaftnea pw pwaibjttagf rJeaat iitf fK(-v

ty way, wiflhia the tlty ilufa-oi&oit-fft

meats r5d hUf tli '-tetteiisWViAl I

peopiem nis communny are loroiqaen to engage in the patriotic practices of ' tne Ku Klux Klan. There was a time, only a brief span of years in the past, when Mayor Flemming's crowd, out of their in tense hatred for the great Protestant people, put them In straight jackets, drew their arms out ot their sockets, crushed their bones, and, as in the case of the great Polish sculptor, burned his arms off by the flame of candles. Of course, this sounds more like a tale of the ArablanNights than an actual happening in the history of the country, but the same mental processes which inspired these ancient colleagues of Mayor Flemming now control the activities ot the mayor. While he can not now take the best people in Indiana and put them in straight jackets, tear out their arms and otherwise physically I torture them, he does have it in his power, through the city council of Portland to pass a city ordinance, which the Klan will go into the courts and break just as Boon as it is ready to hold another parade in Portland, without regard td Mayor Flemming, who, drunk with the glory of being mayor of a small city, feels he is boss ot the city. As a matter of fact, he is a servant of the tax payers of -that city and should consult "his master's voice" before he presumes to betray the truBt placed in him by the best people of Portland, who, of course, will not again elect him for mayor of Portland or for any other office. Outside of the fact that Mr. Flemming is mayor of Portland, the town is one of the best in the state and is entitled to a worthy place in the affairs of the state. Of course, all good communities have some handicaps, and Portland is no exception to the rule. While it must be embarrassing for the best people in Portland to have it known that Mr. Flemming is mayor of their town, at the same time, they must share their part of the hardships which Indiana is compelled to endure. The city ot Portland, in this case, becomes like an individual; it is not master ot the situation, hut it will not be long until there will be an election and a real man can be elevated to mayor of Portland. : Flemming not only was not satisfied by going into print with a lot of false statements, but went so tar as to make false statements to the governor in an effort to discredit some gentlemen in Portland, whom he disliked because they refused to shoot the Klan down, or something equally absurd. Then, as his brain fever storm became more pronounced, when he could not embroil the Governor to the extent that the governor would violate the trust, of his office, he threatened to t&kl Up with the federal

. .. - k ,

1 v3 t, . .'CV

b:' X'-

;2;.ftf"V;M:;v,--i i r . "'