Fiery Cross, Volume 2, Number 27, Indianapolis, Marion County, 1 June 1923 — Page 1

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VOLUME II number "THERE IS NO FAILURE EXCEPT FAILURE TO SERVE THE PURPOSE" -

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KLAN STARTS DRIVE IfJ STEUBENMLE.

Vice Elements Get Bootleggers and Begins Raiding the Underworld

Klan Investigators Obtain Warrants and Wholesale Clean-Up Follows Mere Children Are Found Engaged in 1 llicit Sale of Booze Mayor Speaks.

(Hj Slaff Coi'retjMiiidrul) STKITJENVILLE. O., May 28 The Kit Klux Kliin investigated law violation in Steubenville, found tilings rotten anil ordered a clean-up. Tliis old rivrr town is suffering from shell-shock as a result. Something of dynamic intensity hit it and shook it blasting it loose from its Sodomie immorality. A shower of shrapnel shells bursting from cannon salvos could have aroused nc-more awe and consternation. A confirmed report that Ford -would start up a new factory and bring employment to 5.000 workers could have bestirred no greater civic pride. Kvents followed in quick succession last week, to be climaxed Friday by a series of raids by state prohibition agents. The evening before a national speaker for the Ku Klux Klan promised the evolvcment to n crowd that packed the courthouse yard and heard the speaker with dramatic oratory and no uncertain words indict city and county officials ttith violation of their oaths of office. On Wednesday. Klan attorneys and Investigators had called upon Mayor, Frank Hawkins, sought and obtained warrants for search and arrest of brothel keeper- t'i'f inmates. They ban emu- t , me report iliat a local Kla:; on., ia! had the Saturday previous been drugged, his person searched by the police and papers seized) . To KteuWnville. this latter incident has practically been lost sight of, the spectacular turn of affairs, In the wholesale cleanup of the bootleggers and the open play of the "invisible empire" overshadowing with their greater importance. The Frame-up One event followed another in quick succession. Saturday, at 12:30 in the afternoon, a kleagle, an exservice man. gassed on the Argonne appeared at the Dori garage to get out his car. He was suffering from a bad cold, of weeks' duration. He had half emptied a bottle of cough syrup prepared by a local physician. A stranger approached and offered him a drink of liquor, a swallow from l he bottle he carried. Cobb knew no more until ! o'clock in the evening he appeared, half-dazed, before .Mayor Hawkins' court and pliaded guilty to charges of intoxication and disorderly conduct. Cobb was arrested by Thomas JMgnan and Thomas Ready. The latter claimed he was' bitten on the thumb bv Cobb They both said they found a half-pint bottle, filled to the cork with "white mule" in Cobb's pocket. The charges of 'resisting an officer" and unlawful possession have been dismissed. No one has been able to see the bottle. .Mayor Hawkins and the finer flf police refuse to have the contents analyzed. Dignan reported an empty bottle, lying at the ".... as lounii near Cobb at the time of his arrest. Neither of them examined the bottle, or smelled of Its dramings, they said. At the station, Cobb was illegally searched. Papers were obtained Bay .he police, and copies taken, after which they returned the originals. The foregoing explains the presence of Klan attorneys and Klan operatives in Sleubenville and their Investigation that opened up the grossest laxity In law enforcement, disclosed the most widespread law violations, the city given over to open prostitution, liquor served over the bars in plain view of passing crowds, and the questionable resorts filled with Immoral women who solicited their business from men of all races. This apparently without fear of molestation from the officers of the law. Traitor Gets o Place The traitor didn't get to "first base." They thief confessed this much to an agent of the Klan. The lad "that hated its principles," who had his expenses paid by the store which employed him, according to the thief, had nothing of interest to report. The week's occurrences were featured by the play for co-operation of the city officials, not obtaining which, the Klan struck hard and fast. Klan officials were sincere in their request of the mayor and his administration for a cleanup. As (Continued on Page 2, Column 3)

OHIO

Shock as Round Up of Other Law Violators Squads Make Tour of BOTTLE, BOTTLE, WHO HAS GOT THE BOTTLE? Disappearance of Evidence j From Mayor's Office Is Not I Taken Lightly I WASHINGTON COFRT HOUSE .Ohio, May 29. What is. termed "a ; little comedy" by a local newspaper ; here recently, when two bottles of j evidence" were alleged to have disappeared from the desk of' Mayor : Dahl while he was out of the room a few minutes, is evidently not taken , as such by many of the citizens of Washington Court House, who are ! anxious to see proper law enforce- , nicnt. "It was later learned," savs the i newspaper, "that the two "bottles went out the side door while the j mayor v, as absent and ihree officers were not looking, and the roomful of j people were careless about keeping' j an eye on the two bottles." ! Incident Balks Trial I The bottles hid bc-n lai r-n in i rain by Sheriff V. j,. A-.-, iS, :mJ j were io have been used is evidence : against Ralph Maver. who hn: ho ! charged with illegal possession of. i liquor. Mayer was fined by-Mavor I Dahl on a gambling charge but the trial for the liquor charge could not I be held on account of the peculiar : disappearance of the bottles. One citizen, whon 1s sm-im.a (Vv,convictions of law violators, is said lo have remarked that, "if this was the first time an alleged law violator had gotten off on some flimsy excuse, it would not. be so bad." " : It was pointed out that there was. no trouble experienced in the fining of a citizen jerked up for an alleged minor infraction or the traffic rules when he was thought to bo leaving an alleged meeting of the Ku Klux Klan. The better class of the people living in Washington Court House refuse to look upon the disappearance of the two bottles as "a little comedy." TENNESSEE KLAN TO HOLD J5IG MEETING June Fourth Date Set for Huge Ceremonial- Prominent Speakers on Program I KXOXY1U.E, Tenn., May 29. On I June 4 a huge open-air Klan meeting I will be held here at which several hundred candidates will be made members of the organization. The i Ku Kftix Klan is meeting with much success here and the meeting will be ' attended by thousands, it is expetted. The ceremonial will the first on the program planned for the affair, and from reports of those who will lake part in the event, it will not be a surprise should the number of candidates reach 1,000. Following the initiation refreshments of all kinds will be in evidence and a band concert will be given During the evening several speakers will address the gathering on Americanism. It is understood that the speakers now secured for the occasion are speakers of national reputation and a number of excellent addresses are expected. It is expected that Klansmen from all parts of eastern Tennessee will be present. DEMONSTRATION BY KLAN AT SALINA, KAN. SALINA, Kan., May 22. The first demonstration of the Ku Klux Klan in this county was held recently when several hundred members gathered on the George Humbarger farm, five miles north of Salina, under a fiery cross. Motor cars, which came from every direction, some from a distance, formed a circle throwing their lights to the center. It is said a large group of candidates were initiated. Great crowds witnessed the ceremonies.

CRIPPLE PUT TO TORTURE BY KLAN EOE

CINCINNATI SCENE OF ATTACK ON FIEKY CROSS SALESMAN BY FOUR RUFFIANS Kidnapped Man Refuses lo Give Information Is Finally Pitched From Moving Car ClXCIXX.Vn. Ohio, May" 26. Thomas Lowe, age 47, living at 672 Baum street, an agent for The Fiery Cross in this city, and wjio was tortured by four well-dressed ruffians after having been kidnapped at the corner of Pioneer and Pike streets at about 10:30 Friday night, is today under the care of a physician after having been aided in his reIturn from near Ford, Kentucky, j where he was thrown from the car , by his abductors, by a passerby. Lowe, who is a crinnle. bavins- nn leg off at the knee, was accosted by the men as ho was returning home from his newsstand at Fourth and Pike streets, wn"o asked some questions as to how to reach a certain part of the city. While he was giving the desired information, throe other men jumped from the car and grabbed him, pinioning his arms to his sides. They then threw him in the back of the automobile, and gagged and bound him. The car was then started and after traversing a distance, and over streets the victim could not see. as they had also blindfolded him, he was taken into what appeared to be an office. After the door had been locked, the four men began to question the man as to how manv nnlicempn in j Cincinnati were members of the Ku Klux Klan, and what their name i.eie. Vue vit-.-iui exi. Ih.ned i;,at. jwas only an agent for The Fier.i Cross and knew nothing about the nu mux Klan organization. This, the abductors would not listen to and then began Jhe torture. For one and one-half hours they twisted his arms and forced them back until his elbows touched his spine. Still unable to get information "from the cripple one of the men : drew a long knife and threatened to I cut his throat if he would not dijvulge the information sought. This their victim would not do and after a parley, he was again taken to the automobile and thrown into it. Then a wild ride started and the machine passed over the river intn Knntiw.w j Bound, gagged and blindfolded the cuppie was nuddled in the back of the car as it sped southward for hours. Finally, while the car was still in motion, the victim was thrown into the road, striking on his knees, rolling over several times and becoming unconscious. He regained consciousness at about daylight but was still very much dazed and very weak. Upon inquiry of a passer-by, he found that he was three miles bejonu rord, Kentucky, a town lving between Paris and Lexington. His information took him to Ford, where he caught a trian for this city. Immediately upon his reaching home a physician was called who found his body badly bruised and his shoulders and arms extremely sore as were his knees. He was at once placed in bed and is now under the care of the physician. It was learned that the injured man had been threatened many times for his acting in the capacity of salesman for The Fiery Cross, and it, is said that he had even been offered money if he would quit the saie. The matter was reported to the police early Saturday morning and it is alleged that at 2:30 this afternoon no detail had been made on the case. OPPOSITION AIDS GROWTH OF KLAN CAMBRIDGE, Ohio, May 26. Promptly at 9:45 on last Saturday night four fiery crosses burst into flame on hills overlooking this city. The crosses were situated on hills to the north, south, east and west. Thousands of nersnnn sAn oioi Cambridge each Saturday night " rurat uistricts viewed the burning of the crosses with smiles upon their faces. The crosses burned Saturday night brought the total had been burned near here during the past week. Enthusiasm fnr th. great movement is gradually becomuium pruuirancea. Despite the opposition, the Klan la growing very fast in this viclnitv. . In fant ft pears that the harder the opposition jiKum, me iasier ue growth of the Klan becomes.

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PRICE IS NOT CHIEF MATTER OF CONCERN THAT ALL SCHOOL BOOKS BE PURGED OF ROMAN INFLUENCE IS THE l.VPOR. . TANT QUESTION Board of Education Is Confronted With Grave Problem-Deluge of Letters Received (BySrhooI Book Editor) Whether the public schools of Indiana are to be freed from the hands of the Roman Catholic influence and the history books of Medieval Europe rewritten so as to teach the truth and not the misrepresentations prescribed by the Roman hierarchy, is the question or greatest importance which confronts the state board of education, at its meeting nn Mov 30th. The subject of high prices dsKeu ny puDiisners for school books, while a matter of deep concern is' to the minds of genuinely loyal' Americans, but secondary to this most vital issue. Are the pnblic schools of Indiana to continue under the influence of the Roman Catholic Church is plainly the question at stake. Through a deluge of letters, resolutions and petitions received by this office, as well as bv the state h,. itself, the people of Indiana are repijiiig in n. vigorous and emphatic No! Other Criticisms It is said that -other criticisms of the history book teachings of our public Schools are heino- rAi,, irom various quarters. Among these are certain statements set forth in pamphlets which are being circulated throughout the countrv, and which should be given careful" study by 100 per cent American people who are determined to remain awake and alert to the wiles of the "serpent talker." -At the close of the war it (Continued on Page 7, Column 2) insamtytul be plea of leo h0gan? Man Who Shot Jnto Alleged Klan Meeting Still in Jail Held on Two Counts KNOX, Ind., May 29. It -was learned here today on good authority that the probable defense of Leo Hogan, who is now held in jail here under $20,000 bond, will be that of insanity. It is understood thRt Hogan's attorney stated that he did not believe Hogan was safe to be at large. Should this plea be made and substantiated in court it will mean that Hogan will be sent to the Indiana colony for the insane. So far as is known no attempt to secure bond for the prisoner has been made since the bond was fixed at a hearing given Hogan shortly after the shooting which occurred at San Pierre, a small town near this city, and at which time Hogan entered into an armmont n-iti, j stationed at. the door of a hall in wnicu an alleged Klan meeting was being held. Held on Two Counts The prisoner was held on two counts, the first being that of assault with intent to kill Forrest Gilmore, an attendant at the meeting, and the second count charges Hogan with assault with attempt to kill Sheriff German, who went to the home of Hogan to effect his arrest. Hogan, who is a Roman Catholic and a member of the Knights of Columbus, displayed much bitterness toward those wh to be attending what he thought was a Klan meeting. After the shooting Wm. J. Read, a Knight of Columbus was retained by Hogan as counsel. Resentment Created Many are of the belief that Slogan's training resulted in his act San Pierre is a Catholic community presided over by the Rev. Van Rie, who, after the "shootim? rriJ much resentment by writing an open letter to a newsnaner in nrhih i, virtually laid the blame for Hogan's deed at the feet of the Klan despite the fact that those attending what was alleged to be an open meeting of the Ku Klux Klan, were fired upon by Hogan without having given provocation. The Fiery Cross is in receipt of a letter signed oh a typewriter, with the name John Dolezal, Jr., in which it la claimed that neither John Dolezal nor his father, John Dolezal, Sr ar Catholics, and asking that The Fiery Cross correct this error. It was stated In the lsaun nt xj , that these men were prominent uainoucs m can rterre. The latter said In part: "My father, who Is John Dolezal, Sr and myself, John Dolezal, Jr., are not Catholics at all, nor were we connected. In any wav with this of fair." -

ERA OF LAW . ENFORCEMENT STRIKES CITY "MIDNIGHT FUSILEERS," COM POSED OF DEPUTY SHERIFFS, HIT AT HOOTCH PEDDLERS Elan Holds Two Demonstrations at Akron, Ohio Caravan of 700 Automobiles (By Staff Correspondent) AKRON. Ohio. Mav 2S n ova law enforcement has been inaugurated in Summit county by Sheriff Chris Weaver, and is meeting with the approval of the better citizens of the county. Akron, the conntv Rint tloa lrrv been the Mecca of the bootlegging ncueriiuy, more especially, it is said, since a certain police captain of the Akron vice squad has been more or less rnendiy with the offenders. A short time aso a snnad of Hcmifv sheriffs called the "Midnight FusL leeis oy tne local newspapers, started ODeratinar insido h limtis as well as on the Portage Lake roaunouse district, 'and to date have made a total of more than r,n - " uucow of the proprietors and bartenders of me most notorious bootleg joints of the county. Cofavictions h secm-ed in all cases, with fines rang ing irom ?000 to $1,500 and costs. Numbers of.lhe la closing up daily, and the city vice s.quaa nas started active campaigns to Bave what little face the aforesaid police captain has left. PoBular ODinion is that ba cmaoh - ' ' ouiacu of the "Midnight Fusileers" is due directly to local Klansmen, since efiajtis oi tne lawless element to identify the deDuties have all fniiot ar,A the arrests continue in spite of the enorts tne Dooueggers are making to "spot" the officers. Two Demonstrations Akron Klavern of tho Knifrhfa r the Ku Klux Klan staged two big demonstrations during the past week. On Wednesday nisht an bile caravan of 700 cars containing 3,000 Akron Klansmen staged a demonstration at St. Joseph, a wholly Catholic community about twelve uiiies east oi AKron. The Klansmen burned a fiftv-fnnt fiery cross in a vacant lot at St. Josepn, and rounded out the program with aerial fireworks and nnomni patriotic and religious songs. From St. JoseDh the Klu Tern nrnceeded to Mogadore where another large demonstration was held. Saturday nieht thev bn foot cross and gave a fireworks display within 1.000 vards of the hnsioct downtown corner of Akron. Thousands of people witnessed the demonstrations, blocking traffic at the corners of Bowery. Main and Howard streets for about an hour. BOSTON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS JOIN KLAN Branches of Organization Also at Harvard and Yale Enthusiasm Shown BOSTON. Mass.. Mav 29 Tt fa un derstood that manv students nf Ron ton University are becoming memuer oi me ii.u xviux Klan, a branch of which was formed St t.Tl A f nil 17 A on May 18, at which time approxi mately fltty students became members. Among the original number to be initiated, it in prominent students were included. Members of athletic teams and men prominent in other school activities were among the first members. It was stated by a speaker who addressed the Klan members that there is a Klan at Yale and at Harvard and that Klans are being organized in all the big colleges as weU as many of the smaller ones throughout; the country. The speaker was applauded . repeatedly by the students who listened attentively until the speech was closed. Foe Blows Unavailing "The Klan," said the speaker, "is grOWine fast deSDitn the nnnnnitlnn Thanks to the loyal men, the .brave men ana tne great men who are laboring to make the organization nn everlasting success. The harder the we mis n ine more powenui our organization becomes. - "The mavnr of finrtnrlald doU that the Klan would enter that city over his dead body. The Klan In Springfield is an established fact and the mayor, Is still alive." . The speaker said that Maine had "responded - warmly to the Klan," and. that "thousands upon thousands i had sledged their support."

LEW RETREATS UNDER

SPEEDWAY

Covers Failure to Take Action in Park lrlIale by Starting Argument with Officials of Racecourse

Police Department Stages More Raids Despite Fact that Linger A Little Longer Lew "Knew Nothing of Vice" Leaves for Horse Race When Things Warm Up

1,000 KLANSMEN IN PARADE AT SHERIDAN Three Hundred Candidates Enter Organization at Ceremony Following Procession SHERIDAN, Ind., May 28. Led by twenty-flve mounted Klansmen in full reealia. th Knicrhta tr.. - ' 1 IUC IVU mux Klan paraded here on last Saturuay nignt before a crowd of what was estimated at 10,000 persons Traffic was kent off the. streets and the streets in the resi lience district were parked with automobiles lined up four abreast. There were approximately 1,000 Klansmen in the parade. The horsemen were followed by a band and flag bearers nmi mf.- ' - II KJ .J L car carried a huge American flag close to the head of the procession. ai intervals appeared a flag bearer. The archers cnrrioH which added much to the spectacle. As the parade reached the north side of the city, a bugo fVv- cross nas lighted. This was repealed ar, the marchers reached the center of the town, anu again as the procession approached the south end of Sheridan. Ceremonial Is Held After the narnde a rmhit !r,!i ,( initia tion and ceremonial wao hi.j Compton park, about one mile from corporate limits of the town The ceremonial was witnessed by thousands who made their way to the park. Despite the rain which fell during part of the ceremonial the big crowd remained until the last. There were about three hundred men initiated during the ceremony. A display of fireworks preceded the parade NIAGARA RIVER HOLDS REFLECTION OF CROSS Buffalo Klansmen Stage Big Ceremonial on Grant Island Many Are Present BUFFALO. N. Y.. Mav ?oCTo. ing against the black background on Jsiana last night, the fiery cross of the Ku Klnv ifiar, l ' IVCU one of the most picturesque illumina"uuo Niagara river nas ever seen. Motorists driving along the river stopped to view thA high qn the hill. A long line of motor cars drove from island along the river road to the end ot tne island at Tonawanda, where a ceremonial was held. The Klans men, dressed in their white regalia, presented a weird spectacle. Klansmen from Erfe and Buffalo ferried across to a point at Electric Park to take part in the ceremonial which lasted about an hour. About thirty days ago a lecturer for the Klan delivered an address on the island which was attended by a large crowd. Since that time it has been rumored ftiat the Klan was growing steadily in membership in tnis vicinitv. Th numhor of mem bers fn the organization is not known but it is felt that there has been a steady increase. Cheers Greet Klansmen ". on Their Way to Parade (By Staff Correspondent) : CHURUBUSCO. Ind.Hay 28. An automobile filled with Knights of the Ku Klux Klan on their way to take part in a parade, passed through the city's streets Friday evening at the conclusion of the Whitley County Sunday School convention. As the machine nasseri thA fhnrvi with its robed-figured occupants and an incandescent-lighted fiery cross, a great ovation was given. The visitation of thn vin sudden and without virnim t car drove norjh out of the city and disappeared.

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With the police in a mad spurt to "cover up" by raiding scores of bootlegging dens and questionable resorts in a wild week-end burst of activities, in which more than 113 men and women were thrust into jail for bootlegging and other vicious acts, and the building of a eamou-" flage wall by Linger a Little Longer Lew in an effort to take the thoughts of the people from the fact that he has made no attempt to start an investigation into the activities of Fred C. Cline, member of the park board and who is involved in a suit charging irregularities in the sale of real estate to the Standard Oil Company and that the property which s'fild for $27,500 was valued at only 000, Linger a Little Longer Lew left the city Monday to witness a norse race while the city officials were patching up the "speedway war" camouflage. The raids over the last week end, which threw the lie into the teeth of Linger a Little Longer Lew, who looked aghast at the statement that vice was rampant in Indianapolis, was the second spasmodic show Ot energy in the way of raids to be brought under the moral pressure created by the Ku Klux Klan. The previous week 145 men and women plying the trade of thn vicioTia were rounded u i by the police deparfmen which "knew nothing about Open vice in Indianapolis until the Kii Klux Klan investigators, aided by a one-man police department in the way of Captain Worley, who was reduced ifi rank by Linger a Little Longer Lew for "political reasons;" began operations in Indianapolis. Captain Worley Again However, despite these "bursts of speed" by the police, it hasn't been noted as yet that any of the bigger offenders have been caught in the police net. Itvis true that only quite recently George Shockley and Ray Travis were convicted in criminal court on the charge of gambling, and fined $500 and costs and sentenced to thirty days; Everett Orr and Henry Cameron were given the same dose and Archie (Joker) Young, John Neeley and Harry (Goosie) Lee were fined $500 and costs and given sixty days. But once again it was Captain Claude Worley who secured the evidence for these convictions. ' ' But Lin&er a T.ittie

doesnt know there is gambling in i,Uapuu. ioi even in the face Ui -ne iact tnat among the men named above were those whom were dubbed by Prosecutor Evans, as "lieutenants of Bill Armitage " chief adviser of Mayor Shank. Hidden Behind the Mask Behind his mask of the inoc.en farmer, unschooled in the ways of a big city; unsullied by political intrigues; unlearned in the ways of wiley politicians, Linger a Little Longer Lew continues to take the medicine doled out by Bill Armitage, whom, it is said, must place the stamp of approval upon each rjurchase made by City Purchasing ' Agent Jesse Miller, before said" pSirchaec can be consummated. When things begin to get too hot Linger a Little Longer Lew leaves ' town to see a horse race, and thiiigs have been hot during the past Vfeek. Whether he misses a dose of jcttedli cine is not known, but it is known that citizens are beirinninir t w,-' der about his silence concerning the i'"" uu' uuu wonaer wny he. -noes' not remove his wife from that body Which is iust srettinir Into H u . . . . - a " " via umhpi light on unsavory charges taken to wuil aau me actions of which are now. being Invent! larities that will throw the present duil imo oouvion it. ever brought to light, it is claimed by those who are "in on the know." Klan Qnletly at Work Here it might be said that Klan investigators are nnintti, i.

despite the fact that they have, to all appearances dropped completely from sight Ugly rumors have passed from mouth-to-mouth in regard" to- -the purchase priee oS the Riley Me-: " mortal grounds. Here again is a' transaction bv th

which Linger ; Little IxngeffLiriS yeriuiiB nis wire to remain. ' - . . The nark hoard fcaa iiiiir thorn In the side of Linger a Little i imager jew, tne Hrst real tronblo coming When "the hnllnnn n

and Jim Armitage resigned' Star? ;

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