Fiery Cross, Volume 2, Number 36, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 July 1923 — Page 11
Friday, July 13, 1923
THE FIERY CROSS PAGE ELEVEN
POLICE CHIEF CUTS DOWN FIERY CROSS
Act of Alien Fails to Mar Celebration of Klansmen Big Class Is Initiated
ASHTABULA, O., July 10. The
Ashtabula and Lake Counties Klan ushered in the Fourth of July celebration held at Perry park along Lake Erie by the burning of fiery crosses and the firing of bombs In the public parks at Willoughby, Painesville, Ashtabula and Conneaut. Saturday evening and by a lecture on the lawn at Fairview Inn on Tuesday evening by a national lec
turer for the organization. More than fifteen hundred attended the lecture. Fairview Inn Js located oh the main road between Painesville and Cleveland and about three miles west of Painesville. Chief of Police Maloney, a Catholic, cut the cross down at Willoughby, but a score or more men standing nearby picked it up and paraded down the main street of the town. No trouble was experienced at any of the other places. Chief Maloney has shown much interest in the activities of the La"ke County Klan even going as far as to come
up into the hall recently while the ladies were holding a meeting In Willoughby. He was Informed by cne of the lady members of Willoughby that she carried a little whistle and when she needed him she would use the whistle. All-Dny Rally The meeting at Perry Park was an all-day rally held by the Ashtabula and Lake Counties Klan for members, their families and guests.
Perry park is located along Lake Erie and is one of the -finest parks east of Cleveland. Dancing, bathing and fishing and plenty of shade can he found at this park. The road
leading from the main highway to the park was marked on either side by American flags. About eight thousand people attended. The electric cross used during the ceremony at which a large class of candidates were initiated, is the only
one of its kind in use, being constructed of sanded glass, same being twenty feet high and ten inches wide, with red bulb3. The power plant carried on a truck, which also furnished power for a huge searchlight. The Lake and Ashtabula counties
organizations are growing very
fast. '
SPRINGFIELD SCENE OF DISGRACEFUL ACT (Continued from Page i)
attending the funeral of a fellow member, Wm. F. Swegert, at Fern-
cliff cemetery. When Sergeant Norton, Imp of Satan, and the Springfield police, sweating under the heat of the day and under righteous indignation for their failure to stop the organization of the Klan In Springfield, had borne In his mind, that fertile field of iniquity, the in
spired Idea to humiliate and heap Indignity upon a small body of American citizens.
First, a telephone call to Chief
O'Brien at the lake, where he Is recovering from the shock of his recent encounter with the Klan, then
orders to all traffic cops to desert traffic and report to headquarters, then orders to city automobiles
owned by the taxpayers to re
port to headquarters, then four loads of burly cops under orders to proceed to Ferncliff cemetery to arrest these men for unlawful action In burying a deceased brother.
A big Klan meeting was held at Boone, Iowa, June 18, and 200" robed
men and 1,000 men and women, from
Ames, were present. The demonstra
tion was witnessed by a thousand
people present to. see the parade.
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No "Arrests" Could Be Made On arriving at the cemetery, the arresting officers (of whom there can be no criticism because they were under orders) telephoned Imp Norton, agent of Satan, that they
could not arrest a body of peaceful law-abiding citizens, and again the
order was repeated, and again, not
once but three times.
Men In uniform advised Chief Imp
Norton that they could not carry out
the orders of his Satanic Majesty:
Chief O'Brien, and it was then, under threat of immediate dismissal from
the force, that 72 Klansmen, marching down the streets of Springfield, with their visors up, their- arms folded in front of them, following the Stars and Stripes and headed
by a chaplain with the Holy Bible, the Word of God, in his hands, were arrested on a charge of "disorderly conduct." Amidst a throng of sympathizers, orderly and quiet, however, in this formation they marched to the county jail. Realizing what a terrific and monumental blunder he had made and the tremendous reaction of public sentiment which
greeted his act, Sergeant Norton
then issued an order to divest them
of their regalia, but only under protest were they permitted to Tetain
their robes, the emblem of purity
and the Bible, inspiration of their
creed, and their flag, symbolic of
their Americanism. Under bonds of over $1,000, furnished by Attorney J. Fred Ander
son, who, with unusual foresight and with his usual alacrity In look
ing after the interests of the Klan, and who was on hand, they were permitted to go.
were naturalized Monday night, which can only add emphasis to the entire disgraceful and abhorrent affair..: - Norton's Inspiration Possibly Sergeant Norton, Imp of Satan, has just read about the re--markable gathering of the Spring
field Klan In its first annual picnic July 4th, at which over 30,000 Klansmen and theirfriends were gathered together to celebrate In a patriotic
and American manner the signing of
the Declaration of Independence.
That a majority of the criticism was heaped upon Chief Imp Norton Is evident because he was father to the thought, but the guiding hand and Inspiration of Chief R. E. O'Brien was evidenced by direct telephone
connection from headquarters and Indiana lake, where he Is recovering from the recent shock of the Klan attack and successful offensive to his
illegal arrest of Worley Cotner last
spring.
That the people of Springfield of
the same religious faith as Chief O'Brien are hearty in their con
demnation of the entire affair is evi
dent and that a movement Is under way fostered by his own adherents to have him removed is evident on every hand. Acts that reflect on the
general rank and file so seriously as this last episode are not only re
gretted but resented by good Catho
lies, good Jews and good negroes alike and every good citizen regard
less of their race or creed.
BUCKEYE STATE KLAN
GATHERS AT NEWARK
Believed That Crowd of 150,000
Will Be Present at Big Klonclave
(Special to The Fiery Cross, by Eye
witness)
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Public Reaction Sets In The only disorderly conduct was that of a poor collie dog, who, in the
absence of police protection, got caught in the traffic jam and was
killed while barking at . the wheels of an automobile.
The only orderly, and decent thing
about the entire affair was the
majesty and dignity of the Klansmen themselves, and the order In which
their sympathizers dispersed when it was called to their attention by
Attorney Anderson that regardless of their motives and friendship, it might be said that their presence
there might be taken as intent of
acts was not entirely lawful.
It is thought that the terrific wave
of indignation from Jew, Catholic and negro alike, which swept ovr Springfield as nothing has ever swept over a town and become so unanimous before. This was only emphasized by Judge Golden C. Davis in the hearing Saturday morning in which he pointed out that both the local news
papers had misquoted him in reference to his decree in the former trial of Cotner and that the Imp of Satan had "guessed wrong again." Chief Imp Sergeant Norton stated that the arrests were made under the ruling that provides "that three or four 'masked' men assembled constitutes disorderly conduct."
Judge Davis emphatically pointed
fout that there was nothing in his
previous charge that could be so in
terpreted, as he cited Sec. 1280 of
the General Code, which provides
"Three or more persons who unite or combine together to commit a
misdemeanor while wearing masks
are guilty of a felony.
mat tuese Klansmen are un
doubtedly guilty of a heinous of
fense, because no one could deny that the last funeral rites at the
graveside of a deceased brother was a "misdemeanor," and no one could deny that the wearing of the regalia of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan
with visors up, constituted the
'wearing of masks with Intent to
commit a felony." Oh, no, this
could not be true any more than to
hazard the lives of Springfield's citizens, in order to carry out their das-; tardly hate campaign constituted
misfeasance in office.
The entire affair is too shameful.
regrettable and ridiculous to even emphasize by pointed sarcasm, and If any of the newspapers think that
anything happened In Springfield
worthy of note, It 1b simply the fact that the time has come in America
and particularly In Springfield, Ohio,
when a few self-constituted agents of Satan, imps of Hell, let their own
vindictive hate so take possession of
their souls that they prostitute the
offices which they hold, and from
which the people of Springfield will
certainly relieve them.
It is only another link in the chain
of evidence which discloses a private
hate, and will discredit, dishonor and heap ignominy on Chief of Po
lice O'Brien and his unworthy co
horts, Norton and Fisher, and all
their Ilk, Twelve thousand citizens emphasize the necessity for such an organization and the reaction of the pub
11a mind Is so great that 2,000 more
BUCKEYE LAKE, O., July 11. We guessed the crowd at Kokomo at 200,000, opposition newspapers agreed that the crowd was there. We
estimate - in advance that 150,000
Klansmen will make the Ohio Klon
clave the greatest ever held in the Buckeye state, and even greater than
the Indiana Klonclave in that this will represent practically the gathering of Ohio's hosts of Klandom alone.
It is doubtful if there ever has
been as great an assemblage of
Klansmen anywhere gathered within the bounds of a single state, aa will
be present at Buckeye lake.
Bands from Columbus, Zanesville.
Springfield, Newark and other cities
will be present and arrangements
made will cover the gauntlet of ram
pant patriotic expression, serious-
minded sober business to the Mardi
gras spirit of entertainment. Traffic Jam Unexpected Taking lessons from the handling of the crowd at Kokomo, which even under the conditions was - laudable, traffic guards expect to handle the crowds of Buckeye lake even better. It is believed that at the Klonclave
at 12 o'clock noon, Thursday, at least 100,000 people will be on the grounds, and arrangements are being made to handle this vast assembly, expeditiously, efficiently and comfortably to all. At the same time a meeting of the Women's Organization will be held at Summerlin, directly across from
Buckeye lake, where Lancaster
Klanswomen will act as guards.
'H00CH' IS GROWING SCARCE IN CALDWELL CALDWELL, O., July 10. Since the organization of the order of the
Ku Klux Klan in Noble county some! months ago, there has been a surprising change In the betterment of the moral conditions of this entire section. Where, places of vice existed
previous to the organization there
is now respectability, where once
there existed places of Questionable character there is now purity, where
there but recently existed places of gambling there is now "cloBed shop." Through the existence of the local
organization of the Klan practically
all operations in the illicit manu
facture of intoxicants have ceased.
with the result that "hooch4s be
coming, as it were, as scarce as hen's
teeth. The cleaning up of all these
places of vice, merely as the result of the presence of the organization of the Klan, has met with the hearty
approval and loudly expressed commendation of the church and better
element of this locality, and the or
ganization is being given -hearty
moral support by hundreds who are
not directly affiliated with the same.
Membership Grows Rapidly
The local organization is growing rapidly in membership, numbered among It being persons of the clergy,
business and professional men, men
who have retired from an active busi
ness career, the better class of labor
ers, farmers and men from practi
cally all the better walks of life.
Caldwell and Noble county are cer
tainly delighted because of the pres
ence of the organization of the Ku
Klux Klan, and the actions of the Klansmen have invariably met with
the approval and commendation of all well-thinking and fair-minded
people, all of whom wish the Klans
men godspeed tn their noble and
commendable acts.
Klansman Is Buried With Military Honors
HEN AND WOMEN ARE HELD IN BOOZE RAID
ANDERSON, ;ind., July 10. The funeral of John H. Ford was held
here on June 25 and the burial
made in the West Maplewood cemetery. It was one of the largest funerals ever held in Anderson. Mr. Ford died In the marine service at San Domingo on June 3. Knights of the Ku Klux Klan attended the services and were present at the burial. The American Legion furnished the firing squad, Mr. Ford having been buried with military honors. Mr. Ford was a Christian character and made many friends In Anderson and elsewhere. He is sur
vived by his parents and three brothers. .
Detective Association Aids in Arrests Near Connersrille Klan Gives Information
Flaming Cross Is
Seen at Maxwell
MAXWELL, la., July 10. The
flaming cross of the Invisible Empire was burned here recently in the park near the city limits.
Two persons Who went to the
scene found no one about They
knocked down the fiery symbol.
HOUSTON WAS MASON
Masons have been prominent in publlo life in Texas for seventy
years. Sam Houston, the first president of the republic of Texas, was a Mason. Three of the four presidents
of the republic of Texas, and 21 of the 25 governors of the state, have
been members of the craft.
MAKE PILGRIMAGE
Mount Vernon, Cassia and Sharon
Masonic lodges of Baltimore made a
pilgrimage recently to Alexandria
Va., to honor the memory of George
Washington, who was master of the
Masonic lodge there.
CONNERSVILLE, Ind., July 10. In a liquor raid which followed information furnished, by the Ku Klux Klan, and during which a running gun fight was engaged in by the opposing lorces one officer was
wounded. The raid took place at
Bear Creek ridge. In . the southern
part of Fayette county, early last Friday. Four persons, two men and
two women, are held here as a result of the raid, in which two large stills,, ten gallons of whisky, an automo
bile and 250 gallons of mash were seized. A posse of seventeen men, including twelve members of the
Fayette County Horsethief Detective
Association, made the raid. . Approx
imately seventy-five shots were ex
changed.
William Worster, member of the
Horsethief Detective Association, was shot in the right arm.
Fonr Are Held Cale Richmond, Lyda Hull, Henry
Allen and Mrs Estella Bfcivins are held as a result of the raids. Allen.
who is deaf and dumb, was found at the first still raided and the other three were in a one-room shack near the second still. The stills were the
largest and most complete ever seized in Fayette county.
Chief of Police Ketcham received
Information regarding the -stills, and
when he called on the Detective Association for aid twelve men responded. Four patrolmen also made the trip. Sheriff Haley and Deputy Sheriff Mettel were out of the city, but returned in time to aid in the raid on the second still. A truck was needed to haul the confiscated apparatus to this city. Considerable difficulty was experienced by the authorities in reaching the stills, which jwere situated in a mass of underbrush, through which the men were forced to crawl.
ro
Outline of Program
Officers of the organization will ad
dress the gathering in the afternoon,
sandwiched in between band concerts and glee clubs, while in the
evening a great public naturaliza
tion, in which it is expected 6,000
candidates from all over the state
will be taken into-the Invisible Em
pire. The honor of conducting this work will be accorded to the Spring
field Klan.
Outer guards of the organization
will be furnished by the Columbus
organization at the same time the
Springfield organization will furnish
the inner guards.
In the evening a fireworks display will be staged in the middle of the
lake on large barges, which are belng prepared to handle the large set i
pieces. Magnificence and splendor
will be the crowning climax of the
evening affair. Special trains on the
Ohio electric traction and special railroad trains and automobiles will bring the visitors from the four winds. Greetings from Indiana Klansmen to Ohio Klansmen will be
a feature of the occasion.
The Fiery G:
Is First in Klandom 80 of the People Literally millions of people in the Central Western States of America today are doing their own thinking. If we are to have a rebirth of political idealism it will be because the people themselves desire it. Undoubtedly, the most deadly foe of progress is giving way before enlightened interest in those opposing the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.
BIG DEMONSTRATION
AT GERMANT0WN, 0.
Crowds Throng Streets to Wit
ness Parade Led by Klan Band and Horsemen
GERMANTOWN, O., July 7. Thou
sands of people crowded the streets
here Thursday of last week to witness a spectacular parade of over 500 Klansmen in full regalia. A uniformed Klan band, led by Klansmen
en horses, headed the parade. Although the weather was threatening and brought occasional showers, tt did not dampen the enthusiasm of the throngs that gathered along the line of march, and the paraders were cheered and applauded the entire time.
At the Miami Military Institute campus, where the parade disbanded a speaker of national fame spoke, on Americanism, and patriotism before
a crowd of from seven to ten thou
sand people, who gave him rapt at teation and much applause,
The opposition to the activities of the Ku Klux Klan is mere unreasoning prejudice. Everywhere, on every hand, is the sympathy and coordinated good will of 80 per cent of the people, who quietly keep their opinions to themselves, but who are nevertheless the deciding factor in the end. The Fiery Cross, the only Protestant newspaper in the Central West, gives facts to this greatbody of influentialcitizens, this great body of thinking Americans, and these facts are affirmatively received, by this vast percentage of Protestant minds, representing 80 per cent of the population. In nearly 200,000 homes live the readers of The Fiery Cross,
a great body of thinking, Protestant Americans, who are making up their minds, and whose influence will direct national thought in political, civic, and religious life. We are sure that you want to be abreast of the times, truly informed and to participate in this movement by subscribing today. Let us mail it to your address for one year for $2.00 or for five years $10.00. A $2.00 bill from 25,000 more readers of The Fiery Cross would be an inspiration that the leaxiers of this publication would appreciate. " The Fiery Cross, "full of the truth and the faith of its readers."
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