Fiery Cross, Volume 2, Number 37, Indianapolis, Marion County, 20 July 1923 — Page 1

7-.- - INDIANA STATE EDITION H INDIANA STATE EDITION ''THERE IS NO FAILURE EXCEPT FAILURE TO SERVE THE PURPOSE' VOLUME II, NUMBER 37 INDIANAPOLIS, IND., FRIDAY, JULY 20 1923 PRICE FIVE CENTS

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OHIO STATE KL01U

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Meeting Held at Buckeye Lake Is Addressed by Imperial Wizard Fifteen Hundred Men and One Thousand Women Are Initiated During Ceremonials

Klan Operates Through Authorities

The "Old Man" Delivers Address and Receives Plaudits of Vast Throng Fireworks Display Proves Gorgeous Ceremonials Are Most Beautiful and Impressive.

S UNEARTH

TONS

Address by the Imperial Wizard and address of welcome by the King Kleagle of Ohio, will be found on page two.

1HCKEYE LAKE, Ohio, July 14. Only words of praise are heard for those who had charge of the arrangements for the Buckeye state Knights

of the Ku Klux Klan klonklave. held here on last Thursday, when a crowd estimated at 7",000 was present. The leremony was declared by the Klanslr.en to be one of the most beautiful and impressive ever held in thi:j slate. The parking plans and the traffic arrangements were perfect Mid the huge crowd was handled without inconvenience to any. Klansmen wore present from all parts of Ohio, some counties sending as high as !i,000 men. The Women of the Ku Klux Klan also held a part in the program. At the ceremonials 1.500 men were admitted to the organization and a class of l.OuO women was initiated. Ir. Evans Speaks T)r. H. W. Evans, Imperial W izard,

delivered a most masterly address.

Ilia speech was the most fleliberate, logical and serious oration ever delivered by him in the North. He spoke during the afternoon and was most enthusiastically received. "The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan

fstanda for no enmity; it stands for no doctrine of racial hatred," he said. 'The Klan seeks to render helpful service, man to man, man to country, and man to God," continued the national officer. "It seeks to inspire the average citizen to a new standard of patriotism, the first step of which is to preserve law." Immigration and the public school situation were two subjects upon which Dr. Evans dwelt in particular. Even today, with the three per cent immigration restriction law in operation, there are many aliens coining

to these shores, who do not come for the best interests of the country. Closer scrutiny of newcomers was urged by the Wizard. IH inands "One School" "One school in the United States tile public school is what the Klan aim:; to establish," Dr. -Evans asserted. "Every child must attend

the public schools, and in them religion must be divorced from all matters of education. Only those teachers who are themselves products of the public schools should be allowed to teach in the public schools." The elaborate preparations made by the Ohio organization for parking and facilities for the visitors made a notable impression. For miles around, on all roads leading to the

lake, guards in full regalia were stationed, directing traffic from early in the morning until alter tHe klavern opened in the evening. Eight large fields were utilized for systematic parking. By noon it was estimated that 40,000 Protestant Americans and their families were on the grounds, and by the time the naturalization ceremony opened in the evening at 9 o'clock this figure had increased to about 75,000. "The Old Man" made the leading talk at the late afternoon patriotic

meeting. He gave the greater part of his famous "Back-to-the-Constitu-tion" speech, first delivered at the Indiana Elate meeting at Kokomo on July 4. "It is the purpose of the Klan to re-ttore tha government of the United States to the plan upon which it waa originally founded, as laid down in the constitution," declared "Steve," amid cheers and applause. He pointed out many Instances in which the departments of government were not functioning according to the basic law of the land. One of these

is the supreme court, which, the speaker said, had no legal right to upset laws made by Congress which waa the direct and final voice of the people. Tote for Principle 'Tarty politics, as they have been developed and manipulated by petty (Continued on Page 10)

WAR VETERANS PROTEST ACTS

OF "MAD" CHIEF

Federal Officers Acting on Information, Affidavits and Evidence Furnished by Knights of the Ku Klux Klan Rings Throttling City's Growth and Virtue Are Cracking Under the Strain

srr.!GHELD SEETHING WITH INDIGNATION OVER ARREST OF 72 KLANSMEN

Demand Made That O'Brien Be Discharged From Position as Thief of Police Major Speaks

Sworn Statements That Police Witnessed the Purchase and Sale of Liquor Now in Hands of Federal Officers Arrested Vice Officer Cautioned Not to TalkMayor Hosey Belittles Raids Charges That Bootleggers Were "Tipped Ofi" Fill the Air.

7

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio, July 15. That the arrogant, disgraceful and prejudiced act of Chief of Police R. E. O'Brien in arresting seventy-two Klansmen last week who were in attendance at a funeral, and heaping indignities on the Bible and flag in his rabid hatred of all things American, will result in his dismissal as

Tvhief of police of Springfield, is the

opinion held here today. Never. before has an act of a public official in this city brought down the

rain of criticism as has the arrest of these Klansmen, who were peacefully laying at rest a deceased member of their organization. Resolutions passed by local bodies demanded the removal of those responsible for the outrage and have been placed

before the city commission. A special meeting of the city commission has been called to investigate the arrest of the Klansmen and this meeting. will be held immediately after the hearing of the cases in police court next week.

jOiHine Business T City Commissioner Metcalf stated that he felt that "the whole business from any angle was asinine," and

Mayor J. E. Furry is quoted as saying that it was a most "regrettable incident." "If it istheir custom to put on white uniforms for the purpose of burying their dead, I do not think the police or any one else is authorized to arrest them," said Mayor Furry. Chief O'Brien, who has often

spewed his venom in acts against the Klan, is now "passing the buck" and lias stated that he was out of town and "misunderstood the situation." This does not alter the fact that he talked on the phone with

Sergeant Norton just prior to the arrests. Acting Chief Norton, another who has been prominent in fighting the Klan, was told by those oflicers sent to make the arrest that

they could not do so, as the Klans

men were peacefully burying a deceased member. Despite this fact Nortcn demanded they carry out

their instructions and threatened

them with dismissal if they did not.

Scathing Denunciation

A scathing denunciation of the

tactics of the police is' contained in the resolution passed by Springfield Chapter Four Disabled American

Veterans of the World War, the reso lution reading in part as follows:

"Whereas, on the sixth day of July

1923, a body of citizens gathered in

the city of Springfield, Ohio, to pay

their last respects to one of their departed brethren; "Whereas, upon their rettirn frojn the cemetery, marching in orderly procession through the streets of Springfield, Ohio, with an American flag being carried at the head of the procession by one of their members, they were accosted by a squadron of police and placed under arrest." The resolution demanded the removal from office of all persons responsible for the arrest of the Klansmen. '

Excitement regarding th disgrace

ful affair is at white heat and speculation is rife as to just what will happen on July 26 when the seventy-

two free-born Protestant Americans

are tried for "disorderly conduct,1

alter naving neen arrested by an

arrogant, "alienized" policeman while peacefully returning from the burial of a deceased brother.

(By Staff Correspondent) FORT WAYNE, Ind., July 16. The boast of Fort Wayne's "elect" ever since prohibition went into effect, that federal" officers would never raid Fort Wayne, has proved not only a boomerang, but the joke of the age. Federal officers have been literally chased out of town in the past, not because they did not want to act, but because they were unable to act ; they have been literally impotent, but the evidence forced upon them by the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, evidence of which there was no doubt and no denial, federal investigators raided Fort Wayne this week, in the face of ter

rific pressure and organized protection, which has in the past constituted a most perfectly constructed stone Wall about and around law violation in Indiana. The fact that Fort Wayne follows Gary, Jeff ersonville, Hammond, Muncie and other cities is evidence of the. perfect wall of protection that has prevailed in the past. Five thousand pairs of eyes the eyes of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in Fort Wayne and dollars dollars provided by the local organization to purchase evidence and employ trained investigators have made possible a civic, rebirth and rededjcation to law and order in Allen county. "The little- band"

of federal officers are here today, but the Klan waa here yester-

cay, nere toaay, ana win De nere xomorrow-ana torever.

FIRST STATE MEET

OF INDIANA WOMEN IS GREAT SUCCESS

Mooresville Streets and Homes

Miraculously Expanded to Accommodate Crowd

Giving the lie to the charge that the Klan takes the law into its own hands, the above represents receipts taken from the federal prohibition agent, W. H. Holman, for evidence gathered by Klan investigators in Fort Wayne, and is sufficient evidence itself. Further giving the lie to small-bored and controlled newspapers that a "small handful of federal men" had accomplished such wonders, the above receipts are certainly evidence of a long, carefully planned campaign carried out and financed by the Fort Wayne branch of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. Not mere rumor, but definite evidence and affidavits of fact, were presented to federal men, on which they could do naught but act.

BAPTIST MINISTER REFUSES TO

BE BLUFFED OR INTIMIDATED BY POLICE

THE PENALTY OF PROTESTANISM

SIxfv Thousand Voice Enthusiastic

Praise of Arrangements Great Parade Staged

Following is an incomplete list of boycott, intimidation, acts of violence

and vandalism and attempted murder

during the past week, against Amer

ican Protestants by the alien forces of America. This list, carrying cases as enumerated, will appear from week to week so long as these outrages continue.

(By Maizie of The F. C.) MOORESVILLE, Ind., July 14. Of course we knew it would be a great event; we carried the Mooresville ad. in our last week's issue, and

then little birds told us all about the plans that the ladies had formulated for this, the first exclusive

meet of the Women of the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana. We could have "faked" a good story on this Moores

ville event, just from prognostica

tions. but we didn't do it; we had

several real good "nosey" reporters right on the grounds to get the "feel" of the thing. In the first place, "and to begin with," the weather was ideal, but

even if the skies had wept volumes,

we are pretty sure mat witn tne

pluck, determination and patriotism

evinced by these women, the affair

would have progressed successfully.

We didn't get there in time for

breakfast, but we understand that

the women of several local churches

prepared breakfast for 1,500 visitors, and knowing Mooresville "chicken dinner" reputation we are mighty sorry we missed that good breakfast. Began Assembling Early By 10 o'clock in the morning thousands of visitors, Women of the Ku Klux Klan and their "alleged" Klan male relatives, or so we presume them to be, were gathered in Mank-

er's grove, Just outside Mooresville, where the principal .events of the

meet took place.

It is estimated, however, that the

t (Continued on Page 7)

UN-AMERICAN UNITY

LEAGUE AGENTS PULL

USUAL 'ROUGH STUFF

Men Convicted of Bootlegging

Act as Spotters for Alien Organization

. Tacoma Bakery, Tacoma and Washington street, is boycotted by Catholics. Louis R. Roth, grocer, on this corner, reputed to be a Catholic,'

is said to have been very active in

competition against this bakery.

Klemm Bakery at 2650 Northwestern avenue, is under boycott. The owners are Protestants. Savoy Theater, owned by L. J. Murdock, Protestant, is now under boycott by Catholics and Jews. It is located at 1223 Oliver avenue. Four Protestant boys badly beaten by crowd of from fourteen to sixteen

children of Catholic parents. The outrage took place last Tuesday eve

ning at about 8:30 at Rural and East Michigan streets. This is in the vicinity of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church. The names of the Protestant boys are Walter Hare, North Parker avenue; Burney Paramore, North Parker avenue; Miles Males, Each Michigan street, and Charles Baker, North Oxford street. Brick hurled through plate glass

window of restaurant at 550 West Washington street in which was on display a placard advertising a lawn social to be given by a Protestant church. The owner. Earl L. Craig,

had been told that "he or the sign would have to go." Girl bill clerk at the main offices of The House of Crane, resigned to avoid expected discharge after having been seen with a "Fiery Cross." A Protestant stenographer resigned for same - reason. Orin Ramsey, credit' manager, said to do much talking against Klan. Paul Crane, manager, Is said to have told salesman who complained in the. office (Continued on Page 7)

Klan Holds Ceremonial and Takes

One Hundred and Fifty Sew Members Into Fold

NORTH VERNON, Ind., July 14. Agents of the un-American Unity

League arrived here on July 11, and

with a following of aliens put in

their appearance at a public initia

tion ceremonial held by the Knights

of the Ku Klux Klan, at which more than 150 candidates were taken Into

the organization.

With their customary -arrogance and total lack of American ideas they stationed themselves at the gate of the field wherein the meeting was

being held and subjected those ap

proaching the gate to indignities,

While spotlights were thrown on the

occupants of the machines, two roughnecks would stick their heads into the cars and yell out the names

of the occupants. These were hastily

put down by women in an automobile

in the employ of the league. ''Checking-Up" Process

Those in charge of the "checking

up" process were Charley Everett

who Is said to have served time on

a bootlegging charge, and "Py

Oder, now at liberty on an appeal

bond. Being familiar witn,iocai per

sons they were used by the agents to "soot" those who came to the

meeting, while their followers hooted

jeered and cat-called as the spectators arrived. It was pointed out that if the "checkers" Intend to get all the names of those belonging to the Klan In this county that they have a good long job ahead of them on account of the growing strength of the Klan. Approximately 2,000 Klansmen and - (Continued on Page 1) - t

HIEF R1KH0FF IS FOILED IN DESPOTIC ACT

Officers by Threat of Arrest Try to

Secure Legally Granted Permit Chief O'Brien on Job

Chief of Police Rikhoff, whose ac

tions would indicate that Russia iost

good czar when he took up the

tailor trade, again attempted to

browbeat an American citizen, this time a Protestant minister, and by threats of arrest force him to yield

up to the police a permit secured of the board of safety and which was legally granted and issued.

However, Chief Rikhoff found that

taking permits away from Rev. J. A.

Jones, of the Westview Baptist Church, was not as easily done as ordering policemen to stay in town

when not on duty, or reducing Masons in rank. Rev. Jones refused to give up the permit and called the bluff of the officers. In the end he

still had the permit and was at liberty to saunter forth and watch po

lice in uniform and on duty (?) col

lect funds for the un-American Unity League to use in- its program of destruction against everything Protestant.

The permit in question had been (Continued on Page 7)

Druggist Denies "AntiProtestant" Statement The Fiery Cross is in possession of a statement from Albert C. Fritz,- operating a drug store at 3302 East New York street, saying that he is not a Catholic and that he did not make the statement credited to him that he "did not wish any Protestant trade." Mr. Fritz states that his wife is a Methodist and that his child attends a Protestant Sunday school and is a pupil in the public schools. "The conduct of my business is and always has been, without partiality and with a desire to give the people within the radius of my two stores, courteous attention," Mr. Friti says.

Where the investigation now going ' on in Fort Wayne will end no one can tell, but the Klan plays a quiet, straight, but effective hand in the game of law enforcement. Fort Wayne law violators, it is well known, are mostly poker players, and probably in language that they alone will understand, the Klan still has a "few aces in the hole." All forces, the News-Sentinel gang, the political rings, alien influences and controlled vice, and those interests foreign to the best interests of Fort Wayne, that have hadtUeir hands on its throat for years, throttling its school affairs, its civic affairs, its industrial affairs and its religious affairs, have literally, like "Humpty

uumpiy, wno sat on a wall," had "a great fall," and all these forces and all these un-American men will never be able to put this ring together again. Tlce Forces Reeling With the vice forces of Fort Wayne

reeling under the mighty .smash delivered by the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, the net thrown out bv

the federal forces, who are co-operating with Klan investigators, is fast tightening about the higher-ups in the web of bootlegging, gambling4 and other vices that are eating at the morals of this city. The raids have disclosed a city infested by ; "underground railroads" through, which liquor is bought and sold before members of the police department; women have charged that prominent business men have threatened them with being "chased out of town" by city officials because they objected to being parties to the down fall of young girls who were yet children; a special officer of the po

lice department and head of the vice squad is now under arrest for conspiracy against the government, and George McCarthy, brother-in-law of

Mayor William J. Hosey, Klan hater, is at liberty under $2,000 bond after

.having been arrested on the charge

of bootlegging.

The raids were started after the

Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. had turned over to federal officers, affi

davits Involving eighty-three persons and a big quantity of liquor war-

chased as evidence, and furnished clerical help in compiling data and affidavits. A stenographer from The ;

Fiery Cross was sent to Fort Wayne to aid the local Klan organization. Klan Investigators are still hard at

work turning tip new cases faster than it is humanly possible for tha officers to follow them. At this tim

approximately one hundred arrests have been made and eighty-one men are slated to go before Judge A. B. Anderson, at Indianapolis, when th fall term of tha federal -court openr in October. .... . r - Sensational Arrest -One of the most sensational arrests was that' of Henry ISckhart wealthy owner of the Eckhart Pack . (Continued on Page 3)