Fiery Cross, Volume 2, Number 46, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 September 1923 — Page 1

FIERY

GROSS

INDIANA STATE EDITION INDIANA STATE EDITION "THERE IS NO FAILURE EXCEPT FAILURE TO SERFS THE PURPOSE" VOLUME II, NUMBER 46 INDIANAPOLIS, IND., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1923 PRICE FIVE CENTS

'' ' '" " . -.111 I I J -- -! " " " '" I- ! M-ll .Ill I. !. ! I I.I IN 1 1 l I ' .1-1 ' " ' '-' " V , 1 ' ' ' 11 ' Jl - ' ' .

Oklahoma hrovernor Flays to brmndstand . : . , . , i

KLANSMEN T

SPITE OF ALL 0

RN OUT

BSTAGLES

Klan Day Is Held atuState Fair Fireworks Display Closes Program Thousands

Sing "America" and Repeat Lord's Prayer

in Race Track Enclosure

Police Insult and Slug Men and Women and Issue

Orders That Are Countermanded by Fair Official

Officers Tear Badges From Goats of Men Curse in

Presence of Women

SPRINGFIELD

STAGES HUGE KLAN AFFAIR

NEWSPAPER MEN "ARM" SELVES

WITH ADDING MACHINES TO CHECK MARCHERS

Find 10,081 In Procession30,000

View Parade A Big Fireworks Display Is GlTen

PERPETUAL MAYOR

WATCHES IN VAIN FOR KLAN PARADE

Organization Initiates Huge

Class as Sensational Chief Executive Fumes

Tippecanoe County Holding Series of

Open-Air Meetings Much Enthusiasm Manifest

(By Eyewitness)

Despite the distorted newspaper stories, despite the concerted efforts of the organized opposition to create a wrong impression

as to the intentions of the Klan on Klan Day, September 7, and despite a one-week's rain throughout the state, approximately 65,000 Klansmen came to Indianapolis on last Friday. This big crowd turned out in spite of the efforts of the opposition to paralyze preparations by waiting on the governor, giving out interviews through the police department ; it turned out in spite of the Klan's cancellation of speeches in appreciation of the consideration shown by the State Board of Agriculture.

With the exception of the speeches the program at the state fair grounds was carried out as was originally planned and while the opposition jnade every effort to instigate trouble, the day went through In an orderly fashion without any incident to mar the day. Certain members of

the organization as well as some of j the women who attended with them I were subjected to indignities from the police department, but the members of the department guilty of such acts failed to create a situation that would give them the opportunity to start a "Klan riot." "America" Is Sung At 6 o'clock thousands of Klansmen gathered inside the race track nnd sang "America" and repeated the Lord's prayw in unison. Just prior to this time it was found that orders had been issued the police by the captain in charge to permit no one to cross the track. This order was given in full knowledge that the Klansmen were to conduct a short

ONE SLATTERY SLIPS UP ON THE MESSAGE'

Falls for Fake Telegram to Montreal and Uses Up Lots of Good Pink Paper

(By Staff Correspondent) TElNTOX, InU., Sept. 10. One Slattery, who has gained quite a bit of local fame in the handbill line, has been figuratively "kicked in the slats" by the Knights of Columbus. Following his distribution of his last batch of "dodgers" the Knights of Columbus have been trying to dodge the boomerang thrown by them when they read a fake message from President CooTTtlge. One JSlattery went to the expense of getting out a large, delicately

program from the center of the race tinted, printed handbill which car-

track. The matter was taken up with fair officials who immediately gave orders to the police captain to permit persons to cross the track. jit 9:30 a fireworks display was given by the Klan which included a little red echoolhouse and a large American flag. The display in all was quite elaborate. The only act of violence committed on the grounds during the day was

when a police officer slugged a man splitting his lip. The police, who. were there to preserve order, were the only offenders aganist law and order. They were guilty of tearing badges from persons attending the fair when they felt assured the persons were Klansmen. Insulting talk was used by officers to women and In one instance an officer cursed the cross a woman wore and said that "his cross" was the one that would, in clean English, be triumphant. Rikhofl Has Evidence Evidence of the outrages mentioned Is now in the hands of Chief Rikhofl. The Klansmen did not begin arriving In the city in numbers until in

the afternoon, many plans having

been suddenly changed, It was apparent, by the sudden rush late in the afternoon. The fact that there was a steady downpour throughout the state all Thursday night no doubt resulted in many who had (Continued on Page 8)

FIERY CROSS EMPLOYES HAVE ALL-DAY PICNIC

Seventy-five persons attended a picnic given by the managing editor Of The Fiery Cross for the employes, last Saturday. The picnic was held at a summer home on White river. The day waa spent in dancing, bathing, canoeing and many "stunts" arranged for the occasion. In the evesing the steamer Sunshine, which had been chartered for the evening, docked and the party was "transferred" to the boat At the boat passed a summer camp on the river an electric flery cross was lighted by the campers. The orchestra on the boat abruptly

topped the dance music and struck up "America" and the picnickers tang the national anthem aa the boat, which bad been slowed down, alowly wept past the cross,

ried the President s message" to the Knights of Columbus, meeting in a foreign country. After a waste of perfectly good print paper, the

Knights of Columbus informed the waiting world that the message "was a mistake." However, one Slattery conveyed much information to the citizens of Clinton by informing them on the handbill that all Knights of Columbus were members of the Catholic church. It is possible

that some persons were unaware of that fact. Certainly Thinking It Over One of the things that one Slattery didn't inform the people about is that the minister, whose sermon fur

nished one Slattery with copy for his first handbill, was a foreigner and sailed for Europe soon after the sermon was delivered. One Slattery asks "the boys" to think it over. From the fact that there are almost 500,000 Klansmen in Indiana, it would appear that they are thinking it over very nicely. One Slattery infers that the Ku Klux Klan objects to him distrib

uting handbills. This might be so, but It is hardly probable. Why should one object to one Slattery helping the local printers and furnishing laughs to the citizens of Clinton? Most anybody could think of a more asinine than what one Slattery is doing in the handbill line.

Of course, it might require quite a

bit of thought, but it would hardly be

an impossibility.

Wishes New Title If one Slattery wishes to acquire

the-title of "Handbill Slattery," that

is his right under the Constitution of the United States. And if the Knights of Columbus wish to make a sticker of one Slattery by faking messages, it is quite sure that the citizens of Clinton will not object. In fact, one Slattery's distribution of handbills in Clinton rather lends to

the excitement here. Think of the interest that can be aroused In wagering just when the next one will appear; the color of the paper; how much valuable Information It will contain such a was in the last, that all Knights of Columbus are

members of the Catholic church. It la possible that lota of persons thought some of the Knights were members of the Swedenborgian or Dutch. Reformed churches. In the meantime Clinton is agog.

(Special to Fiery Cross)

SPRINGFIELD, O., Sept. 10. At a

gigantic ceremonial held here as a part of an all-day celebration, 3,500 candidates were initiated into the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan on last Saturday night. The ceremonial was held at the fair grounds where more than 50,000 Klansmen and their families gathered for the affair. The initiation was started at 9:30 and was conducted inside the race

track. Four large electrical crosses lighted the scene. A large electric emblem bearing three K's blazed

forth during the ceremony which was watched by the huge throng in rapt silence. Three fiery crosses were burned. One of the hits of the day was the Klark Kounty Klan band of forty pieces. At one time the band passed the grandstand playing "Onward, Christian Soldiers," at which time the entire assemblage stood with bowed heads as it passed the stand. Big Parade Held A parade in which 10,081 persons I took part passed through streets that

were packed with an eager throng. The parade- left the fair grounds promptly at seven o'clock and despite the many rumors to the con

trary, previous to the affair, not one single act was in evidence that these

rumors had any foundation. Klans

men on horseback found a place in

the procession which was profuse

hvith American flags. It took almost

one hour and fifteen minutes for the parade to pass a given point. Many floats were in the parade. Klansmen from Indiana and a few from West Virginia were said to have taken part in the procession. A total of fourteen bands furnished music for the marchers. The number of marchers was checked by newspaper men furnished with adding machines. The majority of the Klansmen marched with their visors up. Much

applause met the marchers as they (Continued on Page 8)

WILD ACTSOF

EXECUTIVE FOOL NO ONE

LITERARY DIGEST WIRES EDI

TOR OF FIERY CROSS FOR COMMENT

KLANKRAFT PAGEANT AT R0CKF0RD PROVES WONDERFUL SUCCKS

TO CHOOSE SITE FOR HOSPITAL AT K0R0M0

Drive for $250,000 for Protestant Institution Has Been Very Successful

. (By Staff Correspondent)

LAFAYETTE, Ind., Sept. 10. While "Sensational" Durgan, perpetual mayor of Lafayette, was busy

with his entire police force on last

Wednesday night, 'watching for

Klan parade, the Klan was busy at the fair grounds, the controlling stock in which is owned by the Klan

organization, initiating a class of more than 700 candidates. The event so worried the mayor that he even had the fire department on the alert and was himself kept so busy that he didn't have enough time to pre

pare a speech for the un-American

Unity League.

It is believed here that if the Klan doesn't quit holding meetings that Lafayette's sensational chief executive will not have time to prepare for his candidacy for governor of Indiana. Of course, it is possible that Mayor Durgan will not run for governor, but as the Indiana Catholic Record ''named" him as a candidate, it is thought that he might make a pretense. ..s- -- nig- Crowd Present

The meeting wHcn bo upset the

mayor was held by the Klan and at

tended by a crowd of more than 8,000 persons, the -first of whom be

gan to arrive as early as 4:30 in the afternoon.- The initiation was public and in addition to the clas3 of 500 men, 200 women were taken into

the Women's Organization. - Music was provided for the occa

sion by the Brownsburg band of

forty pieces. A speaker delivered an

address which was well received by

the thousands present and was cheered repeatedly. The speaker spoke in a clear voice and held his audience to the last He explained the principles of the Klan in a very

lucid and convincing manner. He spoke from the judge's stand at the

race track.

The Initiation ceremonies were held inside the race track. A large American flag was hung near the judge's stand and behind the flag was

an electrical cross which shone

through the folds and presented most beautiful picEure.

Unfortunately, Mayor Durgan did not get to see the ceremonial as he

was very busy with his police and

fire department at about that time.

Each time the Klan holds a meeting

the mayor becomes very much ex

cited. It is believed that possibly

the mayor was watching for the "twenty roughnecks from the Plank road," who it is understood were

the cause of the now famous "Hal

lowe'en ordinance" passed by the

(Continued on Page 8)

Reply Points Ont Anti-Klan Riots, the Murder of Klansmen and Walton's Pardon Record

Spectacle Is Witnessed by Vast Crowd Approximately One Thousand Are Initiated

PLATE GLASS

WINDOWS ARE SHATTERED

CULPRITS DRIYE AT NIGHT C

RAIDS ON PROTESTANT MERCHANTS

Indiana Quartet Is a Feature Program Grand Dragon of Illinois Speaks

of

ROCKFORD, 111., Sept. 8. The

first pageant of the progress of the Ku Klux Klan organization was pre

sented at a big two days' gathering

in Driving park, near the northwest

ern city limits, last Friday and Sat

urday. Over 200 robed men and

twenty-four robed horses were util

ized in the casting and the spectacle

Letter Writers Also Busy "Regret"

ting" Coincidences Are Peculiar Snake Placed in Garage

(By WIngfoot) Incorporating in their list of depredations that of shattering plate glass windows of Protestant merchants, the forces op posed to Protestantism in Indianapolis have put into operation a brick-heaving squad that rides each night on its nefarious work. While this mode of operation has been in effect for some time by the alien inter

ests in Indianapolis, together

The acts of Governor Walton of Oklahoma in his attempt to gain political preferment by his fight on

the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and his statement that "the Klan is raflnnnathlo fnr t V) o flncroHn tra i-n fllrta-

noma.- Monday brought a telegram

from tho editor of th Literarv ri- " u"" iu,yvw ouu xuv,-

" " " nnn nsTlA fvvm TlMntrt r, A nJtAl. .

irest. to tha Piorv Crosa firkins? an vv auu oujuui-

In reDlvimr to the teletrram the beginning wun a scene oepicung wilii uieir uoycoiline DrOHTarn.

editor of The Fiery Crosa drew at- tne gathering of the original sixteen reports of the last week show a tention to the outrages now being to' Aetata f0! carefully laid out plan to incommitted throughout the country Wln ln Atlanta, tour years ago, tne ,. . , , - , t against the Klan and pointed to the Pageant showed in pantomime the tlHlldate and coerce the Protest

fact that not one single case of law- Phenomenal growm oi tne ivianaom tants oi xms city, lessness by the Klan organization iteJesent proportions The seen- During the past week the large i . ery prenared for the staermsr was . ... . .

uau uccu yiu.cu. l - -ui-i. -j a ' . , : piaie glass wmuows oi me weaver

The telegram from the Literal 1 eeL IO"s' ?nli Furniture Company m "West Wash-

Digest follows: ZaZ.iT,l"L ly"i00i mgton street were shattered at 1

New York, Sept. 10, 1923.. .r.1?". .7 o'clock in the morning by having

TMtni TOo Vjorir nuuvc uo V1UWU. 1UB BBlir IWO U,. wt.V. 1 4.

y 7u " ."6CU m?"' firm operating at the corner of Madiat a total cost, of approximately!

Klan or members thereof rcsponsfbla IT' , 1 out by bricks.

- i- . i iiimL ii i u c i n in i:niMKii wnu 9 ma. ntri - - -

pyrotechnic display, and the fetoj Night Riders Active . . closed Saturday night with the pag- The night riders drive throush the

eant and the initiation Of a Class of streets hi taxirnhs Vhnt it. aa nnt

about 600 members. A class slightly I been learned -that i tho nnUm -r "

less in number was initiated on the LnHnr anv efFm-to at n ,r.i.

preceding night. hend the vandals. In view r or 4 1m "

Grand Dratron Sneaks fact that Inspector of5 Detectives-"-

A number of speakers delivered "l1.00:.1!

public lectures both afternoons and

evenings. A Methodist minister of

Mt. vernon, 111., and Edmund De-

Barr, Klan lecturer from Atlanta, spoke Friday, while on Saturday

Indianapolis.

Associated Press reports Aldftch

Blake, executive counselor of Gov

ernor wanou ol UKiajiumtL aa ttayiug

KOKOMO, Ind., Sept. 11. But two or three sites for the new $250,000 county hospital are left from the scores first had under consideration by the site committee. Last week the committee visited fifteen sites which were left after the elimination of many others. From these were selected the two or three from which the final selection will be made. The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan have been very active in the campaign to secure funds for this insti

tution which will be a Protestant

hospital and headquarters have been maintained here in the Y. M. C. A.

All of Howard county has responded

to the appeal for funds and the Prot

estant population has given freely-.

To Be Most Modern The hospital when completed will be one of the most modern institutions of its kind in Indiana and will have the latest equipment in everything in connection with an institution of this kind. The Impetus given the drive for funds by the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan getting behind the project has done much toward making the campaign a wonderful success and bring

ing the drive quickly to a point

where the hospital was an assured reality.

BIG CELEBRATION AT

MARION IS SUCCESS

Speeches Heard by Thousands

Fireworks Display is Gor geous Big Parades Held

for ail floggings in Tulsa county this

year. Similar claims made in Georgia and Texas. Can you wire us

comment. W. S. WOODS,

Editor, Literary Digest. Reply Is Sent

The following is a copy of the re

ply sent by the editor of The Fiery

Cross :

Editor Literary Digest,

New York City.

Having in mind the murders at

Carnegie, Pennsylvania, the terrible

anti-Klan riots at Perth Amboy, New-

Jersey and at Steubenville, Ohio;

the firing on Klan meetings in Indi

ana; the Knignts or uoiumDus can

ard in connection with the President

Coolidge message; the resolution

adopted by the Ancient Order of Hi

bernians, notifying the President that they would take the law into

their own hands ; the wholesale re

leasing of prisoners by Governor

Walton in Oklahoma and his issuing

(Continued on Page 8)

Is understood, is still driving the

"mystery car" stands very high in the un-American Unity League, and the tactics employed by the vandals

are those close to the heart of tho league, it is not believed that any

there vre speeches by the Mt. Ver- ? Jin lZ- J?Z non nastnr .nH tho r.nfl nTO mM undue effort will be made by the po-

of the Realm of Illinois.

une oi tne features of the pro

gram was the singing of an Indian:

CHAUTAUQUA ASSURED KEWANNA NEXT YEAR

lice department to arrest the offend

ers. The impunity with, which windows nro amaahorl ia nun In tha Kraotrnir

Klan quartet from Logansport which 0f the plate glass in the restaurant the crowd encored again and again at 106 South Illinois street where a in every appearance. iaC3, waa thrown from a taWh

The meeting was widely advertised The tool missed the window and the

as "The Great Midwest Pageant of taxi, which it is said was a yellow Klankraft" and it was attended be- car, circled the block and came yond all expectations. Rain the back. This time the aim of the van-

opening day kept the crowd down to dal was true and a brick crashed

z&.uuo at the minimum, but clear throueh the window. The nlErhtrM-

weather Saturday afternoon and Ing -vandal, however, seems to be night brought people to the grounds perfectly safe from the police. aa al-.

iiw numbers mat couia not do ac-lleged chief of police Rikhoff is more curately ascertained. interested "eettine" certain uersons

"Workmen were employed three than in trying to stop the heaving

weeks preparing the grounds for the I of bricks by agents of the un-Amer-event. A'pipeline was laid from the ican Unity League of which he la a

Klan to Pay Cost and Places city water main to provide plenty of member.

Money on Deposit Act Brings Commendation

drinking water for the visitors andt- A restaurant in North Alabama

the grounds were illuminated by im

provised electrical equipment.

(Special to The Fiery Cross)

KEWANNA, Ind., Sept. lO.That

Kewanna will have a Chautauqua

next season was assured here last week when it was learned that the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan had

placed on deposit the entire amount of money needed to. have a five days' meeting of the Chautauqua here in

1924.

The announcement was made at

the close of the Chautauqua season and as the campaign manager was

FIERY CROSS ON RAFT

MAKES NOVEL SIGHT

street was without windows for two days following the fury of the aliens

iwho would drive all Protestants out of business. Every window in the drug store operated by W. J. Miller, $02 South Illinois street, was shattered during the past week by thai

vandals. As yet there 19 to be an arrest in connection with the vandal squad. Protestants of Indianapolis

Dancer at finpnrpr Halt fnlare DelnS given a taste of the alien uancers at bpencer Halt to metnoda used other place9 la

oing as urcnesira unanges

Jazz to Religious Melody

1,000 Klansmen Have

Parade at Phoenix

PHOENIX, Ala.,- Sept 10. Phoenix City Klan, Realm of Alabama, on August 21 staged a big parade and celebration at Brandon.- A thousand

Klansmen in full regalia were In the

line of march, , .

(By Staff Correspondent) MARION, Ind., Sept 10. Although Marion experienced a steady down

pour of ram on last Monday morning, a crowd of Klansmen, estimated

at 25,000, attended tne Klan celebration in this city which was featured with a big parade and a gor

geous display of , fireworks iiK.the evening. There was no disorder during the entire day and everything passed off -as "scheduled.

The crowd began to arrive in Mar

lon early in the morning despite the rain although, the Klansmen did not

begin coming in large numbers un

til after one O'clock. The visitors

continued to arrive until after nightfall. Some estimates of the total crowd were placed at 80,000 by

newspaper men. Klan officials placed

25,000 as a conservative estimate.

Pnblie Sneaking

: Public speaking was held at Geldthaite park and never before bad such a large gathering been seen there. The" crowd flowed over Into

Ballard field here hundreds upon

(Continued on Page )

America where the foreigners domi

nate through numbers. It also affords an opportunity . for deep" thought as to Just what would happen should these aliens who hate

Sept 8. The Protestants, ever outnumber or come

SPENCER, Ind.,

on the platform in behalf of a sub- bursting into flame of a fiery cross into absolute control in this city,

scription for next season. wmcn naa Deen mint on a rart and Protest Frm Glenn

vi. ic piu.ItuI towea to tne center or isei river - . . . " " , M Note Is Received cansad a sensation last Hatmtfv "No protests have been heard from

The following note was handed to Utirht at Owen nark Tha a twni Mike Glenn, captain of the traffic

the manager which, after reading, he m the dance hall Which was going s.uad, whose subordinates can ap-

reaa aioua to me auuience; fr.ii Mast, suddenly stonned and4reueu,i ""u wno 111118 10

To the General Public of Kewanna the dancers all left the floor and P?1?!6? flvemUes worn the center

and Vicinity: gathered ht the water's edge. oi me city ana at two ociock in tne Reallzine the moral value and ben- The orchestra that had been so mornings but can not catch the vair-

eficent influence of a Chautauqua in suddenly stilled, then played 'he. jwea mgnuyr Ana b

our community, we take this means uid Kuggea cross, - wmcn was taken ' rrr.v of informing you at this time that up by the crowd who sang the words ?fa nt "ow the color of the cabs arrangements have been completed of "The Bright Fiery Cross" to the being used to the utrapa . Of and money is now on deposit to cover melody. ?mn? & t01 ttvd ta"

the entire cost of a Chautauqua to Tne sky, qvercast wnn ciouasrnw i , " be given. In Kewanna in 1924, using the moon's light, and the cross, per- buBH88' Thm qult Pratlnr

the full-size, five-day tent, and tne rect in every aetan, Durnt witn an "I ' nm i a T Chautauqua to be absolutely free to even flame, casting a reflection yof J.venBUi Aranage doesn't seem everyone, regardless of politics, bo- itself In the still water thatywaa to we. Even ttongh It Js taowm cial standing or religious creed, and beautiful to behold. It left a lasting, that ta the past he planned his Be absolutely no seats reserved. Same memory in the hearts of all who saw rtons werk ever the telephone at to be presented wrholry by and with it .s " the least

the compliments of the undersigned. ; . wu uw eu s

YONTIAC SEES CEOSS bat net ben worried. It would seem.

that any plotting by tne vandals

Kewanna Knights of the Ku , Klux Klan."

The complete approval of the man'

PONTiAfi. Mich.. Sent 10 -A flerv might be going em ever the telephone.

ager and the audience was expressed-! orOBa which was lighted here last) One of the "worst sufferers from

Saturday night burned for two hours Jta vanaai aquaa thw oeea ui tm

and was witnessed by hundreds oil tturant operatea m west wasnms-

persons. ..,', uonunuea on jrage

In prolonged applause.

- The act has won much commendation tor the Klan In this county. . " -

X. - i ....

1 r: