Fiery Cross, Volume 3, Number 46, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 September 1924 — Page 1

Ai K1 America's Leading ''IN PROPORTION as THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT GIVES FORCE TO PUBLIC OPINION, IT IS ESSENTIM. THAT PUBLIC OPINION SHOULD BZ ENLIGHTENED". WASHINGTON Klan fublication "THERE IS NO FAILURE EXCEPT FAILURE TO SERVE THE PURPOSE VOLUME III, NUMBER 46 INDIANAPOLIS, IND FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1924 PRICE FIVE CENTS are A 11

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Murder

KLANSMAN IS SLAIN AFTER THEFT OF LIST tx roi k i:ma, a koian catii. OLIO. ALSO KILLED AFTER I'FNIXC FIRE AM) SHOOTING TWO JfE M A V O H W 0 V L 1) I'REFER CIIARUEH OF MURDER AGAINST TWO .MF.. WHO WERE ATTACKED BY ROMAN SPY WHILE DEFENSELESS. Bison Cily Executive May Face Arrest for Alleged Tart In Robbery of Klavt-rn Fight on Protestants Lends to llltrh-handcd Methods , JVanifs of Klansmen Are Posted in i Police Station Mason Enters Protest and Chief of Police Acts. ; (By. Staff Correspondent) BUFFALO, N. Y., Sept. 8. Two men dead and two men wounded! That's the result of a gun battle in Durham avenue in this city on Sunday night, traceable directly to the influence of Mayor Frank X. Schwab, of Buffalo, a Roman Catholic, who is sum-pmp crpn. era 1 of the Knights of St. John. He is the same man who in his official position as the head of the Roman Catholic order, recently called upon Catholics to prepare themselves and arm themselves for war because of the existence of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. His official Ftatemtnt at the time of its utterance was carried in newspapers everywhere because of its extreme bitterness and because ot his well-known activity in opposition to the Klan. He has carried that activity to a point where it has resulted in two murders and the wounding of two other men, and he himself is involved to the extent that it is said that warrants are to be sworn out for his arrest on charges of grand larceny and criminally receiving stolen property. The man employed to do the dirty, underhanded work of stealing Klan records is dead and his blood is on the hands of those who employed him, as well as is the blood of the other murdered man who was undertaking to get a confession from the man who killed him. The Dead Men Edward C Obertean, 133 Kensington avenue, Buffalo, a Roman Catholic understood to be in the secret employ of Mayor Schwab to Rather information concerning the Klan. Ohertean joined the Buffalo Klan on June 2.!, perjuring himself to do it, arid receiving pay at the rate of $3 per day and expenses, the money be1ns paid to him out of a secret fund or the city of Buffalo'sTnoney, il. is charged. Obertean was a former Jiiirralo policeman and was discharged from the force in 11)20 by AHing Mayor Kreinheder, on the c-hiirge of conduct unbecoming an of fleer. Fie had been seeking rein ftntenient for five months but Mayor Schwab gave him this Reerei work ajrainst the Klan instead. Did with lour bullets in bis body. ' Thomas J. Austin, special investigator of the Klan. who had been working on the Buffalo Klan robbery sc sinr r July C. who had learned nil tlu' facts and was seeking to obtain a confession from Obertean whin he was murdered. Died with two bullets, one through his heart, fired by Obertean in his dying moments as the two men engaged in the Kiin battle. The two men Were the only ons In the battle to po.if.ess revolver:!, and they killed ea;di other. The Wounded 7 Ccrrge C. Bryant, organizer and londor of the Buffalo Klan, wounded In tbn groin by one bullet; condition erious but Improving in the Buffalo City Hospital. He is a past monarch or the Buffalo Grotto. Carl Sturm, recognized head of the ttuiTnlo Klan, one bullet wound in the fleshy part of the leg; not serious: recovering. Mayor Schwab wants to prefer murder charges against both Bryant and Sturm, who accompanied Austin to get a confession from Obertean. Neither Bryant nor Sturm had any (Continued on Page 6)

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Air Fiery Cross Beits Are

Hated by Crooks Glenn Young, prohibition officer, who led the fight against vice in Williamson county, Illinois, is a much hated man by the thugs, bootleggers and panderers of that county and other places. A reward of ten thousand dollars subscribed by the "Eagan Rats" of St. Louis, members of the Knights of The Flaming Circle and the criminals in St. Louis and Chicago has been offered to the crook who kills Young. Young is now recovering from an attack made upon him last May when five bandits attacked him. At that time Mrs. Young was shot and blinded for life. MARION COUNTY KLAN TO HOLD OPEN-AIR CEREMONIAL SEPT. 12 Event to Take Place at Hia watha Gardens and Will Be Open to the' Public Klansmen From All Parts of Indiana to Have Part in Big Affair Knights of Marion County Klan No. 3 have completed plans for the first open-air initiation ceremonial in the vicinity of Indianapolis. It will take place at Hiawatha Gardens Friday night, September 12, and the public will be permitted to witness the exercises. This outdoor initiation will come as a climax to the Indiana Klau's activities of the summer. The organization has enjoyed an unprec edented growth during the past three months and the ceremonial Friday-night will celebrate the sue cess of the Ku Klux Klan in In diana. The initiation ceremonies will be preceded by a liand concert by robed Klansmen and there will be patrioticaddresses on subjects relating to the Klan by national speakers. Persons interested in the work of ! the Klan are invited by Marion County Klan No. 3 to attend thN open-air demonstration. Autoists who wish to drive to Hiawatha Gar (Continued on page 5) BIG STONE GAP HOST TO 15,000 KLANSMEN Virginia Town Greets Largest Crowd in History Klan Stages Big Parade (Special to The Fiery Cross) BIG STONE GAP, Va., Sept. ). This little town entertained the largest number of visitors in its history on Saturday night, August 23, when more than 15,000 persons wit nessed a monster celebration by the Ku Klux Klan of Appalaehiar Klansmen from southwest Virginia Tennessee and Kentucky were present. At eight o'clock several thousand robed Klansmen, headed by a Klan band In uniform, marched through the principal streets of the city. An airplane flew directly over the line of march displaying a fiery cross. At the ball park the Klansmen formed a large circle and listened to a speech by W. G. Fulcher, a national Klan lecturer. An initiation of a large class and fireworks followed . .

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RESIGNATION OF GALLIGAN IS DEMANDED IHERIFF OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY LEAVES FOLLOWING CHARGE OF MUKDER Ministers Score Lack of Law En forcement Convict Made Depnty Sheriff Charged (By Staff Correspondent) HERRIN. 111.. Sent. 9.Fnllowing testimony at the in quest neict alter the recent killing of Klansmen here, and at which it was testified Sh prifF George Galligan and Ora Thomas were responsible for the kill ing oi tnester Keia, who was shot to death in the street, Galligan and Thomas are said to nave ieit tne county. Thomas is said to be the leadpr nf tVip Knights of the Flaming Circle in Williamson county. Thomas, who is Galligan's chief deputy, was called "one of the chief storm centers" in Herrin. Sheriff Calltean. who -Is charwri with murder following the most rer cent riot started by members ot the ivnignts ot Tbe Claming Circle, is quoted as havine told a newsnanpr man that he carried three guns and snot tor the pleasure of shooting." Testimony Hits Judge It was testified that shots were fired from an automobile in whirh Judge Bowen was riding. Judge Bowen is the official who rallpH tgethor a grand jury composed of Knieiits of The Flaming. Circle and indicted Glenn Youner. For n timu after the indictment was issued. P.owen was not seen in Herrin. He recently returned - It -was also testified that the court stenographer was in the car with Bowen when the shots were fired. An insistent demand for the resignation of Sheriff Galligan is now being made by the Ministerial Association of Herrin. The following statement has been issued by the ministers: "The Ministers' Association of Williamson county,. 111., composed o preachers of all Protestant denomi nations, feeling that the real sit.nn tion in this county is misunderstood y tne public at large, make thi statement setting forth their views in the hope that it will correct the inadenuato and sometimos nrnin. diced reports which have appeared in tne press. "Two years ago Williamson conn ty brought upon itself censure of the entire country as a result of a bitter economic dispute which enrlprl sn tragically. We need not review the (Continued on Page 5) VEEDERSBURG TO HAVE THREE-DAY KARNPVAL Defense Day to Be Observed Juniors to Have Part Parade and Fireworks as Finale (Special to The Fiery Cross) VEEDERSBURG, Ind., Sept. 9. Plans Tor the big three-day meeting and celebfation . to be held by the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in this city on September 11, 12 and 13, have been completed and all is now in readiness for the demonstration. The first day of the meeting will be given over to a program to be presented by the women of the- Klan. On Friday the Juniors will have the day and Saturday the senior organization will take charge-. The celebration will close on Saturday nieht with a narade led hv 4-more than one hundred mounted Klansmen. Prizes will be offered for the largest delegation from out of the city and for the best float. The famous Rossville (111.) float will be in the precession. On Friday National Defense Day will be observed. Also on Friday the Juniors will engage in a baseball game with the Danville, Illinois, Junior club. There will be free entertainment each day during the celebration an3 carnival. The meeting will be held in Hub park and followtng the parade a brilliant display of fireworks will bo clven. ;

PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL SOLVE AMERICAS BIG PROBLEM, SAYS EVANS1 Imperial Wizard Delivers Bril liant Address in Which Alien Ban Is Lauded "Parochial Schools Teach What to Think Instead of How to Think," Speaker Declares (Special to The Fiery Cross) ERIE, Pa., Sept. 8. SDeakine hefore a crowd estimated at 50,000, Dr. H. W. Evans, Imperial Wizard Of Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, declared that "the parochial -sebool taught what :to think -while the American public schools taught how to minx. America s greatest problem, he said, would disappear in twenty years if all attended the pub lic scnooi. The problem, he declared, was how to assimilate the foreign population now within the hordera of the United States. The greater the attanitn-nno at public schools, said Dr. Eans", the more superstition and bliM .following of the teachings of a toreign church that puts itself abore the government will be eliminated. A Changing Sentiment . The growing feeling throughout the COUntrv that attend ao at Mio public schools should lie miiAo mni-1 pulsory will re3ult, he MliesTip 1 tha eventual i,c(oUl,,)i,lXj -ii... 1 system and , the Sua; assiiailation into American lifef of children ntin would otherwise be illiterate or erro neously jaugntoHe pleaded for action to guard this country against a recurrence of the conditions found in the world war, when 24 per cent of the men n the army were found to be illiterate. This disgrace ofthe nation, not fully appreciated before, "would -e wiped out if compulsory education were required of all children. Should Think for Selves Those who are potential legislators and executives of this country should be trained to think for themselves, he .declared. They should be kept free from, propaganda of all kinds, excepting faith in their God and country. They should not ie iaught in school that one church was preferable to another, that members of one were "in the fold" md all others were heretics. Children taught in parochial schools, Roman Catholics or other(Continued on Page 5) JUNIOR KLAN HOLDS RIVER ISLAND RITES - "i Elkhart Boys and Friends Attend Picnic Speaking and Music Are on the Bill (Special to The Fiery Cross) ELKHART, Ind., Sept. 6. Elkhart Junior Klansmen with their parents and friends attended a picnic at Island park Wednesday afternoon and night. The attendance was es timated at 6G0. The closing feature of the evening's events was the Ini tiation or twenty-eight Elkhart boys and twenty-eight lads from South Bend. The ceremony took place in the northwest , part of the island along the river bank. A fiery cross on a small island in. tne river burned during the initiation. Rev. Cecil Castle, of South Bend, delivered an address on Tne-Amer ican Boy," in which he strongly em phasized the necessity of proper raining- ror tne youth or this country. Daring the . afternoon a number of athletic events were participated m by all tie boys. A picnic supper was served at six o'clock A Junior Klan .orchestra from South Bend, composed or nve pieces, played aev eral selections - and the Elkhart senior Klan's drum corps-entertained the Juniors and their friends. ENTHUSIASTIC MEET IS HELD AT OTTEJRBEIN

(Special to The Fiery Cross) OTTERBEIN, Ind., Sept-8. An enthusiastic Ku Klux Klan meeting was held here recently, Rev.; Mess-nard-addressing a large crowd from a bandstand on the public library grounds. He waa frequently interrupted by applause front hi, audience. , Rev Oldaker - was the speaker at another good meeting, held the night before at Pine Village. ' 1Y.

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OREGON SCHOOL LAW RFXORD IS, FILED PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. - 9. The record in the Oregon school law case has been filed in the Supreme Court of the United States, where final disposition will eventually be made of the action brought in the district court at Portland to set aside the law as unconstitutional. In view of the novelty of the issues raised by enemies of public education and the personnel of the supreme court, it would be rash to predict what the decision may be. But if the court should hold thai-tae sovereign citizens of -Oregon have no right to enact a compulsory public school law, one recourse will remain. The constitution can be so amended as to vouchsafe that right to the people of any state. It is remarked many times in this state that opposition to theOregon law "comes from precisely the -same source as-opposition to the Sterling-Reed school bill in Congress. The enthroned hierarchy of Rome directs the fight on both. ELWOOD KLANSMEN GOING RIGHT ALONG Much Interest Manifested as Fall Program Is Being perfected -s -.---...'.-.,''' (Special to The FTery "CrtsW .ELWOOD, Ind., Sept. 9. It has been announced that the local Klan is now planning a series of enter tainments for the fall program which will be a surprise. The three units of the Klan in this city, the seniors, Juniors and the Women's Organiza tion, are working out a program in unison. The growth of the Junior organization has already passed the tondest hopes of the organizers of the local unit. Both the men's and the women's organizations are enjoying a steady growth and the local Klavern is be ing looked upon as one of the best in the state. Much opposition has arisen here, but this has been overcome as it has elsewhere and the Klan is going merrily on despite the rabid outbursts of certain politicians here. Much Activity Is Shown During the past several weeks the Klan has shown much activity and with the coming of the fall months an increased activity is promised "I he program now being worked out is an elaborate one and much inter est is being manifest by local Klans men. The success of the organization here has been a bitter pill to many who opposed it for various reasons, one of which is that it stands for Americanism as against certain alienized thought held in this city. PROTESTANT IS GIVEN A CATHOLIC BURIAL Mrs. E. A. Collins Is Buried at Muncie Had Been Sunday School Teacher ' (Special to The Fiery Cross) EATON, Ind., Sept. 8. The funeral of Mrs. E. A. Collins was held Saturday following her death Thursday. Mrs. Collins was given a Roman Catholic burial, although it was stated by her husband that she had not attended the Catholic church for a period of nine years and was at one time a Sunday school teacher in the-Methodist church. Mr. Collins, who is a Protestant, stated that his wife had requested a Protestant funeral. Mrs. Collins died at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Runyan, both of whom are Roman Catholics. A priest had been called without his knowledge, Mr. Collins stated, after his wife had become unconscious. While a Protestant funeral was desired by the husband, he did not wish to cause any disturbance at a time when his wife lay dead. He had taken his wife to her mother when she first became ill, about one month ago, and she died at her parents' home. r-. The burial was at Muncie,. where Mrand Mrs. Collins had 'made their noma previous to Mra. Collins',, Illness. - . .

Activity

Setfled. FINAL STEPS TAKEN MONDAY FOLLOWING MOVE ONE WEEK AGO Klan Publication Now Enjoy ing Excellent Financial Conditions Paper Was Never Managed by a Receiver Although Erroneous Impression Prevailed Final stens were talton HfT,,in,. afternoon following negotiations which had been under way for some time, and all suits np-ninat TVio Cross publishing Company have now Deen dismissed. One of these suits, which asked that a receiver be appointed and which was filed by Ernest Reichard, formerly president of the company, was settled about ten days ago, at which time Mr. Reichard resigned as president. The suit was the result of a misunderstanding which arose over a contract signed at the time of the. in corporation of The Fiery Cross Pubnsmng company in 1923. The articles of aereement failed tn set nnt fully Certain duties to he nerfnrmeri and from what fund the salary of Mr. Keicnard was to be paid. Stephenson Salt Settled The suit filed by D. C. Stephenson, which also asked for a receiver, was the outcome of the settlement made with Mr. Stephenson at the time lie resigned as Grand Dragon of Indiana, and was lor money alleged to have been advanced by Mr. Stephenson to the corporation, after final settlement was supposed to have been made with the former Grand Dragon. This suit was ami cably settled. A third suit, much the same as that filed by Mr. Stephenson, was later filed by Charles W. Bover. whn had formerly been an advertising solicitor ior The Fiery Cross. In this suit, Mr. Boyer alleged that money was due him from advertising contracts which he had secured during his period of employment with the paper and prior to December. 1923. Mr. Boyer had been employed on a commission basis and contended that according to the terms of his contract, made before the company was incorporated, he was entitled to commissions on advertising contracts which were canceled before the expiration of the con(Continued on Page 5) CALIF0RNIANS SEE EQtION RITUAL Oakland Provisional Klan Entertains Large Crowd at Romona Park (Special to The Fiery Cross) OAKLAND, Cal., Sept. 6. Oakland Provisional Klan No. 3 was host to a great crowd at a picnic and initiation ceremony last Monday. The celebration was held at Romona Park, San Roman. The crowd began to gather early in the morning and by noon hundreds of cars were parked in back of the park. Races and contests occupied the afternoon and an orchestra played for those who wished to dance. Coffee, sugar and cake were served free. all day. Thousands of spectators gathered in the evening-to witness the initia tion. Hundreds of Klansmen and Klanswomen formed a hollow square around the platform, with American flags at each corner. Forty-five men were received into the order. Mu sicians from Oakland Klans No. 2 and 3 played throughout the cere mony. Fireworks and an address by a speaker from the Oakland Klan closed the evening's program. "ANTI" SPEAKER FAILS TO SHOW UP AT SHOALS SHOALS, Ind., Sept. 6 "Anti Klanners" are still wondering what became of the speaker who -was scheduled to speak last week and who tailed to show up. The speech, which was to be a bitter attack on the Klan, had been widely advertised for two weeks previous to the date on which the speaker was to have voiced his "unalterable opposition to the great American organization. A crowd of Loogootee "antls" made their way to Shoals only to learn that the sneaker had evidently eotten

cold feet or had got his dates' mixed.

CANDIDATE WHO IS BACKED BY KLANSMEN WINS

KALI'H 0. BREWSTER'S MAJOR. ITY IX FIGHT FOR GOVERNOR IS ESTIMATED ON FACE OF INCOMPLETE RETURNS AS HIGH AS 45,000 DEFEATED CANDIDATE, WILLIAM It, PATTEN -GALL, BITTERLY ATTACKED KLAN Vote Cast Monday Exceeds All Previous Records by Almost 50,000 Aliens Throughout State Are Lined Up and Sent to Polling Booths "Klan Issue" Injected Into Campaign by Opponents of Successful Candidate (Special to The Fiery Cross) . PORTLAND, Me., Sept. 9. William R. Pattengall, bitter Klan otmonent. was unt - r - vvy defeat here yesterday when the target voie ever cast in the state of Maine carried Ralph O. Brewster into the governor's office. Various estimates put Brewster's majority at fronl 30,000 to 45,000. Present returns indicate that approximately 250,000 citizens castv votes at the election yesterday. This is about 45,000 more votes than were ever cast at an election in Maine. Every foreigner was rounded up and sent to the polls in an effort tn rlcffnr -Hie candidates sponsored, by the Klansmen. ------ -A most bitter fipht ami

6i"oi uicujtci aj jiuea raieresiS "H "and- tt-waa-uecessary following the primaries to make a recount. The -candidate opposing Brewster at that time was M. Farrtne-ton. who harf

the backing of those persons opposed io tne man. rne recount showed Senator Brewster had won by a comfortable margin. Instantly the slogan "A vote for Brewster is a vote for the Klan" was adopted by Brewster's opponents. The fieht crew mnrp hit ter as alien interests dragged the ftjan into uie nght and attempted to make it an issue. It was then that the campaign became a fight between the foreign element and alienminded, and those who stood foursquare ..for American principles and lueais. Pattengall Attaeks Klan The eyes of the nation hnvt Wn focused on Maine on account of the anti-KIan" issue injected by Pattengall. Pattengall had received much publicity thronsh his wtfor attack on the Ku Klux Klan in a speech delivered at the. Democratic national convention. Pattengall from the first attempted to tie the "Klan Issue" into the campaign and in this way seek to secure the votes of foreigners and Roman Catholics." Many Of the leadiner snpaVom nt the country were imported by both siues ana speiiDinaers Kept audiences in rapt attention for several weeks before the election. LARGE CROWD HEARS LAFONTAJNE SPEAKER (Special to The Fiery Cross) L AFO NT AI NE, Ind., Sept. 5. A large crowd that filled the main street .ot this town to overflowing heard a Klan speech by Rev. John McFadden last Friday night. In its report of the interesting lecture, the Lafontaine Herald editorially said ; "The powers of Rome have, been encroaching silently and rapidly upon the rights of Protestantism for the last century, but when the principles of the great organization of the Ku Klux Klan were formulated the Protestants began to see Itae damning influence of Rome in America." FOUNTAIN COUNTY OFFICIAL IS BURIED VEEDERSBURG, Ind., Sept. 8. auer vumpion, county recoroer-or Fountain mnntv was hnrfaxl har - last Wednesday, following his sadden

ueam on last Monaay. He died pt-v. heart trouble and was ill about twenty minutes. He is survived by a widow and three children. He was a member of the Masonic lodge and the Ku Klux Klan. . The latter held last rites at the grave and the Masons also took part in the funeral services. The services were held la

the Sterling Christian - Church . la Covington and the burial was in "the Rockfleld cemetery. Mr. Comptoa was elected to .office ob the Democratic ticket and hi wtrinv will Hl

i out- his tivexnlred -term, "