The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-07
IS SECRET
Learn Negroes Had Organized
"Ku Klux KIan."
Leader of Blacks Uprising in E.
st. Louis Can't Be Found.

East st. Louis, Ill, July 7.-Devcl-
opments of the inquiry will be started
at Belleville today by the ST. Clair
county grand jury into the rioting CT
Monday and Tuesday here. which cost
the lives of at least thirty-two negroes
and five white men were awaited with
keenest interest here today.
1t is known that a representative
from the office of Attorney General
Brundage will be present when the
grand jury cOnvenes to see that local
officials use proper diligence III con-
Quoting the probe which is expected
to reveal sensational testimony n
volving DR.. L. n. Bundy, negro dem
| fist and black leader, who is alleged
to have been the brains of the negro
uprising which resulted in the killing
tef two white detectives and precipi-
| tated the race riots. Bundy has dis
appeared.
Tell of Negro Organization.
That negroes had planned an ex-
| tensive uprising for July and were
| armed and prepared to carry it out,
| is alleged to have been stated by nu-
mero0s negroes questioned at the
coroner's inquest yesterday. The in
quest was secret, even newspaper men
| being excluded. Sixteen blacks have
questioned and five have admitted
| that they were members of the mob
which early Monday morning KILLED
wounds on Patrolman Wodley, of
which he later died.
Statements credited to Mrs. Ida
Wells Barnes, former teacher in a
negro high school and well educated
negress, said that other negro out
breaks are expected in different cities.
Chicago is powder key which
any incident is apt to explode" Mrs.
Barnes is quoted as having said. 1.-The
negroes are all armed and prepared
| to protect their homes"
Mrs Barnes is here helping her
people, she said, and insisted the only
condition under which they would re-
| turn to East St. Louis was the ferret
| ing out and hanging of the white MUIR
| derers of the negroes. 1t is generally
believed here that the populace will
| not stand for measures as severe as
this, even if mob leaders are convict
ed of lynching negroes. Public sym
| pathy. as far as press representatives
could learn, while deprecating the
ferocity of the mob's actions, is
| against severe punishment for mob
sters.
Condemn Guards, Then Praise.
The resolutions condemning the po-
| lice administration of the city, which
] were presented to 800 business men
and employers yesterday afternoon by
citizens committee, appointed by
| the chamber of commerce, were
adopted without debate. The resolu-
| tions condemn the action of the ma
| tional guardsmen on duty here last
| Monday, who say the resolutions,
| were wholly inactive, and in some in
! stances, aiding and abetting the riot
ers.''
The able and efficient manner in
which Adjutant General Dickson and
his men now are handling the situa-
| ton is commended. The adjutant
general did not reach East st. Louis
until the rioting Monday night was
| over.
Employers Favored Negroes.
| Charles karch, United States dis
trict attorney for southern Illinois, in
an interview today, said the business
men who now are trying to induce the
fugitive negroes to return to their old
jobs, misunderstood the temper of the
mob that took part in the Monday
horror.
Mr.. Karch said there was truth in
the claim of white workers that GER
tain large employers of labor would
give a white man work only when
| they could not get a negro. Mr.. Karch
did not offer this as a Justification or
defense of the action of the mob,
but made the statement in connection
with the further assertion that only
the presence of a large force of ILL
nois guardsmen prevents a recurrence
of the rioting