The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-05-03
DENY TREY SAID
STRAYER MADE
OISLOYAL TALK
Speech by Prosecutor at Dali
ton Was Thoroughly Amer
lean They Declare.

Five men of Dalton, Ind, signed
statements Thursday before reliable
witnesses, in which they denied that
they had ever said Prosecuting At
torney Frank Strayer's speech, de-
livered at Dalton shortly after war
was declared was unpatriotic, and
thus branded as absolutely false state
ments which they were said TO nave
signed that Strayer was disloyal.
Thursday afternoon Will Keller.
chairman of the Wayne county coun-
Gil of defense. Attorney Byram Rob
bins. Edwin NJ. ,Campfield. Sheriff
Glen Carr and Prosecutor Strayer,
went to Dalton to investigate the au-
thenticity of the statements alleged to
have been signed by these men.
Following are the statements sign
ed Thursday by the five men contra
dieting the statements they are sup
posed to have signed previously:
Alfred Underhill misrepresents me
in the statement he has printed about
Frank r. Strayer. Underhill wrote the
statement himself and | never intend
ed to say that Frank Strayer was un-
patriotic or Pro-German.
when Strayer was talking about
Germany's strong government he was
trying to make the people realize that
we must do everything in our power
TO whip her
II thought Strayer's speech at Dali
ton to be good patriotic talk.
(Signed) DAVE BELCHER.
Witness: E. NJ. Campfield, Byram
c. Robbins, Will w. Keller.
Il was present and heard the speech
made by Frank T. Strayer at Dalton,
Indiana. | never told Alfred Under
hill that Mr.. Strayer made any I'M
patriotic statements. Mr.. Strayer's
speech at Dalton was loyal. patriotic
speech and the speech of true Amer
lean. Any statement Mr.. Strayer made
in his speech about the kind of govern
ment German has, was made and in
tended to show the necessity of the
United States preparing and using
great efforts to win the war.
(Signed) HOMER JONES.
May I'd, 1918.
Witness: Byram c. Robbins, Glen.
ent V. Carr.
Il live in Dalton and heard the
speech made there by Frank T. Stray
er. Mr.. Strayer's speech was a loyal
patriotic, true American speech made
at patriotic meeting and was warmly
applauded by his audience. 1t had nc
unpatriotic statement whatever in it
Mr. Strayer's references to Germany's
government were solely to show thai
the United States should and must use
strong efforts to win the war and de-
all we can to help our country.
never told Alfred Underhill that Mr.
Strayer made any unpatriotic state
ment.
tSigned) CURTIS BALES.
LEWIS V. BALES.
Witnesses to signature of Curtis
Bales: Byram C. Robbins, Surild;
Bales.
Witnesses to signature Of Lewis Y
Bales: Clement V. Carr, Byram G
Robbins.
II heard Frank T. Strayer make {
speech at Dalton, Indiana after the
war was declared. During the speed
Strayer spoke of Germany having ;
strong organized government. ant
Joe Davis interrupted him, and sait
he didn't want to hear German
speech. ! believe that Strayer wa
trying to make the point that Ger
many was a powerful country and w
would have to do everything in gu
power to defeat her.
Alfred Underhill came to me for
statement as to what Strayer said.
told him at the time that ! didn'
think Strayer was unpatriotic, an
when Underhill has a statemen
printed that | think Strayer made a
unpatriotic speech. he misrepresent
me. I looked at the paper Underhi
had me sign, but couldn't read 1t be
cause | didn't have my glasses. 1
the statement / signed | didn't inten
to say Strayer made an unpatrioti
speech, and didn't say that citizen
told him he could stop. Underhill ha
taken advantage of me and has don
Strayer and me an injustice.
II regard Mr.. Strayer's speech
thoroughly patriotic.
(Signed) LEROY HARTER.
Witness: Will w Keller
E. NJ Carnpfield.