New-York tribune., 1921-03-14
Mob, Largely Legion Men,
Raids Meeting, Gives
Leaders Sticky Coat
and Drives Them Off
Ex-U. S. Senator
Chased Out, Too
J. Ralph phBurton,S Supposed
Sympathizer, Takes to
Flight With Professor
Special Dispatch to The Tribune

GREAT BEND, Kan, March ia
coat Of tar was the reception given the
latest Nonpartisan League "invasion'
OF Barton County here late last night
A mob of more than two hundred
men, many of them members of the
American Legion, from Lyons, Ellin-
wood and this city, took J. 0. Stevic
state organizer of the league, and A. A.
Parsons, state secretary Of the organi-
zatlon, to spot few miles north of
the city, where they forced the two
men to disrobc, daub themselves with
tar and then roll in the grass.
Their clothes were then returned to
them and they We're warned to stay out
Of Barton County.
Earlier in the day, J. Ralph Burton
former United States Senator from
Kansas. and recently member OF the
party from Salina which Investigated
and 'whitewushed" the Nonpartisar
Leagues administration in North Da-
kota, and Professor Wilson, one Of the
organizers of the league, were escorted
from the city. 1t is believed they 60,
as far away as possible and were no,
molesteG.
Burton and Wilson were on thei1
way to Ellinwood, where they were ,t
speak yesterday afternoon. When they
did not appear there Stevic and Par
sons came to Great Bend to learn whal
had become Of fhp1,
Leave Under escort"
An escort" was provided for then
also and they were taken to Silica
about five miles southeast of Ellinwood
and told not to come back. That was
about 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Al
6 O'Clock American Legion men ant
others at Lyons learned that Stevic ant
Parsons we're back in Ellinwood
Rallying others by means Of bugls
calls a large party started for Ellin.
wood. There they broke up a Non.
partisan League meeting, seized Stew,
and Parsons and brought them te
Great Bend. arriving here at $3.50
o'clock last night The tar party wa.
increased greatly by reinforcements
from Ellinwood and this city.
Numbering more than 200, every
member determined foe OF the Non
Partisan League, the mob marched the
prisoners out Of town. No effort was
made to stop them, as Sheriff Sam Hill
formerly Deputy United States Mar
shall, was one OF those who had warned
the. leasuers from. Barton County
earlier in the day.
A few miles north of Great Rend the
mob stopped A gruif voice com.
mended:
Take off your clothes,'
The prisoners. protesting, obeyed.
Then cauldron of tar was brought
up.
and the two men, trembling in the
coating to their naked bodies. Wher
given for them TO roll in the grass
since the mob had no feathers.
Mob Gives Warning
When they were Convinced that tho
job had been done thoroughly and thai
the prisoners had gained thorough
knowledge of Barton County'S attitude
toward the Nonpartisan League, the
men were given back their clothes an(
the mob left, with q parting word oil
warning.
1t was pointed out to Stevic that he
already had violated two promises te
remain away from the county and thai
last nights tar party was carried out
as means of forcing him, by fear, tc
keep his word
Feeling against the Nonpartisar
League has been strong in this section
of the state. Late last summer there
was trouble both here and at Elin
wood. AT the latter place Nonpar-
tisan meeting was broken up by the
American Legion. Stevic at that time
went to Governor Allen with a com
plant, demanding that Sheriff Yancs
be removed from Office.
Joseph Ralph Burton vas elected
Senator from Kansas in 1901. He re.
signed in 1905 after he had been con.
victed OF accepting $500 a month from
the Rialto Grain and Securities Com.
pany of st. Louis as compensation fol
using his influence with the Postotfic,
Department to prevent the barring o1
that company from the United States
mails. He was fined $500 and servec
six months in Jail at lronton Mo
Senator Burton's seat was taken BY
y RI