The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-14
Governor Allen Tells AttOrney
General to Get Busy.
to Know Facts of Great
Bend Tar Party.
LEAGUERS COUNT CASUALTIES
Five Hundred n. p. l.. Reported
en- Route to Scene Today.
Former Topekan Got Rough
Treatment From Vets.

Gov. H. ]. Allen today requested
Richard j. Hopkins. attorney general,
to investigate the Nonpartisan league
demonstration in Barton county Sat-
urday which resulted in the tarring
OF j. o. Stevic and C. o. Parsons, and
escorting from town of ]. r. Burton.
FORMER United States senator.
Salfna Leaguers on March.
Great Bend. Kan. March 14.-The
report was current on the streets here
today that five hundred sympathizers
OF the Nonpartisan league at Saiina
were on their way here to investigate
the anti-league demonstration staged
IN this city Saturday and which re-
suited in the tarring of J. o. Stevic
and c. Q. Parsons, organizer and sec
retary of the league, respectively.
Judge D. A. Banta, of the district.
Will prepare a statement today in an
swer to those made by ]. Ralph Bur-
ton. ex-senator, who was escorted out
of country Saturday afternoon by one
hundred ex-service men.
Salina. Kan, March IA. o.
Stevic, editor of the Nonpartisan
Leader. and F. o. Parsons, state secre-
tary. who were beaten and tarred at
Great Bend Saturday night, stated to-
day that statewide protest would
go to. the governor. and requests made
for investigation.
~ OF SteVlC = injuries. as
given out today are: Hair and face
and shoulders matted with tar, two
black eyes. injured backbone twisted
thigh and bruises over the face and
body.
Parsons injuries, as given out today,
are: Hair and face and shoulders
matted with tar. one black eye. three
broken ribs. probable internal injuries,
cut cheek and face, and bruises over
| the body.
Busy Preparing Statements.
Stevic and J. r. Burton. who with
his wife, was escorted from Barton
county in an automobile Saturday
afternoon. are busy today preparing
statements which they are debating TO
stenographers.
I'VE underwent horrible treatment. -.
Stevic declared today. Parsons and I
had left Ellinwood and got TO Chase
when the mob overlook us. They took
| over to another mob. We were then
taken to a lonely place. Two men
were stationed to each of our arms,
holding them up while we were fear
fully beaten by others
hinged About by Autos.
Then a circle of automobiles ringed
about us and tar pots appeared. We
were stripped to the waist and tar ap-
piled. Half blind we staggered away,
| hearing another mob was after U.S.
We sought shelter in a strawstack, but
at o'clock in the morning we went
back to Great Bend to learn the hour
! We walked twenty miles on the rail-
road and came to a farm house. The
| farmer said that he doubted IL we
| were human beings. but he took US in
| and two Leaguers were secured. who
brought us to Salina.'' =
j. r. Burton said today he was badly
treated. He said the mob offered TO
allow his wife to go to Great Bend. but
/ she refused to leave her husband
whereupon they were escorted in their
| car to st. John, Kan
Defense Chief DcpIores.
| o. A. Kitterman, president of the
American Defense League of Kansas
this morning stated that the defense
league does not approve of such tao
| tics.
+, II regret" Mr. Kitterman said.
that the events occurred at Great
| Bend Saturday night. The American
Defense League had nothing to do
i with it. We are opposed to violence.
and are asking the people of Kansas
| by logic and facts against the en-
croachments Of the Nonpartisan
league"