New-York tribune., 1922-12-21
Troops Camp
AtKIan Center
In Louisiana
Governor Parker Refuses TO
Give Reasons Behind
Move, but Announces He
VIII Keep Guard on Duty
u. S. Detectives at Work
Bodies Of Two Missing Men
Reported Found; Inquiry
Expected Within a Week
r...iol Dl,.ofeh 70 The Trfbuae

new ORLEANS. Dee Ex-Governor
John n. Parker tonight refused 10
make any definite statement as 70 why
he sent state troops to Mer Rouge.
Neither would he say how long he was
going 10 keep them there lie said
the troops had gone 70 preserve peace
and that he intended 70 see that they
we're kept on duty so long as there
Eas any danger Of another outbreak
In that section.
Mesntime. the entire state has been
aroused By the action Of the Governor
Ia calling out the militia. Reports
came from Bastrop AZ FIVE o'eloek that
the troops were carried In motor Tor.
ries In order that they could be moved
quickly from place 10 place.
Adjutant General l.. A. Toombs, IN
charge Of the company Of miLtiamen'
says merely that he was ordered TO
Mer Rouge and is going 70 stay there.
Runors had said the Khan was plan
ming a great demonstration st Christ
mas time against Governor Parker
hRht on the organization, but this can
not be confirmed.
Bier Rouge, where the troops are
ouartered, has been a hotbed Of klan
activities for some time. and Il was
there that Watt Daniels and Thomas
+. Richards disappeared August ~
after they had been taken out vita
three other men, and whipped by d
mob Of masked men.
Repors are current throughout
Morehouse Parish that the bodies OF
Daniels and Richards have been found
by government deteetives. either in
Cooper Lake or Lafourehe Lake
vseiehted down with a wheel said 20
have been taken from farmers wagon
By the masked band.
II Is generally understood that the
troopers are 20 be used as guards
while the lakes are searched. They
will be dredged az once, It is said BY
One Of the lakes Ia seven miles
northwest Of Mer Rouge and the other
sixteen miles northeast Of there. d,
Company G, Louisiana National
Cuard. arrived in the town In trucks
al o'clock this morning and went
into camp on q site selected by Mayor
Dade near the Mer Rouge electric
nower house. Morohousc Parish is
quiet Sheriff Fred Carpenter, OF Bas-
trop. the county seat, reports no
trouble there.
-Four Federal detectives have been
working quietly for many days. Ihey
have quarters in the power house, and
have carried OF their search without
interference or interruption. Citizens
have treated them courteously and OPP
narently lent their assistance 20 every
effort 20 clear up the mystery sur
rounding the sinking out Of sight OF
Daniels and Richards, two prominent
Young men. II Is understood the
troops were sent here nt the request
Of the detectives
Public hearings into the disappear.
ances. IL Is said, will DO insugurated
BY the State within week or ten
days.
Morehouss Parish citizens we're
astonished at the action Of the Gov
ernor. The theory that family feuds
are as much Gt the bottom Of this
trouble as is the Ku-Klux Klon, Is
gaining favor in this section.
HOUSTON, Tex. Dec. 20. - Colonel
Mayfeld's weekly, published Ia Hous-
ton, Is owned and edited by Colonel
Plliie Mayfeld, a former officer in the
Texas National Guard. and not By Sen
ator.elect Earle b. Mayfeld. as indi-
Gated IN Mayor Hylan's letter % the
President asking suppression Of the
paper.
Senator Mayheld has no connection
with the paper, IL is stated.