The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-09-14
TULSANEWSPAPER
IS PLACED UNDER
MILITARY RULES
Oklahoma Governor Orders
Strict Censorship Own
ers Seek Injunction

By United Press
TULSA, Okla, Sept. 14.-MiHtary
censorship OF the Tulsa Tribune was
ordered today by Governor Walton,
the first step by the executive to
tighten the grip Of the mailed fist up
on the city.
Carrying out the threat in his
ultimatum to the city demanding
certain officials who he believed re-
sponsibie for fiogging parties and mob
rule in Tulsa, resign, the Governor
prepared to indorse the "strictest
martial law restrictions ever known
In any city Of America
The Tribune, edited by Richard
Lloyd Jones, noted newspaper pub
Usher, has fought against Walton's
efforts to clamp a tight miitay rule
upon the city. When troops were sent
into Tulsa a month ago to take over
the civil government of what the Gov
ernor characterized ''reign Of ter
ror," the Tribune started a campaign
against the Governors official acts.
Story of Tulsa"
"a Story Of Tulsa" alleged to be
extracts from testimony given before
a military commission investigating
the brutal whipping and beating ad-
ministered to approximately 100 per-
sons here within the last year, was
given publicity from the Governors
Office in Oklahoma City, the Tribune
published THE Story Of Walton"
This dealt with the Governors acts
since taking office, including the al
legged pardoning of many habitual
criminals.
Governor Walton last night COM
pleted a personal two-day inspection
of conditions IN Tulsa He is con-
vinced as soon as the troops are with
drawn the reign Of terror will be
renewed, unless officials, including the
sheriff and jury commissioners, are
replaced by men "undaunted by the
invisible government"
In conference with business men of
Tulsa he delivered the ultimatum un-
less the five officials he named resign
he would close the grip of military
rule. Already National Guardsmen
are in the sheriff's office, at police
headquarters, and guarding every
street in the city.
The Governor made his demands
fiat. He stood at the head of a long
table, and, smashing his fist down,
left no doubt in the minds of those
who heard him he would go through
with his program. Walton, a former
railrad engineer, a big, heavy-set,
powerful man, with determined jaw,
got it across to the leading residents
Of Tulsa he was boss and the orders
were to "clean up"
Immediately hurried conferences be-
tween city officials, leaders of the Ku-
Kluxs Klan and leading business men
got under way. But when the Gov
srnor reached Oklahoma City this
morning indications were his demands
would not be met.
Announce Censorship
A few minutes later Aldrich Blake,
the Governors closest adviser, an
nounced the censorship of the Tribune
would become effective Immediately.
Editors Jones and his associates
nave Cd44ou III dbIOIHoSS anu pre-
pared to seek an injunction in Federal
Court preventing troops from inter
fering with the publication Of the
newspaper.
Walton's tenure as Governor Of
Oklahoma has been spectacular from
the time Of his Inauguration last Jan
uary. He has constantly taken the
unexpected course. attracting the eyes
of the nation to Oklahoma
Ten years ago he worked in a
Kansas City office. He was born on
an Indiana farm, educated in ST.
Louis and his early ambitions which
he realized. were to drive n locomo
tive. He then took up civil engineer
ing.