The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-10-03
NEWS review OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Sensational Doings in Governor
WaIton's War on the Khan
in Oklahoma.
STATE UNDER MARTIAL LAW
Legislature Plans to Hold Extra SEES
sion-Spain Now Ruled by picta-
tor and Observation-Disclosures and
Poineare confer-BerkeIey, CAL,
is Swept by Flames.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD

n KLAHoMA has become the CEN
~ ter of the war against the hu
klux Khan. Developments there last
week were sensational, and the flu
ture is looked to not without some
apprehension. Enraged by more of
the ~ioggingS which are reasonably sup
posed TO be committed or melted by
the Khan, Gov. j. e. Walton announced
that a state of instruction and rebel
lion against the laws and constituted
authorities of the state existed, and
therefore he proclaimed martial law
for the entire state and ordered abSo-
lutte martial law for Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma county and Creek county.
Units of the National Guard were
called u and a military commission
set up and began the examination and
trial of civilians-a thing that has not
been seen in the United States for
many years.
An order was issued prohibiting "all
public meetings, publications, litera-
ture and verbal expressions tending to
create opposition to the enforcement
Of martial law in Oklahoma county"
and consequently the newspapers there
have been cautious. However, the pub
fishers of several of the largest dailies
In the state have signed and many
of the papers have printed an address
to the people of the United States de-
claring that the supreme issue in Ok
lahoma today is constitutional govern
ment or despotism," and asserting that
Governor Walton, by his acts, has
attempted to nulllfy rights guaranteed
under our Constitution, and TO halt
the lawful processes of republican gov
eminent
In another address the editors urged
the members of the legislature to meet
Immediately, and this is what a large
number of the legislators have been
planning to do. Walton says he will
not permit it, and is quoted as declar-
ing that if the lawmakers assemble he
will build a stockade and put them in
1t. Notwithstanding the threat, al
most a majority of the members of the
lower house have signed and issued
a call for a special session for the
purpose of investigating charges
against the governor of repeated in
iuries. usurpations and blunders. evil
dencing the direct object of establish
ing an absolute tyranny and despotism
over the commonwealth"
Walton has strong political support.
made up of Farmer-Laborites, radical
Democrats and a kind of Ncnpartisan
league. but some of these. especially
the Laborftes, do not take kindly to
martial law. The "invisible empire"
men are not openly combating the gov
ernor's methods. but are working I'M
der cover with great energy, and IT IS
believed that in a measure they can
control a special session of the legis-
lature. Their fiery crosses continued
to blaze over certain buildings in Ok
lahoma City until Thursday, when
Walton ordered them struck down.
Walton. if he reads the news from
Europe. may seek to emulate Benltn
Mussolini and Gen. Primo Rivera, but
If so he will have to learn that there
Is a vast difference between the con
ditions and peoples in Italy and Spain
and those in the United States. No
Relationships are necessary or desired
in any Of our commonwealth.
Q FAR, the coup d'etat of the mil
y itary aristocracy of Spain is alto.
gether successful. King Alfonso, yield
ing perforce to the rev%olutionists, ere
ated a national directorate and made
Primo Rivera its president with virtu-
ally dictatorial powers. The posi-
lions Of premier and cabinet ministers
were suppressed. The new government