Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-10-27
.SOLOV IS ELECTED
FROM OKLA. HOUSE
by |RATE MEMBERS
Fight Follows Khan Influence
Charge Custer of Gov.
Walton Upheld by State
|. Supreme Court

OKLAHOMA CITY. Okla, Oct. %.
By the Associated Press.)-A dozen
or more house members forciDly at
tackled Representative Callahan, of
Latimer, smashed a chair and threw
Callahan out of the room when he
declared in a bitter arraignment of
the Ku Klux Khan that N. C. Jewett,
grand dragon of the Oklahoma realm
Of the khan, was debating the kind
of legislation to be enacted in Okla
homa.
Callahan's words hardly fell in
the house chamber before one MEM
Der shouted that's black lie." One
member sprang at Callahan's throat
and both fell on the floor in a scuf-
file. Twelve or fifteen other mem
bers rushed toward Callahan, most
Of them endeavoring to place their
hands on him.
Sergeants-at-arms and virtually all
other members of the house rushed
to the corner, where the scuffle was
taking place. Clenched fists were
waving in the air as Callahan was
forcibly elected into a cloak room
just outside the house chamber.
Callahan stood, guarded by two mem
bers, after the rgeant-at-arm5 had
ordered other members back into
the chamber.
Callahans bitter attacks on the
khan, the first which have been
made in the house during the ex-
traordinary session, occurred after a
long debate on whether the house
should vote for impeachment OF Gov
ernor j. c. Walton on article ten,
which concerns his declaration OF
martial law in Tulsa county. Gala
han said that 80 per cent of the
jury commissioners in the state were
members of the Ku KluX Khan.
Battle Royal Stars
People in this state have been
tried in secret before they reached
the court ROOM" Callahan declared.
"Do you kno what 80 per cent
of the Oklahoma jury commissioners
are klansmen."t one member de-
manded.
Eyes, sir, 1 know it," Callahan
replied. F
He then related how Governor
Walton declared war on the khan
and how Grand Dragon Jewett, "als
most Immediately defied the execu.
tive to overthrow the Ku Klux Khan.
"This same Mr.. Jewett," asserted
Callahan, waving his arms and Wig
orously shaking his head, lis dictat-
ing the kind of legislation to be en-
acted by this body. He"
Here Representative Callahan was
interrupted by shouts from all over
I. 4 kI1a fNOr
sprang at him.
The force of the attack knocked
Callahan into a chair behind him,
crushed it and two legislators wen>
to the floor, surrounded almost i'm
mediately by a group Of indignant
house members.
The eighth charge in the bill OF
impeachment against Governor
Walton was voted by the hoIss
when it approved, II to IA, Article
II of it's committee report accusing
the executive of declaring martial
law in Tulsa, when no cause. rea-
son or ground existed therefor"
Jess Harper, Democrat, of Lee
flore, was in the speakers chair
when the session was called 10
order, Speaker w. D. McBee being
confined to his hotel room by Ill
ness.
A long debate on the introduce
ton of bill by T. B. Taylor, Demo-
crat, of Pirtsburg. to appropr-~te
100000 for the purchase Of a rec,
reation hall at Muskogee to be used
by the inmates of the Oklahoma
memorial hospital, delayed progress
of the session and the consideration
fthe impeachment bill was not
undertaken until late in the mornS
ing.
Court Upholds Custer
Lieutenant Governor M. e. Trap
was declared acting governor of Ok
lahoma in a decision of the state SUI
preme court late today, making per-
manent a writ of prohibition against
Governor Walton and District Judge
Tom C. Chambers, which restraints
them from interfering with the lieu
tenant governors assumption Of the
office.
The court announced it's decision
orally after a brief conference fol-
lowing an afternoon Of argument.
The decision, it was explained, mace
the writ effective against J. G. Wal
ton as an individual and not as gov
ernor. Judge Chambers was enjoin.
GU Ill LID OlLlCiGI SCPcANAIJ clo JoH9Os
The vote of the court was to 4.
The decision sustains a resolution
adopted by the state senate suspend
ing Governor Walton during his i'm
parchment trial, and nullifies an in
junction obtained by the governor
in Judge Chambers court which
would have prevented the lieutenant
governor from becoming acting gov
ernor.
Corruption Charged
So far, Governor Walton stands
formally charged with diversions OF
public funds for private use, prohibit.
ing the the converting Of a grand ;Iry
use Of his official influence to acquire
private property and credit; accept
ing bride to approve a legislative
measure; suspension of the writ of
habeas corpus; unlawfully preventing
a meeting Of the legislature and at
tempting prevention of a special
state election in violation of the
statutes.
If the investigating committees an
nounced intention is carried out, the
charges in all likelihood will be laid
before a district court grand jury
which is now inquiring into charges
Of misconduct of state employees and
the appointments of hundreds Of
state police officers without author.
itys Of law.