The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-10-01
Governor
ill Halt
Election n
Full Strength of National
Guard, $4,000 Special Po-
lice and Is, 1000 Volunteers
Are Ordered Modified.
Possibility of Bloodshed
BY Universal Service.

gravest crisis which Oklahoma has
faced during the turbulent days Of
martial law. since Gov. J. C. Walton
declared war on the invisible empire.
swept across the state tonight, when
the governor ordered modified every
force at his command. military and
civilian, to enforce his proclamation
hating Tuesdays special election.
He called to arms the full strength
oc the Oklahoma National Guard.
5000 officers and men. and ordered
numerous detachments to strategic
points in the state.
He ordered to duty every man Of
his $4,000 special police so as 10
blanket the state and forbid open
ing of the polls. This force he calls
his minute men"
He issued a call to $1,000 yolun-
teer citizen soldiers he claims he has
drawn to his cause and colors.
He is going to stop at all costs
any effort at holding the election, he
told correspondents at the executive
mansion late today. and when he
spoke it was as if field marshal
were martialling his forces for battle.
The governor does not plan 10
use the military TO stop the election.
unless there is a riot.
The constitution does not give me
that right" he explained.
But my minute men will stop II.
The polls will open. II there is a
riot. then I will throw the military
into action.v
There may be bioodshed." the gov
ernor said. Il dread to see 1t. But
there may be, in order to preserve
our constitution. II there Is blood
shed. it will lie at the doors OF the
klan-kept press"
Governor Walton then charged
that five newspapers in the state
were responsible for the present tur.
bulence and unrest.
II 1t had not been that other
newspapers throughout the United
states would have misunderstood my
motive and could not have known
my provocation. l would have put a
lock on those newspaper plants long
ago and thrown the key in the river"
he declared. Then there would not
have been all this trouble"
The governor attributes all resist
ance TO his policies to the Ku Klux
hlan. He was more aroused tonight
than at any time since he began
his fight to a finish on the in
visible empire. There was the biz.
ing ring Of hatred in his words.
They have gone too far" he de.
elared. My patience is fraved
They have ruined my five eons;itu.
1onaI measures. the things l built
my campaign on. There can be no
eieetion now. It Is invalidated.
They tried to run in initiative bin
No. -. They held up the election
~rangiins IN the courts until the iast
minute. until too late 10 inform the
people what the measures mean. and
now they shall nor vote
Whom do YOU mean by they
governor he was asked
That lawless gang in the klan s,s
the klan press" he replied.
Governor Walton then f;xAs he
sray eyes on the correspondents. beat
nus left nalm with his right fist and
numbered warming 10 Oklahoma
that martial law VIII be claimed
down so tight il viii siine the s,a,s.
II opposition persists.
I've been pretty nice 70 those sel.
lows compared 10 what I can be /. he
SAID But they've gone far enough
About one more shot from them ana
u clamp martial law down 50 hand
over this state that it viii give Won
newspaper boys something sensation.
al 10 write about.
III make every person in Okla.
homa go TO bed at O'Clock. IN .hnt
things up tight at night. There viii
be thousands OF vacant houses In mi,
state ifthey don't watch cut
The governor said such a fnoye was
held in restraint but that he, eoula
not longer tolerate conditions. =con.
eerted oposiiien from the Khan and
their cohorts"
The significance OF Governor Wal.
tons assertion that there viii he
thousands ~ vacant houses In IN.
state was taken to mean that there
would he an exodus from Oklahoma
The state Is seethinS with excite.
iaent Orders from forces opposing
the governor already have gone our
10 county and municipal authorities
10 keep a close watch for armed
civilians and arrest every man carry.
INK a weapon.
This is taken as move against ,ha
governors minute men, who hold
commissions fromh i'm to carry Arms
at his command.
The Plan is TO seize these men. nut
them in Jail and hold them ss hours
incommunicado FOR Investigation.
The determination Of anti.wslton
leaders 20 held the election wa. hy
no means mistaken by Governor Wal.
tons warning tonight.
W. d. Mcsee. leader ef the rebel.
legislators, announced tonight that
meetings are being held In IS cSaun.
ties of tho state Speakers are urr.
ing the people 70 SO 70 the polls Tues
day assuring them that the results
of the election will he held valid by
the courts. Pastors announced the
election from p0lnits all over thu