The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-23
PRESS ON WALToN's POLICY

set aside for study, discussion and re- dedication of the federal constitution should also behold at it's height the reign of martial law brought upon the state of Oklahoma by it's governor. Ir the beginning public sympathy was everywhere with Governor Walton in his campaign against lawlessnessl and violence by mobs. When the gov ernor repudiated the civil courts and authorities, and substituted martial law, however, a revulsion in public sentiment was immediately apparent. The American people are supporters of their legally constituted processes of government. Any one who sup plants them unnecessarily with arbi- trary or military authority at once becomes a man whose motives are suspected. It does not appear that Governor Walton made a sincere ef- fort to obtain justice and public pro- tection through the civil channels.
 The first mistake made by the gov ernor was his attempt to censor and suppress the news regarding his acts and policies in connection with his campaign. Naturally, the newspapers, which are one and all firm supporters of public rights and the supremacy of law, resented this order. Newspapers inside and outside of the state were prompt to denounce it. In this regard the New York World observes: "Mili- tary censorship is not easily excused, and this Governor Walton understands, for he has ordered the discontinuance of the censorship of the Tulsa Tribune. The choice in Oklahoma is between an unfortunately spectacular enforcement of the law and an acquiescence in mob rule-abdication, in effect, to the in visible empire. It is choice of evils, but the first is bearable, the latter in- possible" It seems that the World l ignores the safer middle ground, which was tactful enlistment of the regular forces of law and order in the campaign to prevent whippings and i 1iiNdoiOH Ol pIlNdI6 HOneS.
 Although the governor has declared repeatedly that the Ku Klux Klan is responsible for the outbreaks of vio- lence and that it,is question of gov ernment by the constituted authorities or by the Klan, it is a singular fact that so far there has been no formal inquiry which connects the Klan as such with any specific act of violence. The situation has come to a point where the governor must prove some of his broad assertions or lose still further in public esteem. Indeed, the situation has grown much beyond any conflict between the governor and any particular group or organization. As the Philadelphia Public Ledger acutciv points out; What was begun as an effort to destroy the Ku Klux Klan is resolving itself into a conflict, not be- tween the Klan and Governor Walton, but between the governor and the peo7 pie of Oklahoma, who are bound to resent his usurpation of unconstitu- tional powers. Oklahomans are being caught between the devil of the Klan and the deep sea of personal despot- ism that thinks in terms of force. Thinking Oklahomans were fearful of something like this when Walton took office in January, 1923. He was sur rounded by dangerous men. Those fears have been justified by his SUD- pression of courts and legal processes, his censorship, actual and threatened, of all newspapers daring to criticize his armed program and his announce ment that he will jail the state legisla- ture in body if it attempts to meet and pass judgment on his acts. He has surrounded himself and the capi- tai with armed guards and capped the climax by placing the state under the rule of the armed sentry, the bayonet and the machine gun. From the Red river to the Salt Fork and from the Panhandle to the Arkansas line there is danger of big trouble in Oklahoma"
 Another paper of weight which does not attach too much credence to the governors contention that the Klan's acts, real or alleged, justify the mar tial measures is the Springfield, Massa- chusetts, Republican: "The extraor- dinary character of Governor Walton's action in proclaiming martial law throughout Oklahoma is emphasized by the fact that the existence of state of insurrection and rebellion,' which he alleges in justification, is vigorously disputed by many citizens of evident standing in their respective communities. Not all these, it is to be supposed, are members of the Ku Klux Klan, which the governor is fighting, or sympathizers with it. It IS to be hoped that the governor will lose no time in making public the evi- dence upon which he has acted" In- deed, Governor Walton, having been elected on an anti-Klan ticket, should be the last to suggest that the majority