The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-09-11
KU KLUX KHAN
0BEYS0RDERS
TO UN MASK
Grand Dragon of Oklahoma
: Tells Members to Cease
Wearing Robes and
+ Hoods in Public
GOVERNOR VICTOR
First Groups Meet at Bris-
tow Where They Obey
Order Formally

Oklahoma City, Sept. 1.-THE in.
visible empire laid aside it's invis.
Utility today submitting to the edict
Of Gov. J. c. Walton, against masked
parades.
All members of the Ku Klux Khan
in the state had orders from the
Grand Dragon of the Oklaho oma realm
that robes and hoods no longer were
to be worn in public.
The unmasking of the Khan left
Gov. Walton in command Of the field
in his war on the secret organization
to which he attributed flogging and
other mob outrages but it was not
without violent protest that the state
Klan officials decided to bow to his
edict. ....
Grand Dragon Jewett made it
plain that only the Governors threat
of martial law for communities in
which masked demonstrations were
held led to the decision to discard
robes and hoods in public.
A. Klan meeting near Bristow last
night was the first to unmask under
the governors order.
Result Of Troop Threat
1t came when preparations were
under way by Governor Walton to
use troops. if necessary, to prevent
series of khan demonstrations
scheduled over the state this week,
the first of which was advertised
for Bristol last night.
Adjutant General B., P. Markham
had been instructed earlier in the
day to hold National Guard units in
readiness for movement to the
counties in which the khan parades
were planned.
"The khan is for law and order
first, last and all the time. Because
of this fact, any parade or masked
meeting Of any kind in the state of
Oklahoma absolutely is forbidden" !"
said the statement of Grand Dragon
Jewett.
MASKED assemblages were placed
under the ban by Governor Walton
on. the ground that they would Lead
to disorder and riot. In forbidding
the appearance in public of masked
men, Governor Walton in a state
ment issued Saturday night, as
serted that the trail Of floggings
and other mob outrages in ,hc
state led to masked organizations.
He named the Ku Klux Klan as
being responsible for virtually all
the mob activities in Tulsa county,
which is under martial law.
"While there is no law operating
on the statute books Of Oklah oma
which forbids meetings Of this kind,
rather than inflict martial law upon
the citizens of this state, thought
il best to forbid any parade until
after these affairs have been
out" said Grand Dra-
gon yewett.
Jewett's statement came on the
heels of an announcement by H.
w. Evans, imperial wizard of the
klan, that the national organization
would take no action in the Okla
homa controversy over masked
demonstrations but would leave the
matter entirely in the hands of the
state realm.
ut would appear that it is the
desire of Governor Walton to force
martial law upon the counties of
his state" Jewett said. 1T is
evident that he would be delighted
20 find some opportunity to enforce
1is authority.
"Since the governor has apparently
declared war on the khan and issued
lis edict that there shall be no
more parades in masks or public |
of klansmen were we to
,ollow our constitutional rights
lnder the laws Of this state and our
country, it would give him mucn |
pleasure to invoke martial law
hereby casting a shadow of disgrace
lpon the great state of Oklahoma.
'eThis action has not been taken |
because of any fear on the part of |
he Ku Klux Klan of state troops, !
,ut because of fear of the consequent
:es that might arise through disobe-
lience to this despotic edict.
"The method Of procedure which |
will follow this order which has been
unlimited to ten various klans !
throughout the state will be covered |
solely by the future actions taken by
Governor Walton" |