The Raymer enterprise., 1923-10-04
BY EDWARD w. PickARD

bf NluJMNELL WALTON and his
~ troopers won bloodless victory
over the legislators OF Oklahoma who
wanted to assemble In special session
Tor the purpose Of investigating what
they term the mistakes and illegal ac-
tons Of the governor. Sixiy.two mem.
bers Of the lower house attempted TO
convene In the state capitol Wednes-
Gay. and were driven out by the mill.
tnry. They offered no resistance, but
al once prepared petition to the Su.
preme court for restraining order
prohibiting Adjutant General Mark.
ham from interfering with the sessions
of the Legislature. They contended
that they already were legally In ses-
sion. Asked whether he would pre-
vent such action by the Supreme court.
Governor Walton said that would de-
pend on the advice OF his lawyers. who
,number fourteen. He added that there
was no way by which the governor OF
Oklahoma could be removed except by
appeal OF citizens to federal courts or
to congress.
On Thursday the governor extended
absolute martial Inv over Murray
county some Of whose citizens had
asked for protection from the Ku Klux
klan. He said martial law In the
state would continue until the khan
gangs and newspapers get on my back
and give me Il chance TO clean up the
courts and the county from khan tnhu.
ence."
There wasn't ghost Of a show for
the rebel" legislators. They signed
the call for the session aud filed 1t
with the secretary of state, and then
proceeded toward the legislative cham.
Der. There in front Of the duprs was
line OF National Guardsmcn through
which they could not penetrate. AS,
sured OF quorum, c. s. HrIce, speaker
pro ten. directed the clerk to call the
roll in the lobby. Immediately Colonel
Key. In command of the troops, read
bfllfl NJ AldI hiAAlil > W NFl vi
recting the members To disperse. and
told the soldiers to start them NOV.
Ing and keep them moving until they
were outside the capitol. The lcgls-
lators later tried to meet In hotel
room for conference and found ii
guarded by gunmen who. the governor
admitted, were on the state pay roll
and working for him.
Campbell Russell, former state
officer. was arrested for circulating a
cartoon depicting Walton as dictator,
and newspaper photographers who
tried TO get pictures of the scenes at
the capitol also were taken into Gus
tody.
II must not be supposed that Walton
and his immediate supporters are
alone In their fight against the 'in
visible empire" In Oklahoma. When
the governor called on the people OF
the state to be ready to, join the
militia II they were needed to enforce
his orders II is said 5000 men vol.
unteered for service. Most OF the
newspapers are against him because
of wha. they consider his unwarranted
assumption Of dictatorlal powers. SO
far the national government has taken
no part In the fight, merely sending
the warning that federal buildings
could be used only for federal busi-
ness
~ ERMANY surrendered again last
" week, and thereupon two more
dictatorships sprang up. Having re-
celved the assurance OF support from
the rremiers Of oil the German states.
President Ebert and Chancellor Strese-
mann announced that passive resist
ance In the Ruhr and The Rhineland
was officially abandoned. First reclt.