The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-08-19
Mayor, Not
Klan,Bossof|
Ohio Town
Executive Declares He Is Run.
ming Place and Will Not Be
Dictated to-Prepared for
Emergencies.
Knights Plan Big Parade


Steubenville. o.. Aug. 1s.-Except
for the usual boisterous Saturday
night crowd on the streets, Steuben-
vile was quiet tonight, with no out
ward evidence of the tension that
existed between the Ku Klux Klan
and large group of townspeople
hostile to the members of the hooded
and masked organization, as shown
by the riot Wednesday night when
one alleged khan leader and two 9TH
ers were wounded.
Mayor Frank Hawkins, hurled a
defy into the camp of the klansmen
today when he formally announced
he had no intention Of resigning be-
cause Of failure to stop the outbreak
of violence Wednesday.
The mayor and Sheriff Edward
Lucas tonight both discounted al.
legged statements of klansmen that
"Steubenville is an armed camp.
ready to battle at the slightest provo
cation"
Says Report Bunk.
II don't think there is word of
truth in it," the mayor declared.
IT'S all bunk" Sheriff Lucas assert
ed. Most of the gun toting so far
has been done by klansmen them
selves. We have four revolvers in
the county jail now and there are
four more over at police headquarters
all taken from visiting klansmen
here in the mix up Wednesday
night
The sheriff admitted. however.
that he has learned that an unpre.
cedented number Of revolvers and
razors have been sold in the hard
ware stores and pawn shops within
the past few days.
I'VE are thoroughly prepared to
handle any situation that may arise, ="
Sheriff Lucas said.
Mayor Running Town.
IF necessary I'll swear in a thou
sand Jepns isS.s. ! 10 rams. S'tli's f1Vp,
'dfif WON'T b1 dictated 10 by the Ku
Klux Khan or anybody else. What's
more, I'm going 10 run for mayor
again and I'm predicting that III be
elected" he declared vehemently.
THE good citizens OF Steubenville
are sick and tired Of the klan's in
reference and the city government
will be conducted in the interest of
all the people of the city and not FOR
the benefit Of any faction or clique"
Mayor Hawkins continued.
Relative 70 the mayors refusal to
resign. officials of the Ku Klux Klan
would make no statement except a
terse wait and see"
Lay Plans for Parade.
Klan officials here would neither
deny nor affirm that members Of their
organization called en- the governor
Officials of the klan tonight. while
they would not announce the date.
indicated a huge parade and demon
stration Of the organization is planned
to be conducted in Steubenville in the
near future. September IS is said
to be the tentative date set.
There will probably be 5000 visit
ing klansmen in line that night with
steubenville klansmen lining the
curb. They will be from Ohio.
Pennsylvania and West Virginia. the
klan official, who refused to divulge
his name, said.
Rumors of Political Plot.
Evidence that n political intrigue
lies beneath the surface in the fight
between the mayor and khan Is not
lacking. Prediction that Mayor
Hawkins. should he be reelected at
the November elections. would be re.
moved within three months. was
freely made by klan members.
II is understood that the man who
will probably be elected president Of
the council is in sympathy with the
khan. Two other nominees Tor coun-
ell are said to be khan candidates
Should the mayor be removed, under
Ohio law. the president OF the coun.
Gil succeeds to the office. Local poll
tical authorities assert that by this
method tho khan is seeking to gain
the mayoralty.
ID. L. Gibson. alleged khan leader,
John di Sentis and Dominic Spinetti,
the men wounded In Wednesday
nights affair, arc we'll on the road
To recovery. according to hospital au.
thorities.
Dock Strike Near End.
London, Aug. 1S.-The Sunday