The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-10-10
NEWS review OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Governor Walton Wins a Blood
less Victory Over Okla
homa Legislators.
TROOPS PREVENT SESSION
Germany Surrendering in the Ruhr,
Bavaria Revolts and Establishes Die
tatorship-War Minister Gessler
Made Dictator of Entire Coun-
try to Meet Crisis.
By EDWARD w. PICARD

-
0OROMWELL" WALTON and his
~ troopers won a bloodless victory
oyer the legislators of Oklahoma who
wanted TO assemble in special session
for the purpose of investigating what
they term the mistakes and illegal ac-
lions of the governor. Sixty-two mem
bers of the lower house attempted to
convene in the state capitol Wednes-
day, and were driven our by the mill
tary. They offered no resistance, but
at once prepared a petition to the Su-
preme court for a 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-
ven 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 law over Murray
county some Of whose citizens had
asked for protection from the Ku Klux
Khan. He said martial law in the
state would continue until the khan
gangs and newspapers get off my back
and give me a chance to clean up the
courts and the county from khan in1u-
ence."
There wasn't a ghost of a show for
the rebel legislators. They signed
the call for the session and filed it
with the secretary of state, and then
proceeded toward the legislative cham
Der. There in front of the doors was
a line of National Guardsmen through
which they could not penetrate. AS
sured of a quorum, c. S. Brice, speaker
pro ten. directed the clerk to call the
roll in the lobby. Immediately Colonel
Key, in command Of the troops, read
Adjutant General Markham's order d.
recting the members to dispense, and
told the soldiers to start them NOV
ing and keep them moving until they
were outside the capitol. The legis-
lators later tried to meet In a hotel
room for a conference and found it
guarded by gunner who, the governor
admitted, were on the state pay roll
and working for him.
Campbell Russell, a former state
officer, was arrested for circulating a
cartoon depicting Walton as a dictator,
and newspaper photographers who
tried to get pictures of the scenes at
the capitol also were taken into Gus
tody.
1t must not be supposed that Walton
and his immediate supporters are
alone In their fight against the Fin
visible empire" in Oklahoma. When
the governor called on the people OF
the state to be ready to join the
militia if they were needed to enforce
his orders, it is said $4,000 men vol
unteered for service. Most of the
newspapers are against him because
Of what they consider his unwarrante
assumption of dictatOrial powers. Sc
far the national government has taker
no part in the fight, merely sending
the warning that federal building,
could be used only for federal bust
ness.