The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-08-21


Capt William S. Coburn, who after
wards was murdered. I refused to be
party to their plans and returned to
Indiana" 1t seems that what Steph-
enson claims he was not willing to do
was done by others.
THIS man Stephenson owns several
l profitable coal mines in the State
of Indiana. He organized $4,000
members into the Khan in that state
including practically two-thirds of the
members Of the miners union, and
the union officials, most of whom
were former members of the Socialist
Party. While attending the last in
ternational convention Of the United
Mine Workers of America, l with sew
eral other Communists attended an
open meeting called by the Ku Klux
Khan to protest against the union
rule excluding known Kluxers from
membership in the union. The chair
man of that meeting read a document
by the Grand Dragon of Indiana, this
same coal operator Stephenson, stat
ing the Khan position on the miners
union. The Khan according to this
document was opposed to strikes and
favored the setting up of joint COM
mittees of coal operators and miners.
This was done at several mines and
where strikes did break out these COM
mittees under the direction of the
Grand Dragon coal operator, helped to
smash the strikes.
THE position Of Grand Dragon Of
L the Ku Klux Khan brot very real
benefits to Stephenson. With 100000
men at his command in Indiana, he
had his finger on the public pulse and
was on the way to become an impor-
tant political factor. AS it is, he
Yields tremendous influence. Steph-
enson did not stress the religious is
sue in Indiana, he claims, but set his
morons the task of cleaning up vice
and arresting bootleggers. He or
ganized state constabulary. He
established an espionage system with
central headquarters in Columbus,
Ohio. His machine had wheels
within wheels" He had visions of be-
coming the Imperial Wizard or better
still using the organization to jimmy
his way into the White House. But it
happened that Hiram Evans had the
same ambition, so there was a clash
Stephenson, the coal magnate, was
too successful, in organizing Klans-
men so now the murder is coming out.
But there are no indictments. The
reason is obvious. Big Business may
criticise the Khan, but 1t sees in that
murderous organization a very useful
weapon against the workers and 1t
may need 1t some day. Only here and
there in local cases are they inter
fered with.
THERE is no reason why people
should be gloomy any longer.
Unemployed workers hanging around
Madison and Wells Streets waiting
for the "job" edition Of the Daily
News, should drive away dull care.
What IL their stomachs approach their
backbones with dangerous speed. The
Coo-Coo girls are on the job and they
guarantee TO dispel gloom at first
sight. These girls are employees Of
the Illinois Manufacturers Associa-
ton and they came to the conclusion,
perhaps after attending a cabaret
performance with their masters--that
what this country needs is good
dose Of Pollyannaism. II this move
ment spreads as rapidly as II should
IL has all the qualifications for sue
cess, being thoroly stupid-the work
ers will find plenty Of consolation in
the smiles Of the Coo-Coo girls. That
is. unless the workers go Cuckoo"
with hunger.