The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-05-24

we We're yet on the hard road to Ben
ton and where they would have a bet
ter chance to overpower our sheriff
guardians.
LEAVILY guarded by total Of eight
1 sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, Com
rade Mass and myself Travelled along.
our party divided into two Fords, with
Benton as our goal. Just before the
entrance to that city travellers were
compelled to switch off from the hard
road, which is not quite completed
there, and take another road muddy,
about two feet deep. We got stuck
and sheriffs had to pull the cars out.
Just then the two cars loaded with
Ku Kluxers arrived on the scene and
got stuck too; they failed to reach us
on the hard road. Up came the Khan
captain, owner of a little hardware
store in Christopher, armed with a
gun in one hand and a nice slender
! rope in the other, ready to administer
Justice" Furious that we had slip
ped away, he commanded, stick 'em
up" and continued, these are my
prisoners, claim these men and well
fix EN-" One deputy sheriff, daunted
at the gall, stuck 'em up. A minutes
hesitation, at which many thoughts
ran rapidly thru our minds. Was this
a frame-up? Were the sheriffs going
to turn us over to that mob? But no
the fellow had oyerreached himself.
The sheriff in command, noting that
only one man had come forward while
pointing his gun at him, retorted,
these are my prisoners, they are go
ing to have fair and partial trial
(again meaning impartial) and if you
make another move this gun is going
to come off," One sheriff quickly
snatched the gun out of the hand Of
the Khan leader. He turned around
and found himself starring into the
gaps of seven other guns. Like whip
ped cur, the would-be hero waded
back thru the mud to his followers,
and we felt perfectly at ease in the
care Of our brave sheriffs, who STEP
ped on the gas and we soon arrived at
Benton.
MAYHEM brought to the States At
wv torney's office, the frozen atti-
tude Of the sheriffs melted away and
they discussed the incident with us
in a jolly, good humored manner
zone more move by that fellow and l
would have let loose" said the head
sheriff. "They have tried that stunt
on mo hofOra h,,f xavar c,,oooadad
Once in while, however, they have
their necktie parties, that seems to
be sort of costume here"
THE States Attorney delved into our
l literature supply without finding
anything Of an discriminating nature.
He informed us that we would be held
until further notice, rather as a mat
ter Of protection against any possible
snipers. When we asked what spe-
cific charges had been submitted, he
replied: well, if all those guns you
saw had been discharged you wouldn't
have asked for any charges. He was
quite jovial fellow, did not know
that this state had a criminal syndical-
list law, he had heard some rumblings
about Third Party and Labor Party.
and wished them all kinds of success,
but was rather keenly interested in
local politics and the candidacy of
Governor Small. He agreed that the
attempts Of the Khan to hold up the
sheriffs was a grave offense." A
little later, in phone conversation
with the Mayor Of Christopher, he
informed him that it would be OF no
use trying to make case against us
unless he, the Mayor, had some spe-
cific evidence to the effect that we
had been advocating the overthrow
OF the government by force and VOL
ence, and he added, "these fellows
seem to be advocating Labor Party"
At $3.50 the same evening we were
released, and made our way to Ziegler,
Ill. There we were informed that the
Khan were organizing to get some
onaokoro xuho had orrfvad In tourx.