New Britain herald., 1924-08-23
K. K. K. Not the Proper Means to Enforce Law He says - Outline of Oklahoma Troubles.
MAKES SET TALK
 AFTER DECLARATION
ny Ths Assoelatsa nrs.s.

hf Ths AthpfiAted ffehss | Augusta. Me. Aug. zs,-Atiaeking ] the k, K k. as opposed 10 the vel. D fare of ali peaceful and civilized com. munities' Charles c. Dawes. republi- can presidential nominee. in his 2 address here today at the opening of the national republican campaign de- elared that such organizations ntimu- lated lawlessness and presaged the disintegratlon of civilization into savagery.
 The K. K. K. in many localities and among many people," he said.
 Represents only an instinctiye grop-
 ing for leadership. moving in the in-
 terest of law enforcement which they
 do not find in many cowardly politt-
 clans and officeholders. But 1t is nt
 ment."
 The candidate recounted the effect
 of Klan activity in oaklohoma w1ers IGovernor Walton who had finally
 called out the militia was NmoveA
 from office and quiet was restoree
 by the orderly process provided bt
 the constitution and the law. The
 attempts of the Klan to restore order
 after the Herrin massacre fn Illinois
 he said nearly brought on civil war.
 and in the "bloody corner" murders
 in Chicago, the blackhand" prevent
 ed convictions by the intimtdatieA oa witnesses.
 The same thing happens" he con- tinued, when minority orga anixatfoAs whatever the hig hpurpose they | lrt i'm n 1,e s,syl lAI
 take the law into their own hands Force rises to meet force: lawlessneA rises to meet lawlessness and civiliza- tion commences to dsintegrate into the savagery from which through the ages it has evolved" | No Part in Campaign. General Dawes said:
 T first desire to speak. as Mir.
 Davis did yesterday relative to the
 ku kIux klan. I agree with him that
 it has no proper part in this or any other campaign. But whether prop CT or not, unfortunately in this cam paign mobilization of radicalism under La Toilette, the largest sec- ton of which. the socialists. fly the red flag, is attacking the constitu- ton of the United States, I cannot agree therefore with his inference that its discussion diverts attention from those issues the people must settle in November by their votes. It only emphasizes the greatest issue.
 "The questions of MT. Pattangall, which appear in the press this morn- ing are the familiar trick questions of the ordinary politicians. They are not causes of the statement I am about to make.
 Let me say at once that recog- nize that the ku klux klan in many localities and among many people represents only an instinctive groping for leadership. moving in the interest of law enforcement which they do not find in many cowardly politicians and officeholders. But it Is not the right way to forward law enforce ment.
 In Oklahoma.
 Let us consider for a minute what happened in the state of Oklahoma. Governor Walton was some time ago elected governor of the state. In his he had not preached the doctrine-so it seemed to me at least-which was the proper one to be preached under the American flag. When he was elected, one of his early acts was to remove the president of the University of Agriculture of Oklahoma, a. man who believed in the old fashoined doctrines of the consti- tuition, to establish which our fore- bears fought He placed in that posi- ton a socialist who was likely to teach the young men of that state some new fashioned doctrines which to say the least, are not those of con- stitutional Americanism. He then oosed upon the state of Oklahoma horde of hardened criminals from the penitentiary. Lax law enforcement prevailed in many places In the state.
 If there could be an excuse for law abiding citizens to band them selves together in secret organizations for law enforcement, it existed in Oklahoma and the klan became powerful organization.
 What happened then? Then back stepped Governor Walton to the American f1ag-to which it seems to me, he had not kept very close up 10 that time-and called out the militia of the state. Then 1t was hat those who had Joined the klan n the interest of law and order ound themselves arrayed against heir flag and the laws of Oklahoma 4 situation akin to that of the Civil var existed and 1t was averted only y few clear-headed men.
 Walton Removed.
 And then what happened7 There yas the application of the only method by which our people can settle such differences-the rocedure outlined by the constitution nd laws of the state of Oklahoma. Walton was removed from the gov- by the vote of the people nd quiet was restored under the or- erly process provided by the consi- ntion and the law.
 Consider what happened in Wil- amson county, H., where the town f Herrin Is situated. A reign of law ,ssness existed. If was marked by ,a tarr;kIa uo~rt, p,o--,or. IL -.~