Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-26

pOllllc1anS ana OLLlCe-nOluerS. But
it is not the right way to forward
Jaw enforcement.
Cites aWltOn Case
Let us consider for u minute what
happerad in the state of Oklahoma.
Govern or Walton was ome time ago
elected governor of the state. In
lis campaign he had rot preached
the doctrine-so it seemed to me at
least-which was the proper one to
he preached under the American
flag. When he was elected, one Of
his curly acts was to remove the
president of the University Of okla
homa, a man who believed in the
old-fashioned doctrines of the consti-
tuition, to establish which our for
bears fought. He placed in that po-
sition 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
constitutional Americanism. He
then loosed upon the state OF Okla
| hcma a horde of hardened criminals
from the p>nitentiary. Lax law en-
force1nent prevailed in many places
| in tie state.
'If there could be an excuse for
law-abiding citizens to band them
selves together in secret organiza-
ed in Oklahoma, and the khan be-
came a powerful organiza ton.
Walton Back to the Flag"
What happened then? Then
back stepped Governor Walton to
the American flag-to which, it
seems to me, he had not kept very
close up to that time-and called
cut the militia Of the state. Then
it was that those who had joined the
khan in the interest of law and order
found themselves arrayed against
their flag and the laws Of Oklaho-
ma. A situation akin to that of the
Civil war existed, and it was averted
only by a few clear-headed men.
And then what happened? There
was the application of the only
method by which our people can
properly settle such differences
the procedure outlined by the con-
stitution and laws Of the state OF
Oklahoma. Walton was removed
from the governorship by the vote
| Of the people and quiet was restored
under the orderly process provided
by the constitution and the law.
Consider what happened in Will
hanson county, Illinois, where the
town of Herrin is situated. A
| reign Of lawlessess existed. 1t was
marked by the terrible Herrin mas
sacre, It was marked by general
| breakdown in respect for law which
| indicated that the officers of the
county, including the sheriff, had
been intimidated by law breakers
into action. A thousand members
! Of the Ku Klux Khan, without dis
| guises-they were brave men
marched to the office of the sheriff
of Williamson county to protest
| against the lawlesspess In that Sec
| ton.
"If q, secret organization to uphold
law and order is justifiable any,
where in our country, it was 1ustl-
| fable there.
Militia on job Again
but what happened? Immediate
w the lawless element formed the
KNIGHTS of the Flaming Circle and
| then both sides were afraid to go
! out at night and a condition was
created which actually eliminated IN
civil war and the loss of life. And
how. again, was peace established!
Bv the only proper way In the
sending of the militia of the state
of Illinois to the scene Of the trou'
BILE. as provided by law in such
cases. The critical situation was
settled by it without shedding a drop
of blood and the troops were quick
| ly removed.
There is much in the Ku Klux
Khan which appeals to the adVeh
turous youth. I remember once
when travelling over Illinois, speak
ing for law enforcement, the consul
tuition and the American rag, some
| of the American Legion men with
| me talked to other legion men Who
| had Joined the Ku Klux Khan al
| one of the towns visited. These lat
ter Young men believed that they
were acting in the interests Of law
enforcement. They told those who
were with me what they were pan
ming to do. They said there is a
| bootlegger in our county who IS III
cahoots with the sheriff and every
body knows it. Now we are not go
ing to hurt the man, but some nlgn'
we are going for him and his stlii
We are going to gag him, carry hlIl
| and the still up to the court mouse
ward and tie him to it so that the
sheriff and the whole town Will see
them when they come down 10 theAt
| work in the morning.
Recalls Blackand Days
This may appeal to adventurous
youth. but my friends, government
| cannot last if that is the right way
IN enforce law in this country. Law
lessness cannot be met with laWless
ness and civilization be maintained
What will happen If law Is not en-
forced by government but taken III
hand bv individuals and by minority
organizations, is what happened
some years ago on Bloody Corner ~
Chicago.
over one hundred murders were
committed there in one year and
not one single murderer was
brought to Justice The blackhano
was at work and the witnesses tt
the murders refused to testify
against the murderers because they
felt their own lives were in DANCE
If they did.
"Now," society contains within It
self the elements Of its own self
publication. 1t has always been
so, or civilization, which is an evo
luton, would not now exist.
After a time, in connection with
tfese continuing murders, two new
words crept into the press Of the
city OF Chicago, the words white
hand In other words, the broth
ers, fathers and friends Of the muir
dered men sawed off their own shot
guns and killed the murderers from
behind the same corner and thus
| peace was finally established at the
cost of bloodshed and misery
through that entire section Of Chi