Evening star., 1926-10-28
Former Member of Hooded
Order Explains Support
for Vice Presidency.
TELLS PR0BERS HE WENT
DOWN THE. LINE FOR U.s.
Zumbrunn Interested in Seating of
Members, Reed Inquiry in St.
Louis Is Informed.
By the Associated Press.

EoI Ao0lC oCtOpeE -o-N AlildLi
Zumbrunn, general counsel of the Ku
Klux Klan, was described here today
before the Senate campaign fund
committee by George w. Meyers of
Marion, Ind, as the Legislative agent
of the Klan at Washington.
Meyers, q former member of the
klan in the Hoosier State, testified
that Zumbrunn looked after matters
before Congress in which the Klan
was interested, including immigra-
ton restriction, adjustment of paro-
chial schools, land the seating of
United States Senator's"
Senator Reed, Democrat, Missouri.
and committee chairman, demanded
an explanation OF the statement about
the sealing of Senators, the Meyers
said klan delegates to the Indiana
Republican convention in 1924 in
dorsed Senator James +. Watson.
Republican, Indiana, for the vice
presidency because of his efforts to
seat Senator Mayfield, Democrat.
Texas.
Watson Reported Active.
They told us Jim Watson had been
active in seating Senator Mayfield," F."
under obligations to Jim Watson be-
cause he Went down the line for the
Khan"
Was Senator Mayfield a Klans-
man." Senator Reed asked.
That was the general understand
ing" Meyers replied.
fhe witness corroborated the testi-
mony of former Klansmen that Wal.
ter F. Bossert, indianapolis lawyer.
was forced out of Office as Indiana
grand dragon because "he would not
permit the hooded order of his State
to go down the line for Jim Watson" !"
Disagreeing with r. B. Bradford of
Crown Point, Ind, who testified at
Kansas City, Meyers said the Wash
ington conference Of Klan officials,
which it was claimed Senator Watson
attended, was held not to Gust Bos-
sert, but to ''get Charlie Orbison, an
Indianapolis attorney, named as cor
poration counsel Of Indianapolis"
Watson Not Present.
lie asserted that Watson did not at
tend the meeting at which Bossert's
resignation was rendered.
Quoting Paul Brewer Of Lebanon,
Ind, on this point. Meyers said the
meeting to get Orbison appointed was
held in Senator Watson'S Washington
office after Bossert had resigned.
The witness said Brewer had made
this statement in a speech to Klans-
men at an Indianapolis hotel on the
night before the State klan conven-
rion last January, at which w. Lee
Smith of indianapolis was elected
grand dragon to succeed BosSert.
James V. Bolen. former secretary
OF the Indiana Klan, testified that
by direction of w. Lee Smith, then
chief of staff of the Indiana Klan, he
drew a check for S400 to defray the
expenses of Klan officials to Washing
ton last January. at which it was
proposed to have Orbison appointed.
Mayors delivered" He Says.
Those making the trip, he added.
We're Joseph huntington of Evansville,
q great Cyclops of the klan; Mayor
John l.. Duvall of India napolis, May
or Herbert Males of Evansville and
Robert /. McNay of Indianapolis.
Bolen said Huntington had told him
that Bossert could not deliver polit.
ically.' but that he had delivered"
the mayor of Evansville and that Nc
Nay had delivered" the mayor of
Indianapolis.
What do YOU mean by 'delivered'?"
Senator Reed inquired.
THAT huntington had elected Mayor
Males of Evansville" Bolen replied.
and that McNay had elected Mayor
Duvall of indianapolis"
Bolen said w. Lee Smith and
Huntingdon made n trip to Washington
about the time that Bossert resigned
This was two weeks after the meet.
ing in Senator Watson's office, he
added.
BosSert heard these two had gone
TO Washington and he hurried there.
Two or three days later, Bolen said,
announcement was made through the
newspapers that the grand dragon
had resigned
Zumbrumn There. He Says.
Did you talk to Bossert about his
resignation" Senator Reed asked.
Yes" Bolen replied. He said there
was nothing for him TO do but get
out"
The witness said Zumbrunn was
present at the meeting when Bossert's
resignation was handed to DR.. Hiram
w. Evans, imperial wizard.
senator Watson was present at
some of the Washington meetings"
Bolen added, but | can't say whether
he was present when BoSsert resigned
or whether he was called in to see
whether w. Lee Smith was accept
able to him as grand dragon"
Did Rossert tell you that" Sena-
tor Reed asked.
II can't recall who told me-" was
the response.
Bolen declared that Senator Wat
son and DIR. Evans were very close"
In the senatorial primary campaign.
DIR. Evans seemed to be wrapped
up in Senator Watson and wanted
him put across" he added.
Opposed to Beveridge.
The witness said DR.. Evans had told
Indiana KlanSman before the pri
mary that If Albert J. Beveridge ran
against Senator Watson for the Re-
publican senatorial nomination, he
would stump the State against him.
His statement came as surprise
at the meeting" Bolen added, ''as 1t
was entirely uncalled for"
How many people were at the
meeting?"
II should say about 22 or 23."
WAS any of the faction that had
opposed w. Lee Smith. grand dragon,
present."
II was the only one. DR.. Evans
wanted the whole thing kept secret"
Recalling Bossert. who testified
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