The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-07-13
Steve CHECKS |
USED TO WIN 4
negro VOTES
Four Given CoIored Political
Leader to Aid Campaign
of Ed Jackson.
Received BY BIG JACK
Notes Written by Prisoner
Clearly Show Purpose
of Documents.
(other Checks on Page -

tother Checks on Page -
Copyright. 1927. by The indianapolis
| Times)
The four checks printed In today's
Times, bearing the signature Of D.
G. Stephenson, reveal the early ac-
tivities of the former head of the
Indiana Ku-Klux Klan In behalf Of
Ed jackson. then a candidate for
Governor in the primary.
Attached to each check when de-
livered to The Times was a nota
in the handwriting Of Stephenson.
Those notes tell the story.
According to these notes, the
checks were given to the owner
and publisher of a newspaper cir
culated among Negro citizens. At
the time they we're given, Stephen
son was the head of the Klan, dedi-
Gated to the supremacy of the white
race.
Check to big Jack"
The first Of these>checks, bears
date of Feb. 3, 1924, the time when
Jackson's candidacy before the pri-
mary first began to take on the
burden Of the Klan.
This is what Stephenson wrote
concerning that check, for it was
made out to cash." although it
bears the endorsement, in stamp, Of
the Indianapolis Ledger:
big Jack, owner of Ledger,
colored paper-for Jackson publicity
and to be used among colored people
who could be induced to work in
behalf Of Ed"
This was written after Stephenson
had been convicted and was in Jail
at Noblesville. awaiting removal to
Michigan City under the life sent
ence imposed upon him.
It was at this time that he was
referring to the Governor Of the
State as Ed.
For Publicity Purposes
The second check, bearing date Of
Feb. %, 1924, in the sum of 5000, is
made out to w. H. Jackson, known
in indianapolis political circles as
Big Jack" 1t bears his indorse-
ment.
And pinned to it, wllen 1t was de-
livered to The Times, in the hand
writing of Stephenson, was this no.
tation:
"Owner Of Indianapolis Ledger
for Jackson publicity among COLI
ored people"
Came March 26, 1924. and another
check, made out to Cash" but
banked under the stamped indorse-
ment of the Indianapolis Ledger,
and signed by Stephenson. And as
he sorted his checks and was writ
ing the record of his adventures as
he sat in the Noblesville jail, the
former head of the Klan, who was
to rule conventions and name the
officials Of Indiana, wrote this state
ment:
paid to Indianapolis Ledger
Big Jacks paper-for jackson pubs
licity."
Another for $500
Then, on May 8, after the primary
had passed, there was another
check for 5000, bearing the same
signature of Stephenson, bearing
the same stamped Endorsement, and
pinned to it was this note, Paid
to Indianapolis Ledger for Jackson's
last primary publicity"
w. H. Jackson stands we'll In Re-
publican circles. His admission that
he received the check for $500 was
made to The Times today. He said
he could remember no more checks.
He was shown but two of the four
checks.
His explanation that 1t was paid
for papers or publicity or something
to help Jackson was given hesitat-
ingly. He was quite sure that he
had done nothing to incriminate
himself. The Times did not ask
him about crimes.
Reveal Aid TO Jackson
The importance OF tthese checks
lies in their revelations Of the activ-
tiles of Stephenson in behalf Of
Jackson and as supporting the state
ment credited to Stephenson that
he had spent thousands of dollars in
behalf of Jackson.
This statement has been denied
by friends of the Governor. Now
comes the supporting evidence. in
the form of cashed checks given to
leaders of race which looked with
at least suspicion upon the candi-
dacy of Jackson.
He could tell who furnished the
$4,000 in the jackson 1924 cam
paign and what interests were 10
be protected for it," said the letter
smuggled out Of the prison by Ste
phenson last fall.
The total Of these checks paid to
one paper circulated among colored
people was $500. The Times will
show later other checks which will
be a revelation to many groups
and to many citizens.
They will show the mistake OF
believing that Stephenson dis
tributed largess only to the leaders
of the colored race, and that no
one should infer that only this
l.