Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-30

Newspapers of both political parties
are included among those which see
prospects of a new deal in Indiana
politics. The admitted activities of the
Khan leader, former Grand Dragon
Stephenson, now in prison, have con-
WINGED a large section of the press of
the existence of something rotten"
in the Hoosier State.
Calling attention to the large con-
tributions made by Stephenson to the
Republican campaign funds, especially
in 1924, the Indianapolis News Gnde-
pendent) asks two questions: First,
what was the consideration for the adj
vanceS? Second, was that considera-
ton ever received? The questions are
important and they fairly clamor for
an answer" declares the News, which
says further of Stephenson: This man
was no sentimentalist, either in politics
or business-he always wanted some
thing, and what he wanted he went
after, and as rule got" AS the St.
Louis Post Dispatch independently
phrases it, 1.-THE Nation knows that
for some months after the Inaugural
ton of the present administration in
Indiana, the former grand dragon was
the Mussolini of that commonwealth.
in which corruption was prevalent"
ent): He was very czar-lke and ruled
with a strong hand. He named can
didates. and political conventions and
primaries Of his party merely Endorsed
them"
How he obtained this power is ex.
planned by the Evansville Press Gnde-
pendenD, in discussing the Ku Klux
Khan: "Such organizations sometimes
show power for a time, but they sell
dom show intelligence. In their very
nature they cannot direct themselves
They can only be used. Clean men
keep their hands off. The unclean take
control. D. c. Stephenson took control
in Indiana. Indiana at last is coming
to see what Ku Kluxism means, and
Indiana will be better State for hav-
ing learned" AYERS the Press.
X X X X
The Lansing State Journal Gnde-
pendent, however, is inclined to think
that 1.-The present situation in Indiana
is not wholly attributable to the Khan"
but is due to the fact ''that bad
politics have been played in Indiana
for years" The Baltimore Sun lin
dependent Democratic), declaring that
nothing more humiliating has hap
pened in American politics than the
dominating position attained by the
Ku Klux Khan" in the heyday of its
power, believes every decent Amer
lean will welcome developments which
will give opportunity to express
righteous If belated indignation ut
proven affiliation with it of highly
placed officials" OF the questionable
ness of such Affiliations the Louisville
Courier-Journal independently says:
amy one who had anything to do with
D. G. Stephenson Is besmirched."
Laying some Of the blame for con-
ditions at the door Of the citizenry of
the State, the Lynchburg News Demo
cratic) declares: political debauchery,
such as has disgraced Indiana, under
Ku Klux Khan rule, is possible only
by the Indifference or ignorance of 1t
on the part of the electorate. In
dianians realize that, and Indianians
are preparing to wipe from their slate
the disgrace that has been placed upon
it by political adventures. The Ma
ton hopes for their success. and the
South joins in that hope" The Evans
vile Courier independently sees no rea-
son why immediate legal steps should
not be taken to clear up for all time
the Stephenson regime in the State
of Indiana, letting the chips fall where
they may" The Lexington Leader
Republican,. scoring groups in In
diana who would like to clamp the lid
down on further revelations, adds: 'If
all that Stephenson asserts, or even
half of it. Is in harmony with the
truth. it should be revealed to the last
scintilla of evidence. Indiana should
clean house from cellar to garnet, and
the people should do penance for their
apathy and neglect Of the duties of
citizenship"
"How long," asks the Columbus |
Ohio State journal Republican,. will |
Indianians Kermit" the Klan-favered