Evening star., 1948-03-14
Georgia Paper Fires
Circulation Officer
In War on Ku KIux
BY the Assasiafsd Rrs.,

COLUMBUS, Ca, Mar. 13.-The
newspapers here, now openly at wal
with the Ku Klux Khan after three
newsmen told Of grim mistreatment
by the robed order, tonight forced
one Of their own employees to resign
The three newsmen told the man.
agement Of the Ledger-Enquirer Co
Of being manhandled, drugged and
compromised with pictures while
drueged last night.
They were identified by A. H
Chapman, president Of the COM
pany, as Jim Bellows and Carlton
johnson, reporters, and Joe Talbot
photographer.
Bryan Collier, editor of the
Ledger, disclosed tonight that the
three men had identified Hollis
Cooper, assistant circulation man.
aser for the papers for lS years,
as one OF those attending the Khan
meeting at Shiloh about 40 miles
from here.
MIR. Collier said Cooper resigned
when confronted with the news
mems statements.
Cooper. who lives in Phenix City
Ala, across the State line said to-
night he had no comment. He
admitted, however, that he had
resigned after the three identified
him as one Of several persons board
ing a bus.
He would not say whether Klans-
men were on the bus or whether
1t was headed for q Khan meeting.
Green Denies Accusations.
DR.. Samuel Green, grand dragon
OF the Klan, said in Atlanta that
ne attended the meeting and there
was no disturbance. He denied the
accusations in full and said he Ger.
tainly would have known about any
pictures.
Mr.. Bryan said q telephone call
had been received from q klansman
Offering to show Mr.. johnson the
pictures. =
Mr. johnson, Mr.. Collier said, was
forbidden to accept the appoint
ment but did have a tentative
agreement to meet the man Mon
day.
Mr.. Collier characterized the whole
business as a deliberate plant" and
said IN a front page editorial that
the papers accepted the "Klan chal-
lenge."
Refuses to Name Klavern Head,
DR.. Green was asked if he would
identify the head of the local Klav-
ern so his story could be corroborated
from another source. The Klan chief
tain refused, saying the man might
work for Catholic, a Jew or a
Greek and be fired"
At Manchester, about 30 miles
from Columbus, Police Chief E. r.
Keevle said the three newsmen were
arrested by a night policeman as
they sat in Car on the outskirts of
town and jailed on q drunk charge.
They were released today after post
ing bonds Of $8.75 each.
Chief Keevle would not say
whether the three told him OF being
manhandled, insisting you'll have
to get that at the trial"
No date for the trial has been set,
but Mr.. Collier said the fight against
the Klan will begin right there"
Thompson Embarrassed"
In Washington, Gov. M. Es
Thompson said that as soon as he,
returned to Georgia he planned to-
have the Georgia Bureau of 1nves-.
tigation enter the case, adding "I
hope to have those who have vio-
lated the law prosecuted to the
limit ia
The Governor was in the Capital
to fight the civil rights program pro-
posed by President Truman.
Imagine my embarrassment"
said Gov. Thompson" just as I was
talking against the necessity of any
Federal rights legislation when
newsmen called this to my attention
. =. E.. It cut the ground right out
from under my feet"
Mr.. Chapman, in a telegram to
Attorney General Clark, asked for a
Federal investigation. He said the
three were violently manhandled
. and given injections Of what
appears to be narcotics by a gather
ing of members of Ku KluX Khan