Hollis Post-Herald. And Harmon County Tribune (Hollis, Okla.), Vol. 21, No. 38, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 31, 1924 Page: 1 of 8
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Hollis Post-Herald
and harmon county tribunb
The Official Newspaper of Harmon County, Oklahoma.
FIRST SECTION, PAGES 1 to 8
Volume 21—Number 38
Hollis, Harmon County, Oklahoma, Thursday, July 31, 1924
Price, $2 in advance
1 Can Hear It Hiss, But I Cant See the Serpent'--Judge Abernethy
Candidate for Legislature Launches Attack
on Invisible Government—Campaigning
Over the County for Principles Upon
Which Republic Was Founded
TREADWAY ADMITS MEMBERSHIP IN KLAN
In His Speech at Halsmith "The Official Bill
Killer" Shouts, "Dr. Pendergraft Solicited
Me to Join and I Joined 'Em"
It h?.s finally happened!
The Ku Klux Klan is a live
issue in Harmon county!
Judge Abernethy, who is a
-candidate for election to the
state legislature on the Demo-
cratic ticket, has thrown down
the gauntlet. Iin his speeches
over the county the veteran
campaigner says that he has
heard whisperings around ov-
er the county to the effect that
certain of his old friends are
going to "get him," for no oth-
er reason other than that he
is not a member of the Ku
Klux Klan.
In his speech at Halsmith
Thursday night of this week
the Judge likened the Invisible
Empire to a huge serpent, with
its head in Atlanta, Georgia,
and its tail reaching out all
over our fair land, ready to
to strike at the very founda-
tion of American liberty.
In a speech of a quarter of
an hour, many times filled with
emotion, Judge Abernethy
pleaded with his fellow citizen.-?
to rally together and- stamp out
this monster known as the Ku
Klux Klan and get back to the
safe and sane moorings of con-
stitutional government. He
pointed out the dangers of an
organization that keeps its
membership a secret, going
about hooded and robed, no
man knowing who they are,
where they may be prying a-
bout, and when they may grab
some one who has offended
them and take him out on the
highways of the country and
flog him, without giving him
a chance to be heard, without
proper legal defense, not even
knowing who his accusers are.
"Oh, the dangers of this ser-
pent," shouted the Judge. "I
can hear it hiss but I can't see
the serpent. I know it is some-
where, but I don't know where.
I know not which way to turn
to avoid its poisonous fangs. It
lurks by the roadside ready to
strike whoever it chooses. Or-
ganized society, legal, constitu-
ted government is not safe so
long as this serpent is abroad
in the land."
The Judge told his hearers
that he had been warned to
"lay off" discussing the klan is-
sue. "But I will discuss it," he
shouted. "So long as I have
breath in my body I shall
speak against a thing that is
undermining the very founda-
tions of our government. I
would not be. true to myself,
nor true to the forefathers of
our country if I did not raise
my voice in defense of our be-
loved country against a menace
of this kind."
Treadway Speaks
Following Judge Abernethy
Hariy Treadway, also a can-
didate for the legislature, was
called on. Harry devoted most
of his talk to Jack Walton's
impeachment, defending his
vote to impeach Walton, and
declared he did not receive one
cent from the Grand Dragon
or anybody else to go to Ok-
lahoma City, and that he would
have voted to impeach Walton
if he had been a Klansman. At
U SHEW IS A
Bismol wit
Editor Hollis Post-Herald,
Hollis, Oklahoma,
Dear Sir:—So miany folks are
planning to beat back to the
good old hog trail at this time,
and are wondering how about
sowing alfalfa.
In 1901, 23 years ago this
spring, I sowed my first 10
acres of alfalfa, and I have
been so thankful ever since
that I sowed just that much
and only that much, for var-
ious reasons. I learned some
things about alfalfa before I
had to do so much work, then
at an opportune time I sowed
10 acres more. In 1910, 14
years ago, I prepared and sow-
ed 75 acres more, and got a
perfect stand and have held it
through all the weather condi-
tions.
To prepare a seed bed for al-
falfc this fall break very shal-
low, not more than 3 inches
deep, harrow as you brake and
continue to harrow until a firm,
fine, moist seed1 bed is secured,
then sow with either alfalfa or
wheat drill, each way one-half
seed each time to insure a per-
fect distribution. One bushel is
sufficient to sow 5 acres as
above. Seed should be sown any
time the conditions above can
be secured untill October 1st.
Some more later about al-
falfa. T. A. Sheriff,
Louis, Okla.
K C. C. a MAKES
A PLEA FOR SUPPORT
(Continued on page eight)
Following the talk by Sena-
tor Gore last Wednesday after-
noon, Dr. C. C. Shaw took ad-
vantage of the presence of a
large number of people and
made another talk pretty much
along the same line of his talk
preceeding the address of S.
P. Freeling last week.
The doctor spent quite a bit
of time telling about how he
would write, introduce and pass
a double primary law if the
people of Harmon and Greer
counties would send him to the
state senate. The doctor didn't
appear to think that the other
forty or so senators would
have anything to say about the
matter.
Teh doctor told all about his
early days and spoke eloquent-
ly of the vast amount of ex-
perience he has had, of how he
built the state capitol and the
great service he rendered the
state a few y6ars ago when he
was a member of the state
senate from some other dis-
trice. The doctor usually claims
that 90 per cent of the Demo-
crats of Greer county are back
of his candidacy, but upon this
occasion he reduced it to 75
per cent.
Didn't Mention Klan
At no time .has Dr. Shaw1
mentioned the Ku Klux Klan in
Harmon county, but reports*
come from Greer county that
he bears down on it hard over
there, even quoting copiously
from a Klan hand-book that he
carries with him. Mrs. Lamar
Looney, who is one of his op-
ponents, is authority for the
statement that the portly doc-
to tells little children in his
audiences in Greer county that
they need not be afraid of the
Ku Klux Klan; that if they see
a Klansman to walk up to him
and tell him that they are glad
the Klansmen are here. He
further warns the good wor
men of Greer county, according
to a statement by Mrs. Loon-
ey, that if their husbands sit
around and talk against the
Continued on Page Four
Subscription Mistakes Will Be
Corrected
The Post-Herald desires to get EVERY NAME on its
subscription list paid up to January 1, 1925, and an earn-
est request is made of every subscriber who knows him-
or herself to be in arrears to pay up at once.
We are making every effort to give the people of Har-
mon county a Real Newspaper, and we cannot afford to
send the paper out unless it is paid for, and we are sure
no honest subscribed expects us to do that.
Statements are being sent out to those who are shown
to be in arrears by our records, and it is hoped that every
subscriber will make it a point to pay the small amount
that is due immediately. It is very likely that some errors
have been made, and that statements will be received by
those who have paid. If that should be the case, and the
subscriber will call our attention to it, we will be more
than glad to make the proper adjustment.
An effort is being made to improve The Post-Herald,
and we are sure that the people of Harmon county ap-
preciate the effort that is being made, and each one who
gets the paper will want to pay the small subscription
price asked.
E IS THE
Mrs. Looney's Friends Organize in Her Behalf
The activity of the Greer
county partisans in behalf of
their respective candidates, Dr.
Wilils and Dr. Shaw, has ap-
parently aroused the pride of
a number of Harmon county
Democrats and they have de-
cided to do something for the
Democratic senatorial candi-
date from this county, Mrs.
Lamar Looney.
A number of Mrs. Looney's
Democratic friends got togeth-
er the first of the week and
perfected the "Looney-for-Sen-
ator Club," and launched an
active effort in her behalf.
The contest between the two
candidates from Greer county,
Dr. Willis and Dr. Shaw, ap-
pears to be very bitter. Over
in that county Dr Shaw is re-
ported to be making the race
as a Klan candidate, but up to
the present time he has been
careful to not mention the In-
visible Empire here. Dr. Willis
is an out-and-out anti-klan can-
didate, here as well as in his
home town and county. So far
as known Mrs. Looney has not
mentioned the Klan, but is
basing her campaign for re-
election on her record In the
state senate the last four years.
Her friends argue that she has
not said a word to offend the
feelings of anyone, and has re-
fused to be drawn into a fac-
tional fight, therefore they feel
that she is entitled to the sup-
port of all Democrats who want
to see the factional fight? elim-
inated.
The "Looney-For-Senator-
Club" has a statement to the
voters in this issue of The
Post-Herald that every Demo-
cratic voter will be interested
in reading.
Mrs. R. P. Watts is here to
assist Mrs. Lamar Looney in
the latter's acampaign for elec-
tion to the state senate again.
If the work is not more suc-
cessful than it was when Mrs.
Looney ran for congress in '22
somebody else is liable to be
the Democratic candidate for
the state senate from this dis-
district, but it looks at this
time that Mrs. Looney will be
the nominee.
Subscribe for Post-Herald.
FOR HARMONY IN HARMON COUNTY
A few days ago the daily newspapers
carried the news of a klan down in Texas
that had met and voted almost unanimous-
ly to disband, give up their charter and
remove from their community the princi-
pal obstacle to harmony, peace and con-
tentment. The Cyclops and other officers
of the organization signed a statement
that they were disbanding the organization
BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT GETTING
ANYWHERE, AND THAT THE ORGAN-
ZATION WAS ONLY KEEPING THE
PEOPLE APART AND CONTRIBUTING
TO STRIFE AND DISCORD.
In commenting on the disbanding of the
above klan, the Daily Oklahoman carried
the following in its "Top Line": "If this
is the start of an epidemic, oh grave,
Where is thy sting?"
What a fine thing it would be for Har-
mon county if what is left of the Harmon
county klan would follow in the footsteps
of the klan at Brenham, Texas! An act
of that kind would bring joy to the hearts
of thousands of people in this county, and
would be the greatest single thing that
could be done to remove the strife and
bitterness that exists, and unite the peo-
ple in the purpose of living happily to-
gether and working for the common wel-
fare of our county, state and nation.
The Post-Herald wonders if there are
not men in the klan here who are big
enough to take the initiative in a move-
ment to disband for the good of the coun-
ty. If they could just put aside their pride
and resolve that the interests of the whole
county are of paramount importance!
The officers of the Texas klan that gave
up its charter said thev were not GET-
TING ANYWHERE. Has the local klan
"got anywhere ?" Is there a single individ-
ual who is any better because of its or-
ganization here? If a single service has
been rendered to anyone, could' that serv-
ice not have been rendered by the same
individuals without being members of a
secret and mysterious organization-an or
ganization that creates suspicion and mis-
trust?
It has been claimed that there are or
have been 800 members of the klan in
Harmon county (The Post-Herald doesn't
believe it has exceeded 200). But suppos-
ing there has been 800. At $10.00 that
would represent $8,000.00 just for mem-
bership fees alone, to say nothing about
the robes, hoods and fiery crosses and
other paraphernalia. That in itself is quite
a sum of money to take from the people
of the county, a very large portion going
to organizers and to enrich a bunch of
grafters whose sole object is to play upon
the prejudices of people to the enrichment
of themselves.
There are those who say they would not
put the same trust and confidence in a
man who had ever been a member of the
Invisible Empire. That is one of the things
the klan has done in every community
where it has been organized—CAUSE!
MEN TO SUSPICION AND MISTRUST
EACH OTHER.
The Post-Herald doesn't feel that way
about it. We don't want to feel that
Way! We want to continue to have con-
fidence in men—to feel that they are
trust-worthy, honest and upright, and that
is one of the reasons we are so strongly
opposed* to such an organization as the
Invisible Empire, because we believe that
it fosters the very opposite of those vir-
tues.
This paper has said before, and the
statement is repeated again, that men
might have been led into an organization
thinking it was a good thing, and that if
they have the manhood and courage to
renounce the organization they would still
be entitled to the confidence and friend-
ship of honest men and women.
The statement is also made that if men
will continue in the organization when it is
perfectly evident that it is NOT GET-
TING ANYWHERE, BUT IS CAUSING
STRIFE AND DISCORD, then they are
unworthy of the confidence of good men
and women, and that instead of wanting
to bring about harmony, peace and happi-
ness they deliberately choose a policy of
rule or ruin.
God hasten the day when the Ku Klux
Klan and the Anti-Ku Klux Klan will only
be a memory in Harmon county! God has-
ten the day when we will live together as
one people—common citizens of a Great
Republic, with no thought of having mem-
bership in anything called an Empire, di-
viding politically and religiously, and
granting to every man the right to be-
lieve as he sees fit without questioning
his motives nor his honesty. God hasten
the day when we shall stand shoulder to
shoulder giving our best to work out the
destiny of this Republic, which was found-
ed after the greatest struggle for FREE-
DOM the world has ever known!
Let us stand hefore the whole world
b ire-faced. unmasked and unrobed, in the
clear light of day, and be worthy to hold
aloft the torch of Freedom, Equality be-
fore the Law and Equal Opportunity for
ALL that was handed to us by the build-
ers of the Republic!
Special Correspondence
Washington, D. C., July 29.
—The formal notification of
President Coolidge will take
place in Washington about the
19th of August and similar
ceremonies will be held at Ev-
anston, Illinois a few days later
when General Charles G. Daw-
es will be formally told that he
has been selected as the run-
ning mate for Coolidge.
The speech of acceptance by
the President will, according to
close friends, be a document
that will be understood by all
the people, it will no dobut be
as plain as was his first mes-
sage to congress, which it will
be remembered brought forth
thousands of letters and tele-
grams from all sections of the
nation complimenting him upon
his honest declaration of prin-
ciples and the straightforward
stand he had taken upon public
questions. There will again be
demonstrated to the people
that the President is unafraid,
that he refuses to use high
sounding phrases ih order to
catch votes, or to offer to the
people some theoretical cure-all
everyone who stops to think
will realize could not be put in
force. Coolidge has always been
honest with the people, he be-
lives that they should be told
the truth, he believes in their
intelligence and their desire to
do the right thing by their gov-
vernment, and he means to see
that their government does the
right thing by them.
Coolidge is the kind of a
President who believes it his
duty to use all the power of
his office to see that the people
of the United States are given
a square deal—he believes it
his duty to aid in bringing the
greatest amount of prosperity
possible to all sections of the
nation, he takes his job ser-
iously and thinks less of the
great honor of being president
than he does of the opportuni-
ty that has been given him to
be of real service to his fellow
citizens.
A Washington newspaper man
one who has followed politics
carefully for many years made
the following statement the
other day: 'It is remarkable to
see a man in high public office
who cares so little for himself
and so much for the people-^
the people believe in him:—
they demonstrated this at the
primaries and I'll wager that
you will see the votes coming:
out strong for him even long
before election. I have talked
with many Democrats, some
conservative who do not like
the second on their ticket—
progressive Democrats will not
accept the head, and they will
have none of the Independent
candidate, claiming this no t\me
for experiments with theories,
the great majority of these men
recognize Coolidge's honesty
and ability and unless I miss
my gu- ss many who followed
the War President or i.hf Dem-
ocratic ir minee in 1920 wil! go
quietly to the polls and vote
?„r lu ihHge.
*********
NOTICE TO READERS *
*
Please remember that *
* there are two sections of *
* this ispus of The Post- *
* Herald, sixteen pages in *
* all, so don't get the idea *
* that you have received two *
* copies. There is a lot of *
* good news in both sections *
* Be sure and read them *
* both.
* THIS IS SECTION ONE *
* PAGES 1 to 8 *
**********
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White, J. Warren. Hollis Post-Herald. And Harmon County Tribune (Hollis, Okla.), Vol. 21, No. 38, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 31, 1924, newspaper, July 31, 1924; Hollis, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metapth349620/m1/1/: accessed April 23, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.