
Bossert, former grand dragon of Indiana, testified before the Senate campaign fund committee that he was told he would be removed unless he changed his policy of refusing to support candidates for political office.
By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, October 21. - More disclosures regarding political activities of the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana were made today before the Senate campaign fund committee.
Walter F. Bossert of Indianapolis, former grand dragon of Indiana, said he got information that unless he changed his policy of refusing to support Klan-approved candidates for political office he would be removed.
Bossert said he heard about his prospective removal from "so many politicians in Indiana" he could not remember all the sources.
The witness told Senator Reed, Democrat, Missouri, the committee chairman, that it was he who introduced Senator Watson, Republican, Indiana, to William F. Zumbrunn, an official of the Ku Klux Klan.
This, he said, was at the time that Zumbrunn was counsel for Senator Mayfield, Democrat, Texas, in the election contest involving his Senate seat. Senator Watson was a member of the Senate committee handling the contest.
Cannot Recall Details.
Testifying that the Mayfield case had been discussed Bossert said he could not recall details.
"Do you know of any understanding or arrangement between Senator Watson and Zumbrunn regarding the Mayfield case?" demanded Senator Reed.
"I couldn't say that I do." "Can you say you don't." "Yes, I do." "Were you asked by anybody to support Senator Watson in the primary?"
"If I had been I would not have done so because of my policy."
Says He Resigned.
Senator Reed demanded to know whether anybody supporting Watson had aproached Bossert on the matter of Klan support.
"You were finally removed as grand dragon?" Reed asked.
"Yes, I was removed by my own resignation."
Brossert, who proved to be a hesitating witness, said he visited Dr. Hiram W. Evans, imperial wizard of the Klan, last January, and that "Dr. Evans asked me if I was ready to resign and I said I was."
Brossert said he understood his resignation was wanted because he did not follow the policy of lining the Klan up for political candidates.
Asked if his policy was opposed by Klan officials, he replied that "it was opposed by some one."
The witness said that he understood that Zumbrunn believed that there should be political reward for those who stood by the Klan.
The Missourian kept hammering away at Brossert, who finally conceded that he had resigned as grand dragon under pressure and that W. Lee Smith, who was appointed by Dr. Evans, issued a document to Klan members in effect indorsing the candidacies of Senators Watson and Arthur Robinson.
Probe Klan Activities.
Hugh P. Emmons of South Bend, former exalted cyclops, questioned for more than three hours yesterday by Senator Reed, testified that the Klan in his State was supporting the candidacies of Senators Watson and Robinson. He declared that Klan officials had told him that Bossert had been removed as grand dragon early this year because he "would not go down the line" on the Watson candidacy.
The former Klansman charged that Smith had offered him $10,000 if he would support Senator Watson, and had warned him that if he turned
(Continued on Page 7, Column 2.)
Reproduced unchanged from Evening Star, October 21, 1926, page 1.
This text reflects the language, attitudes and errors of its time. A Century Late publishes it as a historical document.
Text: read from the Library of Congress scan by A Century Late, within the article boundaries of American Stories (Dell et al., 2023), DOI 10.57967/hf/0757.
October 26, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:The Bismarck Tribune, The Indianapolis Times, Daily Kennebec Journal, and Evening Star.
Receive the original news from the press of 100 years ago, daily, weekly or monthly. Subscribe by December 1, 2026 and get
20% off for life!
October 27, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:The Bismarck Tribune, The Daily Worker, Daily Kennebec Journal, The Washington Times, New Britain Herald, Evening Star, and The Alaska Daily Empire.
Bossert, former grand dragon of Indiana, testified before the Senate campaign fund committee that he was told he would be removed unless he changed his policy of refusing to support candidates for political office.
By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, October 21. - More disclosures regarding political activities of the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana were made today before the Senate campaign fund committee.
Walter F. Bossert of Indianapolis, former grand dragon of Indiana, said he got information that unless he changed his policy of refusing to support Klan-approved candidates for political office he would be removed.
Bossert said he heard about his prospective removal from "so many politicians in Indiana" he could not remember all the sources.
The witness told Senator Reed, Democrat, Missouri, the committee chairman, that it was he who introduced Senator Watson, Republican, Indiana, to William F. Zumbrunn, an official of the Ku Klux Klan.
This, he said, was at the time that Zumbrunn was counsel for Senator Mayfield, Democrat, Texas, in the election contest involving his Senate seat. Senator Watson was a member of the Senate committee handling the contest.
Cannot Recall Details.
Testifying that the Mayfield case had been discussed Bossert said he could not recall details.
"Do you know of any understanding or arrangement between Senator Watson and Zumbrunn regarding the Mayfield case?" demanded Senator Reed.
"I couldn't say that I do." "Can you say you don't." "Yes, I do." "Were you asked by anybody to support Senator Watson in the primary?"
"If I had been I would not have done so because of my policy."
Says He Resigned.
Senator Reed demanded to know whether anybody supporting Watson had aproached Bossert on the matter of Klan support.
"You were finally removed as grand dragon?" Reed asked.
"Yes, I was removed by my own resignation."
Brossert, who proved to be a hesitating witness, said he visited Dr. Hiram W. Evans, imperial wizard of the Klan, last January, and that "Dr. Evans asked me if I was ready to resign and I said I was."
Brossert said he understood his resignation was wanted because he did not follow the policy of lining the Klan up for political candidates.
Asked if his policy was opposed by Klan officials, he replied that "it was opposed by some one."
The witness said that he understood that Zumbrunn believed that there should be political reward for those who stood by the Klan.
The Missourian kept hammering away at Brossert, who finally conceded that he had resigned as grand dragon under pressure and that W. Lee Smith, who was appointed by Dr. Evans, issued a document to Klan members in effect indorsing the candidacies of Senators Watson and Arthur Robinson.
Probe Klan Activities.
Hugh P. Emmons of South Bend, former exalted cyclops, questioned for more than three hours yesterday by Senator Reed, testified that the Klan in his State was supporting the candidacies of Senators Watson and Robinson. He declared that Klan officials had told him that Bossert had been removed as grand dragon early this year because he "would not go down the line" on the Watson candidacy.
The former Klansman charged that Smith had offered him $10,000 if he would support Senator Watson, and had warned him that if he turned
(Continued on Page 7, Column 2.)
Reproduced unchanged from Evening Star, October 21, 1926, page 1.
This text reflects the language, attitudes and errors of its time. A Century Late publishes it as a historical document.
Text: read from the Library of Congress scan by A Century Late, within the article boundaries of American Stories (Dell et al., 2023), DOI 10.57967/hf/0757.
Reproduced unchanged from Evening Star, October 21, 1926, page 1.
This text reflects the language, attitudes and errors of its time. A Century Late publishes it as a historical document.
Text: read from the Library of Congress scan by A Century Late, within the article boundaries of American Stories (Dell et al., 2023), DOI 10.57967/hf/0757.
October 26, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:The Bismarck Tribune, The Indianapolis Times, Daily Kennebec Journal, and Evening Star.
Receive the original news from the press of 100 years ago, daily, weekly or monthly. Subscribe by December 1, 2026 and get
20% off for life!
October 27, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:The Bismarck Tribune, The Daily Worker, Daily Kennebec Journal, The Washington Times, New Britain Herald, Evening Star, and The Alaska Daily Empire.
Bossert, former grand dragon of Indiana, testified before the Senate campaign fund committee that he was told he would be removed unless he changed his policy of refusing to support candidates for political office.
By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, October 21. - More disclosures regarding political activities of the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana were made today before the Senate campaign fund committee.
Walter F. Bossert of Indianapolis, former grand dragon of Indiana, said he got information that unless he changed his policy of refusing to support Klan-approved candidates for political office he would be removed.
Bossert said he heard about his prospective removal from "so many politicians in Indiana" he could not remember all the sources.
The witness told Senator Reed, Democrat, Missouri, the committee chairman, that it was he who introduced Senator Watson, Republican, Indiana, to William F. Zumbrunn, an official of the Ku Klux Klan.
This, he said, was at the time that Zumbrunn was counsel for Senator Mayfield, Democrat, Texas, in the election contest involving his Senate seat. Senator Watson was a member of the Senate committee handling the contest.
Cannot Recall Details.
Testifying that the Mayfield case had been discussed Bossert said he could not recall details.
"Do you know of any understanding or arrangement between Senator Watson and Zumbrunn regarding the Mayfield case?" demanded Senator Reed.
"I couldn't say that I do." "Can you say you don't." "Yes, I do." "Were you asked by anybody to support Senator Watson in the primary?"
"If I had been I would not have done so because of my policy."
Says He Resigned.
Senator Reed demanded to know whether anybody supporting Watson had aproached Bossert on the matter of Klan support.
"You were finally removed as grand dragon?" Reed asked.
"Yes, I was removed by my own resignation."
Brossert, who proved to be a hesitating witness, said he visited Dr. Hiram W. Evans, imperial wizard of the Klan, last January, and that "Dr. Evans asked me if I was ready to resign and I said I was."
Brossert said he understood his resignation was wanted because he did not follow the policy of lining the Klan up for political candidates.
Asked if his policy was opposed by Klan officials, he replied that "it was opposed by some one."
The witness said that he understood that Zumbrunn believed that there should be political reward for those who stood by the Klan.
The Missourian kept hammering away at Brossert, who finally conceded that he had resigned as grand dragon under pressure and that W. Lee Smith, who was appointed by Dr. Evans, issued a document to Klan members in effect indorsing the candidacies of Senators Watson and Arthur Robinson.
Probe Klan Activities.
Hugh P. Emmons of South Bend, former exalted cyclops, questioned for more than three hours yesterday by Senator Reed, testified that the Klan in his State was supporting the candidacies of Senators Watson and Robinson. He declared that Klan officials had told him that Bossert had been removed as grand dragon early this year because he "would not go down the line" on the Watson candidacy.
The former Klansman charged that Smith had offered him $10,000 if he would support Senator Watson, and had warned him that if he turned
(Continued on Page 7, Column 2.)
Reproduced unchanged from Evening Star, October 21, 1926, page 1.
This text reflects the language, attitudes and errors of its time. A Century Late publishes it as a historical document.
Text: read from the Library of Congress scan by A Century Late, within the article boundaries of American Stories (Dell et al., 2023), DOI 10.57967/hf/0757.
Reproduced unchanged from Evening Star, October 21, 1926, page 1.
This text reflects the language, attitudes and errors of its time. A Century Late publishes it as a historical document.
Text: read from the Library of Congress scan by A Century Late, within the article boundaries of American Stories (Dell et al., 2023), DOI 10.57967/hf/0757.
October 26, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:The Bismarck Tribune, The Indianapolis Times, Daily Kennebec Journal, and Evening Star.
Receive the original news from the press of 100 years ago, daily, weekly or monthly. Subscribe by December 1, 2026 and get
20% off for life!
October 27, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:The Bismarck Tribune, The Daily Worker, Daily Kennebec Journal, The Washington Times, New Britain Herald, Evening Star, and The Alaska Daily Empire.
Bossert, former grand dragon of Indiana, testified before the Senate campaign fund committee that he was told he would be removed unless he changed his policy of refusing to support candidates for political office.
By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, October 21. - More disclosures regarding political activities of the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana were made today before the Senate campaign fund committee.
Walter F. Bossert of Indianapolis, former grand dragon of Indiana, said he got information that unless he changed his policy of refusing to support Klan-approved candidates for political office he would be removed.
Bossert said he heard about his prospective removal from "so many politicians in Indiana" he could not remember all the sources.
The witness told Senator Reed, Democrat, Missouri, the committee chairman, that it was he who introduced Senator Watson, Republican, Indiana, to William F. Zumbrunn, an official of the Ku Klux Klan.
This, he said, was at the time that Zumbrunn was counsel for Senator Mayfield, Democrat, Texas, in the election contest involving his Senate seat. Senator Watson was a member of the Senate committee handling the contest.
Cannot Recall Details.
Testifying that the Mayfield case had been discussed Bossert said he could not recall details.
"Do you know of any understanding or arrangement between Senator Watson and Zumbrunn regarding the Mayfield case?" demanded Senator Reed.
"I couldn't say that I do." "Can you say you don't." "Yes, I do." "Were you asked by anybody to support Senator Watson in the primary?"
"If I had been I would not have done so because of my policy."
Says He Resigned.
Senator Reed demanded to know whether anybody supporting Watson had aproached Bossert on the matter of Klan support.
"You were finally removed as grand dragon?" Reed asked.
"Yes, I was removed by my own resignation."
Brossert, who proved to be a hesitating witness, said he visited Dr. Hiram W. Evans, imperial wizard of the Klan, last January, and that "Dr. Evans asked me if I was ready to resign and I said I was."
Brossert said he understood his resignation was wanted because he did not follow the policy of lining the Klan up for political candidates.
Asked if his policy was opposed by Klan officials, he replied that "it was opposed by some one."
The witness said that he understood that Zumbrunn believed that there should be political reward for those who stood by the Klan.
The Missourian kept hammering away at Brossert, who finally conceded that he had resigned as grand dragon under pressure and that W. Lee Smith, who was appointed by Dr. Evans, issued a document to Klan members in effect indorsing the candidacies of Senators Watson and Arthur Robinson.
Probe Klan Activities.
Hugh P. Emmons of South Bend, former exalted cyclops, questioned for more than three hours yesterday by Senator Reed, testified that the Klan in his State was supporting the candidacies of Senators Watson and Robinson. He declared that Klan officials had told him that Bossert had been removed as grand dragon early this year because he "would not go down the line" on the Watson candidacy.
The former Klansman charged that Smith had offered him $10,000 if he would support Senator Watson, and had warned him that if he turned
(Continued on Page 7, Column 2.)
Reproduced unchanged from Evening Star, October 21, 1926, page 1.
This text reflects the language, attitudes and errors of its time. A Century Late publishes it as a historical document.
Text: read from the Library of Congress scan by A Century Late, within the article boundaries of American Stories (Dell et al., 2023), DOI 10.57967/hf/0757.
Reproduced unchanged from Evening Star, October 21, 1926, page 1.
This text reflects the language, attitudes and errors of its time. A Century Late publishes it as a historical document.
Text: read from the Library of Congress scan by A Century Late, within the article boundaries of American Stories (Dell et al., 2023), DOI 10.57967/hf/0757.
October 26, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:The Bismarck Tribune, The Indianapolis Times, Daily Kennebec Journal, and Evening Star.
Receive the original news from the press of 100 years ago, daily, weekly or monthly. Subscribe by December 1, 2026 and get
20% off for life!
October 27, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:The Bismarck Tribune, The Daily Worker, Daily Kennebec Journal, The Washington Times, New Britain Herald, Evening Star, and The Alaska Daily Empire.
Bossert, former grand dragon of Indiana, testified before the Senate campaign fund committee that he was told he would be removed unless he changed his policy of refusing to support candidates for political office.
By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, October 21. - More disclosures regarding political activities of the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana were made today before the Senate campaign fund committee.
Walter F. Bossert of Indianapolis, former grand dragon of Indiana, said he got information that unless he changed his policy of refusing to support Klan-approved candidates for political office he would be removed.
Bossert said he heard about his prospective removal from "so many politicians in Indiana" he could not remember all the sources.
The witness told Senator Reed, Democrat, Missouri, the committee chairman, that it was he who introduced Senator Watson, Republican, Indiana, to William F. Zumbrunn, an official of the Ku Klux Klan.
This, he said, was at the time that Zumbrunn was counsel for Senator Mayfield, Democrat, Texas, in the election contest involving his Senate seat. Senator Watson was a member of the Senate committee handling the contest.
Cannot Recall Details.
Testifying that the Mayfield case had been discussed Bossert said he could not recall details.
"Do you know of any understanding or arrangement between Senator Watson and Zumbrunn regarding the Mayfield case?" demanded Senator Reed.
"I couldn't say that I do." "Can you say you don't." "Yes, I do." "Were you asked by anybody to support Senator Watson in the primary?"
"If I had been I would not have done so because of my policy."
Says He Resigned.
Senator Reed demanded to know whether anybody supporting Watson had aproached Bossert on the matter of Klan support.
"You were finally removed as grand dragon?" Reed asked.
"Yes, I was removed by my own resignation."
Brossert, who proved to be a hesitating witness, said he visited Dr. Hiram W. Evans, imperial wizard of the Klan, last January, and that "Dr. Evans asked me if I was ready to resign and I said I was."
Brossert said he understood his resignation was wanted because he did not follow the policy of lining the Klan up for political candidates.
Asked if his policy was opposed by Klan officials, he replied that "it was opposed by some one."
The witness said that he understood that Zumbrunn believed that there should be political reward for those who stood by the Klan.
The Missourian kept hammering away at Brossert, who finally conceded that he had resigned as grand dragon under pressure and that W. Lee Smith, who was appointed by Dr. Evans, issued a document to Klan members in effect indorsing the candidacies of Senators Watson and Arthur Robinson.
Probe Klan Activities.
Hugh P. Emmons of South Bend, former exalted cyclops, questioned for more than three hours yesterday by Senator Reed, testified that the Klan in his State was supporting the candidacies of Senators Watson and Robinson. He declared that Klan officials had told him that Bossert had been removed as grand dragon early this year because he "would not go down the line" on the Watson candidacy.
The former Klansman charged that Smith had offered him $10,000 if he would support Senator Watson, and had warned him that if he turned
(Continued on Page 7, Column 2.)
Reproduced unchanged from Evening Star, October 21, 1926, page 1.
This text reflects the language, attitudes and errors of its time. A Century Late publishes it as a historical document.
Text: read from the Library of Congress scan by A Century Late, within the article boundaries of American Stories (Dell et al., 2023), DOI 10.57967/hf/0757.
Reproduced unchanged from Evening Star, October 21, 1926, page 1.
This text reflects the language, attitudes and errors of its time. A Century Late publishes it as a historical document.
Text: read from the Library of Congress scan by A Century Late, within the article boundaries of American Stories (Dell et al., 2023), DOI 10.57967/hf/0757.
October 26, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:The Bismarck Tribune, The Indianapolis Times, Daily Kennebec Journal, and Evening Star.
Receive the original news from the press of 100 years ago, daily, weekly or monthly. Subscribe by December 1, 2026 and get
20% off for life!
October 27, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:The Bismarck Tribune, The Daily Worker, Daily Kennebec Journal, The Washington Times, New Britain Herald, Evening Star, and The Alaska Daily Empire.