Orbison New Klaliff of Klan Organization

From The Indianapolis News, Monday, January 25, 1926:  Indianapolis attorney Charles Orbison was appointed imperial klaliff (vice president) of the Ku Klux Klan national organization by imperial wizard Hiram Evans at a Hotel Lincoln banquet attended by 300 Indiana Klansman yesterday evening.  Orbison will receive an annual salary of $12,000 (2024:  $217,000).   He succeeds local attorney Walter Bossert who had relinquished the office as well as the position of Indiana grand dragon.  Before the banquet, 5,000 Klansmen met at Tomlinson Hall and ratified the nomination by the imperial wizard of W. Lee Smith, of Evansville, as Indiana grand dragon.  There was a move to block the nomination, but it was explained the Klan constitution gives the imperial wizard the sole right to nominate grand dragons.  James Jackson, brother of the governor, was reported to be leading the opposition to Smith.

“Orbison New Klaliff of Klan Organization,” The Indianapolis News, 25 January 1926, p. 7:2

Widow Succeeds Urbahns in Office

From The Indianapolis News, Friday, January 22, 1926:  Shortly before noon today, Grace May Banta Urbahns was administered the oath of office at her home, 404 E. 43^rd St, becoming the first woman treasurer of the state of Indiana and the first woman to hold a major office provided by the state Constitution.  Her accension to this office followed the death of her husband, Bernhardt “Ben” Henry Urbahns who had been elected state treasurer in 1924.  Urbahns died the previous evening of complications following surgery for the removal of a kidney.  Before entering the hospital, Urbahns was concerned that he might not survive the surgery and sought to have his wife appointed state treasurer in the event of his death.  Gov. Ed Jackson had agreed to this request and this morning he signed the commission selecting the grief-stricken woman.

“Widow Succeeds Urbahns in Office,” The Indianapolis News, 22 January 1926, p. 1:8

Keith Star Starts Fund to Feed Pigeons and Squirrels

From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, January 13, 1926:  Recognizing that pigeons in University Square must eat and there isn’t much nourishment in snowflakes, dancer Alma Neilson, this week’s headliner at Keith’s Theater, after visiting the park yesterday morning with four pounds of cracked corn which disappeared with such rapidity that no one could doubt that the birds were hungry, has turned over $10 (2024:  $181) to R. Walter Jarvis, park board superintendent, as a start toward establishing a pigeon feeding fund.  The pigeons are municipal pets, and during warm weather they never lack refreshment from park visitors, but in the winter the commissary gets extremely low.  Custodian Charles Hess will use part of the funds to buy nuts for the squirrels, too.  Even the thriftiest of these University Square creatures can’t manage to lay up much against a rainy day.  

“Keith Star Starts Fund to Feed Pigeons and Squirrels,” The Indianapolis Star, 13 January 1926, p. 10:5