Letter to Institute for Lifelong Education at Dartmouth

September 16, 2011



Institute for Lifelong Education at Dartmouth
10 Hilton Field Rd.
Hanover, New Hampshire 03755

Re: David R. Stokes’ Sept. 28th talk on his book “The Shooting Salvationist”

To Whom It May Concern,

A review of “The Shooting Salvationist” recently appeared in the Texas Monthly. The writer gives a fair and balanced account from the viewpoint of an unbiased observer. In 1938, H. L. Mencken met and heard J. Frank Norris. A quote from Mencken; “I have no doubt whatever, that his (Norris’) heart is in the right place.”

Stokes leaves out crucial testimonies of witnesses unfavorable to his purported research. It cannot be proven that Chipps was unarmed.

Norris’ KKK connection is demonstratively present only in prohibition matters. “He had no brief for the Klan” … quoted from Time Magazine 1926. Dallas Texas was the hotbed of Klanism in that era superceeding by far any events that transpired in Ft. Worth. It is noteworthy that Dallas was the prime headquarters of mainline Baptist churches. The great question is, why no emphasis is given to these facts but rather focus on the one lone voice in Ft, Worth and make it appear that all but Norris had a “lilly white” record.

Prestigious members of society were noticeably associated with J. Frank Norris.

a. Brooks Morris, a renowned violinist and director/founder of the
Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra
b. John Birch (The John Birch Society)
c. G. V. Vick of Detroit
d. Many successful businessmen

Norris was the foremost promoter of Jewish causes which proves no kkk connection.

Barry Hankins, a Baylor professor, confirmed that Norris was no more racist than others of that era.

Personal note: I have attended black churches where he often preached. He was a man of genuine affection for the common man.

Sincerely,


Roy Falls