Klu Klux Klan.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1922, Page 4

Klu Klux Klan.

WESTERNERS ALARAIEI). SAN FRANCISCO, May 18. The* enormous strides being made by the Ku Klux Elan organisation throughout the United States have sent a reeling of terror into certain civic authorities in the West, "here the membership of the ■‘lnvisible Empire,” as tlie masked night-riders are familiarly designated, lias lately gioun with unexampled pace. Hundreds of thousands of Auiovicans nro how ci\n lied imnnluTs of t-he K.K.K., nml manv of them make no secret of their adherence to the principles of the order. . . . 1 In California there has been initiated a campaign hv police authorities to endeavour to stein the tide and, followjraid in Inglewood in Southern California, some lively incidents were rec onletl. A policeman was shot, and in the melee (luring a descent upon the headquarters of the order in Los Angeles, the secret list of membership was seized bv the arresting police officers. This list was adroitlv handled by the authorities, and, tearing their positions would be severely.imperilled, some of Hit* Klansmen holding public niiico, promptly revealed their identity to their superiors, and announced then resignation from the Invisible Empire s Others resolutely refused to withdraw, and they were relieved of their civic positions with much dramatic ostentation by the “higher-ups” over them, the metaphorical Sword ot Damocles having been held over their unlurkv pates tor several days. In the ranks of the Ku Klux Man were-included many professional men „f the West, dentists, doctors, lawyers, cmdneers, architects, and others having joined with full faith that they would be able to assist in establishing a citizenship worth while, but to all appearances they have been misjudged, mainlv because the ranks were open on 1 v to l’iotestants. whilst most of the public offices are held by Roman ( atlioli,.s iii the Western States, at least. RESULT OF CONDITIONS. It is an acknowledged fact that conditions recently in America have reached a very low ebb, in the opinion ot. those capable of judging, and U IS oenernllv agreed that the revivification Cf the Ku Klux Klan had something to do witli this falling off in civic hie Where excesses have occurred, tne Invisible Empire officials have flatly denied that the demonstrators were in • ;lllv wav commoted with the legitimate membership of the organisations, am it was claimed that these sporadic night raids were pcr|s«trated by people masquerading as Klansnien, adopting a regalia very similar to the eerie apparel affected by the K.K.K. Although denying that lie was i" unv wav coimeetod with the Ku Klux Klan Dr John D. Eckes. a prominent Californian dentist of San Francisco, admitted that he was "heartily m sviupatliv” with the organisation. ' \t the same Dr Eckes passed out a sample of the Ku Klux Man | literature used by the Klan’s agents seeking membership to the order. I bis literature was beaded: "Are you a 1 p ; r cent American f” Things, the K I:\n stands for are listed, including., : : The tenets of the Christian religion ; . white supremacy : protection of pure womanhood; preventing unwarranted strikes by foreign labour agitators; the | upholding of the constitution of these United States.” “Would you blame me ; for wishing to join an organisation ! founded on those principles,” lie asked f | Asked if lie were in sympathy with the masked raids and other outrages ot ; which tlie Klnii had been licensed in , Los Angeles, and in which two Klaus- j nien had been shot to death while attempting to kidnap an alleged bootI -gger, be said be had tboroilgbly mvesligatcd all of the charges against the Klan and found them to be utterly false.

MEMBERSHIP SECRET. Dr Eckes said there were certain conditions in America that bad to he righted by just such an organisation as the Ku Ixlux Klan. • Klan members are not allowed to reveal their .membership in the organisation, according to the oath, they take wlitoi initiated a citizen of the Invisible Umpire, it was said liy a former member of the Klan.

The oath which Kl'ansmen take binds them to withhold nexvs ol crime, lor it specifically names those crimes which can be revealed. Tbe oath lias lieon liehl contrary to the oath of public officers and follows: “1 swear that I will keep secure to m.vsell a secret of

a Klansinon, when same is communicated to me in sacred bond of Klansuiansbip, the crime ol violating this solemn oath, treason against the United States of America, rape, and malicious minder alone exeepfod.” Which means that if a hanker cashier, who'xxaij a Klansinon. confessed to a chief of police, also a Klansman, alter giving him the Klan high sigti, that he bad lapped bis.bank for a few thousand more or less, the oliiej ol police would he hound liy the .lurid oath, sworn on the Fiery Cross, to “keep .secure the secret,” said one San Francisco newspaper, in exposing the Elan's

principles. While some of the Klansinon, whose names were published in the Press, at the instigation of the Chief of Police in ' various Western cities, denied their membership one member ol tbe San Francisco Fire Brigade, did not deny bis membership, and said be was prepared to appear before the board of File Commissioners any time they desired to hear him in defence of his membership. “It they do not. like it. they can go to ,” he told a

newspaperman. A San Francisco sergeant ol police admitted he had joined the organisation, and he mentioned that the United States flag figured very largely in the ceremonies of the order, especially when candidates were being initiated.

“Why, the President of the United States might join, if lie wanted to said Police-Sergeant AVilliam Al. Boss without violating his oath of office,” •at this point, during a quvising of his status. Nothing was against the Constitution of the United States, h« averred. ‘‘Everything is patriotic,” he added ‘‘lt is thoronghlv American.” NO Al A SONIC CONNEXION. It had been alleged that the Ku Klux Klan had some connexion with the ALasonie fraternity in America, hut this was promptly denied in most emphatic terms throughout the Masonic jurisdictions' of the United States, and the Grand .Master of California issued a pronouncement rigidly denying that members of tbe Afasconic Order had any connexion with the Invisible Empire. He further said that any Af.ason found to bo a member of the Klan would be “held to accountability.” Grand Master Burke, of California jurisdiction, in his communication to’ all tiro lodges of his district, admonished the members that the practical • workings of the Klan “appear to bo to interfere with the orderly ami lawful administration of the processes of our Courts, and tbo duly constituted officers of tbe law.” He intimated that tile principles' of the secret body were Adverse to those upon which Freemasonry stands.