The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-06
passing over gravel roads or on paved streets.
 GARMENTS MADE BY WOMEN

 streets.
 GARMENTS MADE BY WOMEN
 These garments of disguise were made | by true, tried and faithful women who were always as loyal to their section as [ the men themselves. Not one of the mak- CTS of the disguise knew, or desired to know, for whom or what member of the l Klan the mask or disguise was made One desiring disguise would secure the material and p9 ttern, then after night fall he would drive up to home and with a blast of the famous whistle would. call the woman and she would take the mateHal, at the same time receiving in structions as to where to leave it when finished. No questions were asked
 There is no doubt that the Invisible Empire was made up of the truest of Confederate soldiers, yet it could not swear to the individual membership of the Klan.
 Selection and initiation of members was not made by the Klu Klux as secret fra ternal organizations of tday No commit tees of inquiry were named to investi- gate the man. It was case of a man having been tried and known to have been made of the qualities demanded by the Klansmen. In the word of Colonel Inzer, Was there ever such manhood be- fore or since in the south to draw upon and organize into a band to do the work
 
 form?''
 With the going down of the sun, after the organization of the Klan, evildoers made it point to remain indoors in most instances, lest if they might come in contact by a squad of Klansmen, com. monly called lighters of all wrongs" Only one nights visit was necessary for these men to know that the Klu Klux really existed, and their orders and decrees must be obeyed and their demands strictly ob served. It was said of the l<lan that not a single order made by them ever failed in its execution. The military as to, discipline was a mere circumst com pared with the discipline and bearing of the members of the Invisible Empire.
 The Klansmen assembled upon order without question. When desperate deeds were to be performed the most perfect state of obedience prevailed Not a drop of intoxicants were allowed. All were sober. No one was allowed to speak ex cept to a comrade, and then only in low glutteral tone, so low recognition was in' possible Violations of such instruc- tions meant speedy death to the crafts man. All a brother member of the or ganization knew was the man on his
 right or left was true and tried mem Der and could be depended upon in any
 emergency. Recognition was made by cer
 tain friendly grips. signs. words and tokens.
 ! HOW INVESTTG ATIONS MADE At special meetings of the Klan, the conduct of some men of questionable
 character, within their jurisdiction, were l investigated. Such persons were in all
 cases treated in the absence of the al- legged offender, and the evidence offered
 was brought into the trusts of the mem bers of the Klan under the pains and penalties of death. No one except mem | hary tpf,, fa i,, nt ha
 hearings were taken cooly, calmly and l deliberately. All reasonable presumptions i, were indulged in favor of the defendant and his innocence. No fairer trial could
 be given any alleged offender in the
 courts, where he could appear and make l his own defense.
 The evidence all taken, the case fully 1 discussed in low tones, vote was then 1 taken as to the guilt or innocence of the 1 accused Each member present being | required to vote and punishment was ], duly awarded. In cases where the pun ishment was less than death, majority vote convicted or acquitted. In cases where the penalty proposed or imposed | was a death sentence, which were few, the maximum vote of the Klan was nec- l essary. Not pen, pencil or scrap of paper was eyer found or seen about such places of meetings.
 The judgments of the Klan were some times death by shooting or hanging; sometimes by whipping, sometimes mere 1 reprimand or only a notice to the of- fe der as to what would happen if his l actions were not changed to the better. 1 There were instances when raw heads
 and bloody bones were placed at the
 dcorsteps of the individual, or written in letters of blood about the door. Such
 warning was indicative of great danger in the event the ways of the accused l ob,a "
 ever given to the same party.
 l' JNFLICTION OF PUNISHMENT IT, cases where severe punishment was
 to be imposed it was done in lonely spot or cave where rot even single ray
 of light entered. It is stated that wher death penalty was imposed it was fol the good and well-b being of mankind, ant where no other punishment was ade
 quate. Klan imposing death penalty never executed the sentence. It was done by a neighbor den usually at grea distance from the Klan which convicted The Klansmen voting the penalty knev to the minute at what time the sentence would be executed, but without knowins just who they were. Lots were drawr il. a secret manner to determine the exc cutioners. The local Kan always pre- pared itself with the best of evidence t' prove it's alibi on the date the sentence was awarded This was usually estab lished by being in the presence of mel who were not members of the Klan Colonel Izner said: Be it said to thu credit of the Invisible Empire, that fev sentences of death were ever made, O executed, as few were sufficient to scat ter the news throughout the state ant crown the organization with success" It was a law of the Klan that no pun ishments were to be administered tt those who committed acts of violence prior to the surrender of the Confederate armies. It is said that not single cas- can be found in which this law was vio lated.
 No acts of legislation, military o otherwise were ever able to assault ant
 destroy the Klu Klux Klan The Klar never appeared in the daytime and no ont unfriendly to it dared to search for any of it's members after nightfall All Con federate soldiers were at heart Klu Klu, without ever having seen the inside of
 den, or having taken the oath. They
 may not, and more certain did not, know
 the words, grips and signs of the organ
 ization, but they had been tired and they
 were Klu Klux.
 TOOK SEPARATE OATH
 It has been said of the Klan tha it's members voluntarily took upon them selves the most desperate and drasti,
 oath upon becoming a member of den This may or may not be true, as the Klar was composed of band of Confederate soldiers, the truest and best men or earth and whose love and fidelity tt treir country and cause had been showr ,,pop Q thousard battleields and no oatl