The Washington herald., 1920-11-29
Chief Officer Says Influence
Is to Extend to Cities
North and East.
FOR LAW AND ORDER
Emblems and Insignia Of
South to Stand for True
Americanism.

ATLANTA, Ga-s Nov. z6--Col- NJ
J. Simmons. of Atlanta, imperial
wizard Of the Ku Klux Klan, a fra
ternal organization bearing the
name and with the emblems and in
sigma Of the old Ku Klux Klan of
reconstruction days in the South.
made IT known here tonight that the
khan Is considering the formation of
branches in cities of the North and
East.
Imperial Wizard Simmons said
that no definite dates could be given
for the extension of the khan
He made II plain, however, that
definite plans locking to this. end
win be put under way at the earliest
possible time
The khan, with its white-shrouded
and masked riders and horses-the
same as in the stormy days in the
Southland Immediately following
the close OF the civil warts not
limited to the South by any of its
obligations of membership, the i'm
perial wizard said. in explaining
that 1t is the purpose of the order to
invade other sections OF the country.
It is American. of Americans, and
for Americans. he said
Not All Southerners-
He pointed out that even the old
postwar khan was not limited to
Southerners- Many of its members.
he declared. were men who had
fought in the Federal army and
were natives of the North who had
made their homes in the South at
the close of hostiiities between the
States
Col Simmons stoutly defended the
khan against reports that have been
published in some Northern and
Eastern papers. confusing it with
the Might Riders" who have ter
rorized Southern sections recently,
burning cotton gins and threaten
ing cotton growers who declined to
hold their cotton crop for higher
prices The headquarters of the
klan has answered many queries
as to its real aims, and in several
instances writers of articles class
ing 1t as Might Riders have apollo
gized for their mistake, Col. Sim
mons said
The Ku KluI Klan is a peace
full, fraternal organization, purely
American 1t was organized five
years ago as a memorial to the old
Ku Kux Klan, that meant so much
to the South in the days of recon-
struction, and to preserve the tradi-
tions and true history of the South.
1t is a law-loving and law-abiding
organization 1t never seeks to take
the law into its own hands; instead
of this, it aids officers of the law
in enforcing law and preventing
trouble One of its aims is to pre-
vent mob violence and lynchings-
not to conduct such offenses against
by high official of the organiza-
ton
The membership of the khan is
not limited to Southern men. How
ever. IL is patriotic and fraternal,
and any American may belong. He
: must be a real American, however,
with absolutely no foreign connec-
: tions, either politically or relig-
iously. He must believe in the
E Christian religion, white suprem-
acy, the separation of church and
state, the limiting of immigration
% and the prevention of causes of
mob violence.
- Col Simmons. at the time of re-
ports confusing the Ku Rux Ran
with the Might Riders had issued
/, orders to every branch khan in the
! South calling on them to give every
! assistance possible to officers of the
; law in running to earth these law
I breakers
Col Simmons, who is a South
: erner Of the "old school," organized
, the Ku K1ux Klan in 1915, after he
! had spent fifteen years in careful
study of the part played by the old
klan in the affairs of the South fol-
' lowing the war. 1t was formed
: with thfrty-four charter members,
f.; all personal friends of Col. Sim
: mons OF this number three were
, members Of the old khan, through
che membership of these old khan
ners, and through later legal action,
the new khan came into possession
OF the rights to the name, the SYM
bols and regalia of the old organ
ization, which was regularly incor-
porated-