Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-24

call upon the khan in neighboring COM
munity to execute it's decree. Exagger-
ated tales were circulated in regard to
the strength and character of the ku-
klux. The mere rumor that they were
riding in the neighborhood was sufii-
cient to create an unusual disquiet. 1t
was decreed that all warnings of the
khan should be given but once, and the
notice was usually posted in some con-
spicuous place about the premises of the
following notice is typical of how the
khan delivered its warnings:
Dismal Swamp. X. K. X. 18th hour.
fMeme, Meme Tekel Upharsin. The
bloody dagger is drawn: the trying hour
is at hand; beware! Your steps are
upon You. First he warns: then the
avenging dagger flashes in the moon
light.
by order of the Grand cyclops.
Lixto."
The following is an unusually grew
TX. K. K. Bloody Month.
Skeleton Hollow, Dark Moon, Silent
hour.
'In Hoe signum. To the yelled
brotherhood of subdivision No. 9.
THE Grand Cyclops never sleeps. His
Band and his messengers will greet
you in the Gath revolution of the Spirits
ciaL Mortals have threatened the band
The Bloody Hand is raised to warn Be
cautious lest it fall. The sword is un-
sheathed and red Let tyrants tremble
H. K. 3. s. Sub. R. T. and Bearer of
the Dadem"
During the last months of the work of
the Khan. there is no doubt that many
crimes were committed with an idea of
their being blamed upon the Ku-Klux
Criminals. knowing pecularities of the
ORGANIZATION clothed in nhas
similar to those worn by the Khan. And
as with many large organizations, the
Khan suffered from INSCRIPTIONS MEM
bers in some sections of the south These
members, without a doubt, used their
organization affiliations to their own ad-
vantage.
On March %. 1871, President Grant
sent special message to Congress, in
which he declared that life and prop
erty were insecure in some of the
the mail and collectors of revenue
were in danger of personal violence.
He stated that he felt certain that
the power to curb this evil was be-
yond that of the various states,
and he recommended appropriate leg
what was known rs the enforcement
act was passed on April 20 of that
year. Its most important provision
was the extension of the jurisdiction
Oh the IeueTdl courts IN ku-hluN
cases. A heavy penalty was fixed for
"conspiring to levy war against the
government of the United States, de-
laying the execution of federal laws,
or attempting to deter any person
from voting, holding Office or acting
as witness or juror in the federal
courts"
In the Investigations of the Ku-
klux before the congressional COM
mittee some sensational testimony
came out. One witness, John. X. Tall
aferro. who claimed to be an ex-Con-
federate soldier, alleged that although
he was not a member Of the Khan, he
| had. upon invitation, gone with them
in several of their raids. He gave GER
tain passwords used in various camps
in Mississippi. The signal for distress,
he stated. was the word "Kosciusko.
In public places the alleged sign of
recognition was given by drawing the
hand across the chin and the response
was given by placing the hand on the
lapel of the coat
One of the most notable cases OF
ku- KluX-ing brought to the attention
of the committee was that of a minis
ter of Lowndes county, Mississippi
He was called on, according to teSti-
mony, by band of lone hundred dis
guised men," who ordered him to stop
teaching in the community. The men
informed the minister that they were