Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-09-23
XII KLUX WIZARD
WELCOMES FULL
FEDERAL PROBE
Warns Followers To Be Prepared
For Further Attacks On
Order
ASSERTS HIS FAITH IN
CLARKE AND MRS. TYLER
Says Character Charges Are Be
ing Observation-Disclosures
To Follow

ATLANTA, Sept. 23.--In his first
formal statement since his organic d
tion went under fire, Colonel ". J.
Simmons, imperial wizard of N, Ksux
Klan, today called on all his fJnaw-
ers to be prepared for further at
tacks, not only on the order, but
on the men who head IT, At tito
same time he declared that tbs Klan
would welcome any investigation
by the United States Department OF
Justice as had been intimated was
possible. The imperial wizard de-
clared that he would throw open his
books and records to the department
Investigators, confident that such an
inquiry would result in a complete
eXoneration of the order.
He declared that he is personally
investigating the charges brought
against Edward Young Clarke. the
imperial kleagle, and Mrs. Elizabeth
Tyler, one of the heads of the Klan's
publicity department. The wizard
gives it out as his personal belief,
however, that both officers are true
and asserts he has every confidence
in their integrity
Wizards Statement.
His statement in full follows
'The Knights of the Ku Klux KIan
welcome any impartial investigation
of its order and is indeed glad that
the United States Department Of JUS
tice will probably conduct thorough
and rigid Investigation of its activi.
ties throughout the United States.
This investigation bv the federal
authorities, if made, which we sin.
cerely hope will be doAe, will. res
+'reive every assisfance from the Kian
and all its members. our books and
records being open to the authorities
! The Investigation when finished will
show clearly the noble purposes that
actl1ate the order.
when attacks against the KIan
made by certain New York news
paper are finished, the Klan will
then, through the imperial wizard,
issue statement showing the falsity
of these charges, the true~ygorkings
of the Klan and that il is an order
solely Of pure Americanism and pa
triotism. 1t will also be shown ana
proven that there is a well-organized
conspiracy to destroy the Klan and
the purposes back Of this will also be
shown and proven.
Memberships Growing.
"The Klan has not been halted un-
der these malicious attacks and is re-
ceiiyng more new applications for
membership than ever before. To the
more than. several thousand loyal
Klansmen in the United States no
assurance Of our lofty purpose is
necessary. To the great American
people, who stand for square deal,
we ask that they withhold their judg-
ment until all facts are in their pos
session and we assure them that thevy
will be given these facts.
"The character attacks made
against Edward Young Clarke, i'm.
rerial kleagle, and Mrs. Elizabeth
Tyler are being carefully investigate
ed by the Klan. We do not believe
them true and have every confidence
in their integrity. The imperial wig,
ard, when this investigation is com
pleted, will ISSUE a statement fully
covering the matter
eve advise all Klansmen and all
people to be prepared for other cow
ardly and false character attacks
against other officials of the Klan
as we have full knowledge of the
methods being pursued by our ene-
mics to check the growth of this great
American institution formed for the
sole purpose of fostering Americana
ism and patriotism. We have in our
possession positive proof that these
cowardly attacks win be made, and
the papers and organizations back Of
them know before they published Of
their falsi'y.
''WILLTAM JOSEPH SIMMONS.
Imperial Wizard,