Evening star., 1921-10-13
Watson Demands Right to Be
Heard in Defense of Col.
Simmons.
IMPERIAL WIZARD READS
RITUAL TO COMMITTEE
Charges Wright Passed Bum
Checks'-Declares Order Is Pure
American and Benevolent.

ara OF the ku Klux Khan, was dra-
matically Interrupted in his testi-
mony this morning, when Senator
Watson Of Georgia stepped quickly
to the front to shake hands with the
chief klansman.
The senator whispered something,
and then sat near the witness COM
ing to his feet a moment later, Sena-
tor Watson asked if a senator would
be permitted to ask a question.
Not an outsider" said Chairman
Campbell.
But l am an ins.der. and you will
permit me if you want to be fair
senator Watson shouted. Il am I.
United States senator, and ] am go
ing to see that the witness has fair
play"
MI. Simmons stepped over and put
ms hands on the senator's shoulder.
meantime taking medical tablet.
Raps High Public Salaries.
Il think you may ask your ques-
tion, Chairman Campbell interrupt
ed, the audience meanwhile being in
much of hubbub.
We'll, ! won't claim my rights her.
put VIII when this thing gets to the
Senate. Senator Watson shouted. II
want to ask this witness. to whose
order l do not belong. but which |
propose to defend. if he does not
know that Congress is creating
dozens OF officers and employing Off
GERS at $4,000 and $4,000 salary, all
Of which comes out of the pockets of
the taxpayers"
After this Senator Watson sat down,
but soon left the room.
wright Again Attacked.
Resuming his testimony before the
House rules committee. Mr.. Simmons
again launched an attack against {.
Anderson Wright a former klansman
who recently published what pur-
ported to be an expose of the order.
The wizard denied that the organi-
cation had declined to pay checks or
drafts drawn by Wright for Services
performed during a membership cam
paign. Simmons charged that Wright
prior to his connection With tn. Khan
ISSUED bum checks at Houston. Tex"
You mean to say that wright is
sued fraudulent checks asked Rep
resentative Rodenberg. republican.
That's my impression simmons
replied.
Didn't you know this before you
took him on" Mr. Rodenberg per
sisted.
we did not know of it until aft
erward."
Simmons declared he had never au-
thoriZed any kleagles or field agents
to draw on the organization. He also
denied that anybody with khan au-
thority had ever entered court
house to destroy evidence against the
organiza ton.
After certain court records were
found missing in Atlanta. Mr..
Simmons testified they were seen in
possession of representatives of the
New York World" and that efforts
were made to attach the crime TO
our organization"
Copy of Charter Presented.
A certified copy of the Ku Klux
charter. obtained in Georgia. was pre-
with other things. that the Khan
was purely a benevolent order. with
out capital stock or profit or gain to
members Touching on charges that
the klan was a mercenary outfit Mr.
Simmons. holding his hand aloft, ex-
ella lined:
God will bear me witness that
never in the six years of my associa-
tion with this organization did one
mercenary or commercial thought fit
through my mind"
Told He Could Make Million.
The witness declared that a man
connected with the Khan in its early
days had told him he, Simmons. could
make sl0O0OO0. He did not explain
the method.
Who was that man?' asked Rep
resentative Rodenberg.
jonathan B. Frost. whose name
appears here in our original petition"
the witness replied.
When Frost made that statement
l told him l would go to my grave
before / would prosecute the order
for commercial purposes. Frost also
told me that if ne We're appointed an
imperial officer he could guarantee
100000 in twenty-four hours, but |
refused
purpose of preventing graft in the
sale of robes that he caused to be in
serted in the charter provision Civ
ing him sole power over the klan's
para raphernalia.
AS the testimony proceeded it was
evident that the imperial wizard.
who recently has been i'll. was speak
ing under strain. Often he leaned
heavily on a table as he stood during
the examination.
Denies He Holds Iron Hand.
Denying charges that he held an
iron hand over klansmen, Mr.. Sim
mons declared:
.The authority l hold may be COM
pared to that of general in the
Army, but a general cannot issue or
ders in violation of the rules and
regulations of war"
Then, with a dramatic gesture. his
voice pitched high. the wizard added:
'If President Harding should re-
sign tomorrow and the people should
rise up overnight and attempt 10
proclaim me an absolute monarch and
demand that I accept the office, Id
die before I'd do it,"
Diamond "Imperial stone"
Still disclosing newspaper attacks. as
he described them, Mr.. Simmons touched
a brilliant stick pin in a blue tie, closely
wrapped around a high stiff collar.
why the newspapers said today
was wearing a big diamond. This is no
diamond" he explained. Its an i'm
perial stone
The audience roared and Chairman
Campbell suggested to the witness that
he get along and deal with more inn
portant matters.
After several attempts to get answers
to specific questions. with the statement
from the witness that "he was coming
to that" members Of the committee in
sisted that Interruptions were proper.
We've been very courteous and |
think the witness should answer
said Representative Pou. democrat,
North Carolina. And the wizard
agreed.
o.p-.- ua~>A