Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-10-18
LOOK FOR ADVERSE
REPORT TO HOUSE
Collapse Follows Rigid Exami
nation of Imperial Wizard
Simmons.
LESS THAN 100000
Leader Enters Categorical Denial of
Charges of Lanleasness by
Organization.
tBy Associated presxl

ppocu lUNcellBRtlOn Oh tue hluA
Khan by Congress, blew up today.
After n ten-minutc session behind
closed doors. the House Rules Com
rnittcc, which ut morning and after
noon scssions put William J. Sim
mons. the klan's imperial wizard.
through rigid examination, voted
unanimously not to call any more
witnesses. certainly at this time.
Announcement OF the committcc'x
action WA made by Chairman Camp
bell and. while the chairman and
members refused later TO make any
comment beyond the bare statement
as to Witnesses, II is expected that an
adverse report will be submitted TO
the House on number OF resolutions
providing for an investigation.
Final action. however, Will not be
taken until several absent members
return TO Washington. but House
members accepted 1t as settled tha,
unlcss the Department of Justice,
conducting an inquiry OF it's own.
comes forward with unexpected ev:.
rslencc.
Sirn,nons' Voice wcnkens.
Still showing the effects OF his
Illness. the imperial wizards voice
weakened AZ he sat all day answering
q whirlwind Of questions. As on pre-
"!ous days, he entered categorical
denial OF charges OF laxlcssness by
tho khan. and reiterated that the total
membership OF the organization was
slightly under 100000.
There was an exciting moment at
the outset. when Simmons dramati-
caliy declared that. according TO in
formation given him by Representa-
tive Upshaw, OF Georgia. man who
was supposed to have been presen,
stated that Chairman Campbell and
Assistant Attorncy-Gcneral Grim had
ns "a cheap theatrical attempt to
gain sympathy"
Both aicn Deny Statement.
Quick as 4 flash, Chairman Camp
bell declared there was not word
OF truth In 1t. Mr.. Grim, jumping
to his feet in the confusion, declared
the chairman's answer went for him.
and the wizard. still smiling, said he
was glad TO know it.
AS he left the stand, Mr.. Simmons,
apparently with deep feeling, said
that he wanted to thank the commit
tee for It's consideration and cour-
tesy.
Reference TO the daily presence Of
the Assistant Attorncy-General, and
the onc-day stay OF william ]. Burns.
director OF the Department OF Jus
tice bureau OF Investigation, was
made by Representative Pou. Demo
crat, North Carolina, while he was
examining the wizard Asked If he
had been inundated by the presence
of Mr.. Burns. whom he characterized
\ as "the Sherlock Holmes of the
United States" Mr.. Simmons said he
lad not. and that he had faithfully
tried to give the committee all the
information il was seeking. Mr.. Pou
asserted 1t was the first time in his
twenty-one years of service that tho
Department of Justice had sent rep
resentatives to 'listen In on the
Rules Committee.
Help to Enforce Ln,ys.
In rounding up what he termed
/ the good points OF the organiza ton.
Mr.. Simmons said that "the military
branch" not yet formed, was not TO
be more militaristic than the patrol
of tho Mystic Shrine. that members
joining were required to help en-
force the nations laws only as citi-
zens. and that, when black sheep
crcpt In. they were kicked out, If
found
Without Financial Standing.
Getting down to the personal side,
MT. Pou asked the wizard how much
he was worth, and Mr. Simmons re-
FILED that all OF his savings had been
spent during the carly fight to put
!. the klan on its feet.
E II have no financial standing," he
said. II have had no pocketbook OF
my own these past six years and.
God being my witness, I have tried
to steer this organization clear away
from commercialism."
Simmons, answering Chairman
Campbell. denied he had claimed n
membership OF hundreds OF thou
sands. who would go after Congress.
hitting 1t hip and thigh, if IL at-
tempted to crush tho khan. He asked
Eongress to go ahead and inyesttgate
Taking the wizard in hand for al.
rect examination. Chairman Camp.
bell announced he wanted some con
Continued on Page &, Col. 60 y
.