Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-10-15
IMPERIAL WIZARD
LAUNCHES ATTACK
ON ENEMY OF KHAN
Continued From Page II

names have been carried across the
front pages of newspapers:
There was one named Bruce Ora
ven, down in North Carolina; there
was another name Fry, in Tennessee.
and another by the name of G. An
derson Wright, who is here today,
and is from New York.
MI Craven; Of M9pth of6 Garo DINA
er. He tried to force me. to appoint
him as grand dragon of North Caro-
lima. I had that and other matters
before me. The appointment was no.
made by the time Mr.. Craven wanted
it and he wrote me threatening let
ters and SO on And because he did
not get the appointment he proved
false to his sacred trust and pub
liShed false charges.
Tells Of knights OF Air
FRY, down in Tennessee, was
guilty of similar conduct and was
traitorous to his oath. Mr.. Wright
took the oath of the khan and then
violated 1t. 1 hate to bring this in
but it must be done beore l finish"
Colonel Simmons related how Ma
jor Wright had come to Atlanta to
see him and suggested the organiZa-
ton of the knights of the Air as a
part Of the khan. He represented,
said Colonel Simmons, that the air
forces of the United States were APP
parently disintegrating and that u
needed to keep up the spirit Of the
men and to keep them associated to-
gether Afterward, he said. Wright
returned to Atlanta with a stack of
petitions urging that he head the Or
der.
Colonel Simmons said he was flat
tered, complimented, gratified, by the
tribute. He thought Wright sincere'
and wanted to do anything to. aid his
nation and make it and it's air forces
great. Among the signatures to the
petitions. he continued, were the
names Of General John J. Pershing
and General Charles Menoher, then
chief of the army air service. Soon
afterward there came newspaper
stories that General Pershing and
then General Menoher and repudiat-
ed the signatures.
Then why did you go ahead with
Major Wright?' asked Representa-.
tive Rodenberg.
1T was newspaper report and |
was busy at the time" said Colonel
waS wrong; that General Pershing
had not repudiated the petition, but
had said that he declined an office
in the knights of the Air. I talked
it over with Mr.. Clarke and was a
little suspicious, but there was no
hurry about organizing the knights
and l said we would wait awhile as
there were more immediate duties
ahead Of US. This was about the
middle Of May, think. Meanwhile.
Wright made an arrangement with
partment and probably continued
with the organization a month"
Critics Misguided
He recalled that Mr.. Clarke COM
planned that Wright had bought
binI VIZ Il
he would stand for.
"In about a month Mr. Clarke be-
came convinced we must get rid of
Wright as soon as he reported from
Chicago, where he then was. That
was about the substance OF the
the Knights VI the Air were not Or
ganized.
81 come here without any delega-
tons" said Colonel Simmons at the
close: II have no lobby. l have
simply tried to speak the truth and
Il am ready to submit our case to
this great committee. to congress
and to the American public, the peo-
pie. of this nation. If this organi-
cation Is an unworthy organiza ton
let me know 1t and it will be de-
stroyed; if it is a worthy organiza-
ton, and, l know 1t to be. then let
it have its rights as the rights Of
other patriotic and fraternal and
eleemosenary organizations have
their rights and let it continue in
peace and justice to all mankind"
Colonel Simmons then turned to
the critics of the khan and said they
were misguided; that they did not
know the tenets of the order they as
sailed; that they were ignorant of
its high purposes.
And to these prosecutors of me
and this order and for them 1 would
say: Father, forgive them for they
know not what they do. Mr.. Chair
man, 1 am done"
1t was at this point that Colonel
Simmons sank into his chair, the ap-
plause broke out and the COMMITTEES
hearing was halted.