Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-17
Three BODIES plan
WAR AGAINST KHAN
President Harding Requested
to Urge Action by
Congress 10.
ORGANIZED AT CHICAGO

Chicago, Sept. 17.-Three organlza
t,ons are now actively in the heid tc
obtain legislation to crush the "lnVls'
ible Empire" of the Ku Klux klan.
The groups opposed to the kian arc
the Natioral Unity Council, OF whicn
former Governor Edward f. Dunno IL
temporary chairman the National
EQUAL Rights League and the People
Liberty League.
In telegram sent 20 President
Harding by the Equal Rights League
he is requested to send special mes :
sage to Congress, when that body re-
convenes September 81, urging the en-
actment of laws forbidding any secret
orpan,zation whose principles are con :
trary to the principles and spirit OF law
and of the Constitution and tend to
substitute private for public govern
ment."
Telegrams and letters from profes
sional and business men throughout the
country. commencing and seeking mem :
bership in the National Unity Coun
ell, were received at the organization
headquarters.
Ranks Of Klan Foes Grow
~Persons in every station of life are
asking to be placed ON our member
ship roll" said former Governor
Dunno. ''The requests have come in
equal numbers from those persons who,
because of their religious belief, race
or nationality, have been barred from
the Klan and from those eligible to its
membership.
with this moral support and with
the support offered financially from
some of the States best citizens, we
intend to draft definite program for
a formidable opposition of the illegal
methods Of the Klan and every other
body Of like nature"
As first step in this plan, Ma
tional Unity Council committees are
to be organized in every county and
community in which the Ku Klux
Klan has foothold or gains one. These
local branches, through mass meetings,
patriotic demonstrations and personal
contact, will point out the danger the
Klan makes for racial unrest and bad
feeling among the various religious
sects.
No Membership Fee
The council does not charge any mem
bership fee. any one wishing to join
being accepted without the payment of
money. 1t. however, does accept vol
untary contributions and support.
A mysterious warning has been re
ceived by former Governor Dunno since
he has announced his intention OF
opposing the Khan. The letter is be
Heved to be the work of a crank, and
is a long. rambling threat that the
Klan would attend to him and his
associates.
The object of the Peoples Liberty
League is set forth by President Earl
Stevens as follows:
This League was organized to pro-
tect the whole people from con-
tinual attacks and encroachments-
both through the Legislatures OF the
various States and Congress-upon the
liberty of the individual Also for di-
rect and sweeping opposition to all per
sons or organizations whose purpose Is
to limit, curtail or deny personal lib
erty TO the ndividual-regardless OF
his belief, race. creed. religion or poll =
measure of freedom consistent with the
general welfare for everybody in their
conduct. opinions, occupations and
amusements."
League Adopts Resolutions
The league has adopted these resolu
tions:
Whereas, The Imperial Wizard o.
the Knights OF the Ku Klux Klan ha:
stated through the public prints wha
he claims to be some Of the purposes o.
that organization and, whereas. in oul
Judgment, those purposes attack tn,
right of man TO think as he pleases
to write as he pleases, on any subject
within his right as citizen of tn,
United States, where there is no pur
pose of advocating the resistance of Law
or the overthrow of the Government by
force; and
Whereas, Political. ecclesiastical anc
race prejudices are perpetuated anC
acted upon by the members of that or.
ganization to the detriment of the Who'll,
Nation and that, too. secretly, by mys'
terious oatts and pledges and in the in
itiation OF its members; and
whereas, Amy secret organization
based upon these methods and pur
poses is absolutely destructive t,
American institutions; now, therefore
be IL
Resolved That the Peoples Lib
erty League not only opposes but com
bats and hereby declares its opposi
tion to the Ku Klux Klan and will
use every lawful means TO defeat tn
purpose Of the Ku Klux Klan. con
vince the people of it's danger an
destroy it as an insidious attack upo
the liberty Of the people and upo
every principle upon which the Gov
ernment Of America has bee
formed"