The Washington times., 1921-10-11
.SOC|ET IS
PORTRAYED
AS BODY Of
CRIMINAL
Cong. Tague Bitterly FIays
Members as TOO cowardIy
To Even Show Their Faces"


To Even Show Their Faces"
The Ku Klux Klan was denounced
as hotbed of race and religious
prejudice, and as lawless and
menacing organization by by wit
ness at the opening today of Con-
gressional inquiry by the House Rules
Committee to determine whether the
society is un-American and in con-
flict with the Federal Constitution
In its aims and purposes.
The principal denunciation Of the
Klan was at the hands Of Congress
man Tague of Massachusetts,, who
scored the organization in the bitter
est language, summarizing its un-
savory history.
With the opening of the investiga-
tion of the khan today, Congressman
Tague of Massachusetts, chief tnsti-
gator of the Congressional probe, made
a new Legislative move against the
organization.
Wants, All Societies Cstalogued.
He introduced In the House a reso-
luton requiring filing with the De-
partment of Justice by every organi-
zation accused Of being inimical to
the public welfare in vio,atio.. Of State
and Federal laws of certified copy
of its constitution and bylaws and
roster of it's membership, and au-
thorizing the Postmaster General on
the recommendation of the Depart
ment of Justice to exclude from the
mails all literature of organizations
placed under ban by the Government.
William J. Simmons, of Atlanta,
the Imperial Wizard, or head of the
Klan, entered the committee room
with Congressman Upshaw. Of
Georgia, and Paul Etheridge, n
member of the Atlanta School Board
and chief counsel for the Klan. He
was Joined later by the Rev. Wilbur
r. Craft, of the International Re-
form Bureau, advocate Of Sunday
Blue laws.
The Department Of Justice was
represented by William j. Burns.
chief investigator, and Assistant
Attorney General J. w. M. Grim,
who had made an investigation of
the Khan. They were detailed by
Attorney General Daugherty to as
sist the rules committee, and Burns
will testify concerning the result
Of the Departments inquiry.
-Four Present Charges.
Congressman Tague and Gallivan.
Of Massachusetts,, Dyer Of Missouri,
and Ryan of New York, who had
demanded investigation of the Kan,
presented their charges against the
Klan to the COMMITTEES.
Chairman Campbell, Of the rules
committee, summarized the charges
as violations of the postal laws by
using the mails for non-mailable
matter, and lawless acts by the Klan
with its members masked to pre-
vent Identification. Each Of these
sufficient gravity to warrant In
yestigation by the committee.
Tague said that he started the In
yestigation against the Khan several
months ago because of complaints he
received OF violations of rights Of the
people and violation of the laws by
the Klan.
Says Probe Is Warranted.
"If one-thir6 of all that has been
said Of this organization that moves
in the dark. It's members like towards
afraid to show their faces Is true, this
investigation is warranted and dras-
tic law is needed to disband it," he
said. "I know of no excuse for an or
ganization that assumes the right to
go into a private home and take Its
members out to whip or tar and feath-
er them because they are Of some
creed or race"
He called attention to charges that
the members of the Klan had paid
in SIC, 900 900 for which they made no
returns and on which no tax had
been paid. Tague said he doubted
whether any member OF Congress was
a member of such an organization.
He said there was no place in the
United States for the Klan, which is
desecrating. violating and destroying
the law.
-,'The thirty million Catholics, the
Jews, and the colored people ask Con-
gress to investigate this organise.
ton and protect them in their rights
Tague declared.
Courts Intimidsted.
The courts have right to investi.
gate and II these people have violated
the law there In ~othing In the way OF
their prosecution" said Congressman
Pou of North Carolina,
mo court has started such pro
ceedings and some courts have been
intimated." said Tague. The Khan
openly boasts that the Judiciary, the
legislatures, and the police In some SEQ
tons are among their members. and