Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-02-01
KHAN BLAMES
FOES MALICE
OR IGNORANCE
Reply To Columbus Pa
per, However, Not Up
To Expectations

Before a crowd that filed the frs
floor of the old Opera House, with a
considerable number of leading col
ored people in the balcony present
by invitation, principles of the Ku
Klux Klan were expoInded Monday
night by j. Q. Nolan, of Atlanta, a
member of the clan and an orator of
ability. The feature of the occas-
ion was the reading by Mr.. Nolan of
statements by Col. W. ]. Simmons,
of Atlanta, Imperial Wizard c. the
Klan, in reply to attacks on the order
by the Columbus Enquirer-Sun.
These attacks were not as specific as
many had expected, but it was limited
that for reasons which were sufficient
matters which were to have been di-
vulged on this occasion were being
temporarily withheld. The accusa-
tions of the Enquirer-Sun, however,
were denounc d as false anG their
motive laid either to Ignorance or
malicious intent"
The speaker told the audience,
which embraced many of the most
prominent people of the community,
that while at supper he had read the
Times-Recorder's editorial of Mon
day evening regarding the Klan, and
paid it the compliment of being the
truth in every word. "The only
| shortcoming," he said, "was that the
man who wrote it did not know the
half of the story of the Macon ex-
press messenger who discovered the
rifles coming in disguise to a negro
firm. But he will know shortly and
so will you all"
Col. Simmons Letter4
Following is copy of the letter
read by Mr. Nolan:
''To The People IF Americus and
Whomsoever Else It May Concern:
my attention has been called to a
series of vitriol.c and malicious at
tacks upon the Knights of the Ku
Klux Klan appearing on the editorial
page of the Columbus Enquirer-Sun.
We do not court public praise, nor
are we particularly concerned about
public criticism, provided same does
not attack the motives and purposes
and fundamental principles of this
organization. The close proximity of
Americus to Columbus and the fact
that | am informed a public mass
meeting is to be held in Americas to
consider the subject of the Ku Klux
Klan gives me the opportunity to
denounce most emphatically the false
statements and charges which have
appeared in the Columbus Enquirer
Sun. l regret t is not possible for
me to appear in person before you
and specifically answer all untruths
above referred to which have been
made either with malicious intent or
out of ignorance.
$50 far as the people of Georgia
are concerned, 1 am not alarmed as
to what will be their attitude toward
the Ku Klux Klan and toward the
editor whose name appears at the
masthead of the Enquirer-Sun. If
| recall correctly, it was the same
man who waged such bitter and re-
lentless war on Thos E. Watson
few years ago, yet the people of
Georgia do not seem to have agreed
with him in his estimate of Mr..
Watson. | doubt not they will re-
gard with as little consideration his
attack on us as they regarded his
vitriolic attacks on Mr.. Watson.
However, desire at this time to
reiterate the fact that the Knights
of the Ku Klux Klan does not foster
or condone race hatred or religious
prejudice. 1t is the unfaltering cham
pion of law and order and the anti
titheses of tyranny. Klansmen at all
times stand ready to do their duty
without fear without fault, without
favor and without reproach.
"And allow me to briefly present
what the Klan stands for in America:
It is a standard fraternal order stand
ing for pure Americanism; it un-
ashamedly stands for white suprem-
acy in all things in America 1t is
the stalwart champion of the separa-
ton of church and state, believing
history has proven that where
preacher or priest dominates in poll
tics or government, intolerance pre-
walls, and that where intolerance
{ Continued on Page Eight.)