The Mena weekly star., 1921-10-20
DOCTOR ORDERS KU| |KLUX CHIEF 10 BED|
n caring by House Rules Committee Is Adjourned Probably Until Monday When Imperial Wizard Col
 lapses on Stand.

 eph Simmons, imperial wizard or the ku Klux klan, was prevented Dy Ill., ness today from appearing before a House committee for eXamlnation py ,, o,nhers as to activities of the order
 The imperial wizard collapsed yes *araav at the close of five-hour Sfafement and later was placed in ~barge of a physician, who ordered him to stay in bed.
 Dr. W. G. Manning reported that ne was suffering from acute bronchitis and general exhaustion.
 Chairman Campbell adjourned the hearing after stating that Dr. Man ning had informed him that Mr. Sim mons could not possibly appear ear fer than Monday. Should his condl- tion improve, however, the hearing nav be resumed tomorrow.
 The all day session yesterday was seldom without a moment CT unusual interest. The klan's founder, palpa- blv not in normal health, seemed ea- per to continue his denunciation of those who had filed charges of law lessness and bigotry against the or qanization. His reference to former members among the attackers was particularly bitter.
 Membership Is 9O,O0O.
 Thru the testimony of Simmons, the committee learned that the total membership of the klan, heralded as having passed the half million mark, actually was around 9O,005. The Wit ness declared that it's growth east and west had been greater than m the south, but his illness prevented ques- tioning designed to bring out facts bearing on some ot the present stronpholds of the organization. Asked if he had not claimed "a mil % lion membership" Simmons smiling lv replied he might have done so, but that he was speaking generally, not by the card. The imperial wizard said < his salary $1 900 a month was fixed by the executive committee.
 Representative Garrett. Democrat, x Tennessee, took the witness in hand to find out something about it's reve- nues and profits, asking is member ship fees had been listed as donations rather than fees to prevent collection I of federal corporation taxes Simmons replied there was never a thought of that, declaring that when the tax law first became effective he went to the revenue office at Atlanta and was in- formed that the klan did come under the law
 Denies Huge Profits.
 "If it does it is not my fault" the witness said, land if it is shown we are liable, we stand ready to meet our obligations"
 Denying large profits from the sale of robes, the witness declared that less than 30 per cent of the klansmen owned regalia.
 Our robes are not worn for the purpose of terrorizing people," he shouted, they are as innocent as the breath of an angel"
 The witness was pressed by Chair man Campbell for an explanation of the recent clash between a sheriff and marching klansmen near Waco, Tex, nation was based largely upon news paper reports, he added that the par ade had been authorized by the mayor and that the sheriff in attempting to stop it "seemed under the influence of liquor.n
 When the imperial wizard was about to read the oath of the klan the committee after a whispered confer ence announced that he need not di- vulge it unless he felt so inclined. It was placed in the record after cer- tain paragraphs had been read.
 Allegiance to Country.
 It showed that members bound themselves to "be truly klannish to- ward klansmen in all things honor able," and that man could not vio- late his oath except in testifying in case Of treason against his country, criminal assault or malicious murder, as read by the wizard. It also pledged government" and life, prop States government and life, prop erty and the vote, to upholding the flag, the constitution and constituted law until death."
 In voting, the witness declared, the ritual called for support of men known to be patriotic above party.
 Declare He Is Boss.
 The imperial wizard displayed an evidence of anger in taking up printed charges that Mrs Elizabeth Tyler, employed by the klan's propagating department at Atlanta, twas it's su- preme boss"
 That's an untruth," he declared Mrs. Tyler is not my boss and in handling this order l am not figure head"
 Discussing the membership restric- tions, Simmons said:
 "I want to state emphatically, and in the fear of God. that the klan is not an anti-Catholic order"
 "But you don't permit Catholics to ioin," said representative Rodenberg, Republican of Illinois.
 That is true, but the Knights of Columbus only admit Catholics" he replied, Eve antagonize no mans re- ligion. I have heard only one case where kleaele circulated anti-Cath- olic propaganda and be was instantly discharged.
 'We are not anti-Jewsh Any Jew who can subscribe to the tenets of the constitution religion can get in We are not anti-negro. Scores of othcr fraternal organizations will admit ne- groes. We ars not anti-foreign born; we merely require that members must be native born American" EXTRAvAGANT IN FUNERALS. Americans Are Blamed for High
 Cost of Being Buried.
 Crx. Ax&nx..x n1A ...1.