Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-29
SEE PRESS AGENTRY
IN KU KLUX MOVE

Atlanta, Sept. 2o.-What was gen :.
erally recognized in Atlanta as a typical
+. Y. Clarke publicity stunt was staged
at the Imperial Palace of the knights
of the Ku Klux Klan yesterday, when
copies of messages sent by imperial
Wizard Simmons to President Harding
and Attorney General Daugherty, ask
ing for a Federal investigation OF the
Klan and extolling It's 100 per cent
Americanism, were handed to reporters.
1t Is definitely known that for two
weeks the Imperial officers have ex-
T ected a Federal investigation, and 1t
is definitely known that reports from
some of their most trusted associates
and agents have during the last ten
days convinced them u quiet but de-
termincd investigation by Federal Of
fcers has actually been In progress.
They have also been looking for
ward, and several of them with con-
siderable nervousness, to subpocnas to
appear in public before congressional
committee empowered 10 inquire into
the mysteries of the invisible En-
| pre-
Wizard Simmons letters, therefore,
we're regarded as n clever capitalization
Of an unfortunate but unavoidable sit
uation, in that they make the Klan
i
for the most searching kind Of an in
quiry by the Government, which in
reality they are not.
Reply to Clarke Delayed
Close observers of the situation COM
mented upon the sudden appearance of
Wizard Simmons letters yesterday MS
contrasted with the statement that he
was unable to reply to Imperial Kleagle
Clarke's demand to be relieved of his
job, because lie is sick in the Imperial
| Castle klankrest. 1t Is not that those
familiar with the inner circle of the In :
visible Empire believe the Emperor was
put to much trouble In the preparation
of the letters to President Harding
and Attorney General Daugherty, for
1t has long been known to investigators
that Colonel Simmons usually has his
literary outgivings prepared by two or
three subOrdinateS, one Of whom has
been Clarke and another J. D. Weaver
former Atlanta newspaper reporter and
at present associate editor of the
Searchlight.
Imperial Kligraph L. D. Wade hand.
cd out the Empcror's letters and soid
Colonel Simmons was still sick in bed
When asked If the Imperial Wizard
had come to any decision MS to the
| =
perial kleagle Clarke and Mrs. Eliza .
beth Tyler, the Kligraph answered in
the negative. saying the Colonel wa.
roo SICK to take up the matters. I'm.
prrial hleagle Clarke was still MISSING
Yesterday. but Mrs. Tyler was nt hor
desk in the Haynes Building.
Text of Letter to Harding
- The letter Of Colonel Simmons tc
President Harding follows:
-, Sir-The Knights of the Ku Klux
Nlan respectfully ask that an investi
CATION of the Klan by the Federal
authoritics be made.
I'VE plead for and would we,come
such an investigation, and can annoal
to you. the Chief Magistrate of the
greatest Republic the world has ever
seen, with clean hands. a clear con
science and with knowledge that nfter
such an investigation is completed thc
knights OF the Ku Klux Klan will stand
out in the white light of vindication
from the charges made against il.
The klan was founded on the bed
rock principles of democracy and M
triotlsm. 1t seeks only to bring to-
gether in confraternity men actuated
by love OF justice and deep faith in
the glorious future of the American n
people. 10 u
''The Klan is not political organi.
zation to foster religious or racial in
tolerance. We affirm with millions Of
Americans that all men should have
the right to vote and worship as thcv
please, so long as they please not to
attack or undermine the great PRINCIPLES
upon which the United States were
founded
'Our creed is simply an affirmation
that the American Commonwealth was
founded by the western races, and is
the highest expression of Protestant
civilization. We seek only to keen our
ancient faith and racial integrity and
to encourage our members to better
citizenship.
Claims Right of minority"
1--WE have the same right that small
minorities in our body polite have 50
long exercised. The Knights of Col
umbus, certain Jewish alliances and