Evening star., 1921-10-14
coLLAPsEs DEFENDING KLAN
Imperial Wizard Dramatically
Answers All Charges.

COnCiudinB MS ueteuse ".
Klux Klan, in which Col. W. J. Sim.
mons, the imperial wizard. denied All
charges of illegal acts and ferVentiy
stated that il the order could be
proved to be unworthy of its existence
he would forever destroy 1t, the KAN
to the caucus room. crowded with
Voice exclaimed: Father, forgive
them, for they know not what they
do" Uttering these WORDS S 70 ,arss .mese
cuted the order, the imperial wizard
collapsed and sank to his knees. SOD
bing audibly.
A spontaneous ripple of applause
broke the tenseness OF the SITUATION:
the House rules committee sterniy
raped for order did 1t subslde.
Friends rushed to the side OF Coi.
simmons and administered stimulants.
The supreme attorney for the KAN
begged the Indulgence of the com,
nittee for recess until the colonel
had recovered, but the imperial wizard
threw off the arms of his friends
holding him and stated he was reany
TO go on with the ecross-exam1hatioh
ed state. adjourned until 1880 O'CLOCK
this morning.
Through the testimony of Col. SIM
mons, the committee learned that the
total membership of the khan, herald
I'd as having passed the half-million
mark. actually was around 10000.
The witness declared that Its growth
east and west had been greater than
in the south, but his illness prevented
questioning designed to bring out
facts bearing on some OF tne present
stroosholds of the organization. ASK
ed if he had not claimed "a million
membership Mr.. Simmons smilingly
replied he might have done so, but
that he was speaking generally, not
by the card.
Never Evaded Tax.
Representative Garrett. democrat,
Tennessee, took the witness In hand
10 find out something about its reve-
nues and profits, asking II member
ship fees had been listed as dona-
tons rather than fees to prevent col
lection 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 informed that the KAN dlo
not come under the law.
"If it does it is not my fault, the
wizard said, land if 1t is shown We
are liable. we stand ready to meet
our obligations"
Denyins huge profits from the sale
Of robes, the witness declared that
iess than 30 per cent Of the klansmen
Saned 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
he recent clash between sheriff and
marching klansmen near Waco, Texas.
and while he replied that his informa-
lion was based largely upon newspaper
he no. ns
been authorized by the mayor, and that
the sheriff, in attempting to stop it.
seemed under the influence of liquor.
Simmons said he had called for an off,
cial report, but that 1t had not been
Forthcoming.
When the imperial wizard was
about to read the oath Of the khan, the
committee, after n whispered confer
ence annoCnced that he need not di-
rrlge it unless he felt so inclined. 1t
was placed in the record after certain
paragraphs had been read. 1t showed
that members bound themselves to be
truly k,annish toward klansmen in all
things honorable" and that q man could
not violate his oath except in testify
ing In cases of treason against his
country, rape or malicious murder. as
read by the wizard. 1t also pledged
allegiance to the United States govern
ment, land life. property and the vote
TO upholding the flag, the Constitution
and constituted law unto death"
Patriotism Before Party.
In voting, the witness declared the
ritual called for support Of men known
10 be patriotic, above party. Among
the exhibits presented were kilograms to
President Harding and Attorney Gem
eral Daughery urging an investigation
II the khan, both of whom replied, the
wizard said, that they would give the
question due consideration.
Tho imperial wizard displayed an
evidence of anger in taking UP printed
charges that Mrs. Elisabeth Tyler, en-
ployed by tine klan's propagatlng depart
nent at Atlanta, was Its supreme
BOSS
That's an absurd untruth." he de-
.ciared, Mrs. Tyler Is not my boss and
in handling this order I am not fig
urehead."
Discussing the membership restric-
IONS. Simmons said:
IT want to state emphatically and in
the fear Of God that the khan is not
an anti-Catholic ORDER
But you don't permit Catholics to
republican, Illinois.
"That is true. but the knights Of Co
lumbus only admits Catholics" he re-.
piled. I'VE antagonize no mans re-
iigion. have heard 6f only one case
where a kleaSle circulated anti-Catholic
propaganda, and he vas instantly dis
charged. ~
who can subscribe to the tenets of the
Christian religion can get in. We are
rot anti-negro. Scores Of other fra
ter1aI organizations will not admit
negroes. We are not anti-foreign born;