The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-07-22
SIMMONS STATEMENT
Especial to the Starr

Atlanta, July 22.-As a result of
reports of special investigation by
Knights of the Ku Klux Klan into
charges to the effect that members of
the Mobile khan had performed minor
acts of lawlessness through misap-
rehension of the constitution and by
laws of the Knights of the Ku Klux
Klan, Colonel VIM. ]. Simmons today
issued final order revoking the char
ter of the Mobile khan and the organi-
zation has taken possession of the
charter, paraphernalia and costumes
of the local khan. The action of the
imperial wizard against the Mobile
klan and the action last week against
the Pensacola khan. in which instance
the Pensacola klan's charter was sus-
pended pending an investigation into
the alleged work of certain members
of the Pensacola khan, visiting Greek
restaurant and making threats, robed
in the official costume of the organi-
zatioll, the imperial wizard announced
today that if it is proven that the
costume was worn by members of the
organization and threats made as
charged, that the charter of the PEN
sacola klan would also be revoked.
In regard to the matter, Col Sim
mons says: "We are making at this
time a searching investigation into
the activities of all the local branches
of this organization throughout the
country, but we are conducting a spe-
cial investigation into the Florida,
Alabama, Texas and Oklahoma klans
and | have summoned approximately
80 men of the department of investi-
cation into the work. / am determined
that this organization shall be what
its founders intended; namely, an or
ganization cooperating with and up
holding the majesty and supremacy of
the law and before it shall be any
thing else l will revoke every charter
Of the organization in America, ban
ish every member and burn all of the
costumes and naraphernalia of the
organization and as it's founder and
head destroy the child of my own
handiwork and furnish to all the Off
GERS of the law a list of membership
in each local community in order that
they may watch the conduct and acts
of each former member of the organi-
zation in verifcation and proof of the
sincerity of this statement. / last
week suspended the charter of Pensa-
cola, and revoked the charter of Mo
bile, and we are making complete
and searching investigation to ascer-
tain the real facts regarding the acts
charged against our organization in
these two places and if they are suffi-
GENTLY serious to so justify and it be
found that our organization is involv-
ed / intend to furnish the officers in
these places a list of the membership
in that community. The offenses at
both of these places were minor, but
l do not intend to allow even minor
offenses against the law of the land.
The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan has
been organized not to tear down but
to strengthen the arm of the law in
America and clarity and preserve GER
tain great fundamental principles, the
same being an absolute alteration,
single-hearted, of the Stars and
Stripes and the constitution of Amer
lea, the perpetual reign. political and
social, of the native born white man
in America under which rule all peo-
pies have received their largest degree
of freedom and justice; the assurance
of perpetual separation Of church
and state in America and the rebuild
ing of the old spirit of worship and
sanctity concerning the American
home. In the face of these great OBJ
jects and purposes to which every
real American should and does sub
scribe, it is ridiculous for any one 70
imagine that ! as imperial wizard
would allow this organization to de-
generate into lawless institution Of
any kind. We are increasing at the