The Washington times., 1921-10-13
SIMMONS
|Ns|STSHE
SCORNED
A MILLION
'I'd Be Buried Before I'd COM
mercialize the kIan," Wiz
ard Tells Probers.

The honor of the Knights of the
Ku Klux Klan is unsullied by the
financial dealings of the orgAnixa-
ton, Col William ]. Simmons. Inn
perial Wizard, today told the House
Rules Committee, which is consid-
ering resolutions for q Congress
sional investigation OF the klan.
Simmons characterized charges
against the khan as based on "sus--
picion and prejudice" and denied
that klansmen had destroyed court
records in Atlanta, Ga.
|, Challenges Wright.s Statements.
Simmons challenged the truth Of
statements given by c. Anderson
Wright, former Klansman, that his
troubles over dishonored checks had
been caused by failure of the khan
to make payments as contracted.
Have you personal knowledge of
the contract and agreements made
with Wright by Edward Young Clark
as claimed by Wright?" demanded
Congressman Rodenberg.
Colonel Simmons said he had not.
81 never authorized field agents to
draft on khan funds" he said. II do
not know what Mr.. Clark did. That
/ admit. But IL Wright had notified
me of his trouble, 1t would have been
righted. / have been led to believe
that Wrights trouble was with his
personal checks"
A copy of the charter of the
khan, isued under Georgia laws. was
presented by Colonel Simmons to
disprove the charge that the or
ganization was a personal or pri-
vate one.
Refuses Million In Profits.
"I had no mercenary motive in
my heart in the creation of this
order" declared Colonel Simmons.
"I could have collected royalty on
the ritual and regalia should 1 d.
sire to commercialize the order, be-
cause these were work of my brair,s
and hands," he declared.
I'm the early days of the order
an organizer named Jonathan d.
Frost, associated with me. said that
81 900, 900 could be made out OF
the organization for its Organizers.
when he made that statement to
me I told him -vnuld be dead
and under the ground before any
one could commercialize or pros
titute the Ku Flux Klan to a graft
Ing organization"
| Later Frost told me that II he
were appointed to an imperial office
| he would guarantee me $4,000 In
twenty-four hours, but i refused.
Explains Regulations.
Some time, was devoted by Colonel
Simmons to explanation Of the or
ganization of local klans and the
power OF it's head, or the exalted
cyclops. He read the regulations OF
the local klans, running through
which was an injunction to preserve
white supremacy" and to hold fast
to the faith OF the founders of the
republic. These regulations reserve
the right for the imperial wizard TO
revoke the local charter on failure
to comply with requirements OF the
lSloran, or so-called constitution or
the order.
Colonel Simmons disclaimed that he
had imperial powers over klansrnen
and could do with them as he pleased
Docsnt Want Ia BE President.
'I have been ridiculed as a wizard.
sitting in a palace on throne of gold,
with pointed tail and horns. driving
| Americans to do my WILL" he said.
THAT impression ls unfair and unjust.
and I don't think Il was believed by
those who sent It out. II President
| Harding should resign, IL the Govern
ment should be demoralized, II the
American people should rise up and
proclaim mo monarch, / would die be-
fore should accept"
/ when Colonel Simmons started TO
. explain official salaries Coneressman n
pou asked who fixed his salary at
a. .onn n month The executive com
mi,tce which took this FctiUn was
selected by himself. said Co,onel slim