The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-07-14
HEAD OF KLAN
TO INVESTIGATE
.PENSACOLACASE
Act Committed Here Was in Viz
olation of Constitution
and Bylaws
DECLARES KU KLUX KHAN
is A LAW-ABIDING ORDER
Will Not Stand for Its Members
to Commit Deeds Contrary
to Laws of the Land.
Especial to The JournaD


ATLANTA. July 1s.-Colonei ". J.
Simmons imperial wizard OF the knights
of the Ku Klux Klan, today issued an
order suspending the charter OF the PEN
sacola branch Of the Knights of the Ku
Hlux llan, which order automatically
suspended every member Of the local or
ganization. In taking this step he acted
upon his information furnished him to-
day by special representatives Of the
imperial palace who have been in Pen
sacola for several days investigating the
alleged acts Of certain members OF the
local organization.
In addition to suspending the charter
and the membership of the local organi-
zation, Colonel Simmons has ordered
complete and searching investigation Of
the charges that members of the local
khan had worn the costume of the or
ganiZation while performing acts in vio-
lation of the constitution and bylaws Of
the organization.
In discussing the matter. Colonel SIM
mons says:
''I am absolutely amazed TO have re-
ported to me that certain men in Pensa-
cola, supposed to be members Of the local
khan appeared in public in costume
masked and issued threats. all Of which
is an absolute violation Of the eonstitu-
tion and by-laws Of the organization. /
do not yet know whether members CT
the organization committed this deed or
not, but am convinced that whoever dii
it wore the costumes of the organization
and the khan. which is custodian OF these
costumes has therefore violated its OBJ
legation to the organization by permitting
such an incident, and I am compelled,
therefore, to suspend the charter pending
n nd Frgaf ion I
hope that the investigation may develop
that the costumes We're used without the
knowledge or consent OF the officers OF
the organization, and II this be true, il
may not be necessary to revoke the char
ter Of the organization, but / intend to
deal with the situation without fear and
without favor for the best interests Of all
concerned, and particularly to preserve
the good name and honor Of the knights
Of the Ku KIux Klan.
81 am sure that II the general body Of
the membership Of the organization in
Pensacola had known in advance Of the
affair. that II they did not stop IL, they
failed to do so either out OF ignorance
of our rules and regulations or through
lack of courage, in the performance Of
their duty as officers or members Of this
organization.
I'VE are never surprised at attacks
upon this organization, particularly IN
cities where large un-American elements
exist and I call upon the people Of Pen
sacola to watch the lineup in the present
controversy and to remember that the
knights Of the Ku Klux Klan stands for
the supremacy of pure AmericanIsm
without fear and without favor and with
out reproach and without injustice 70 any
individual. 1 am convinced that II the
people Of Pensacola watch the lineup they
win find possibly some good people. who
are misinformed, against the Ku Klux
klan. but the great mass Of those who
are lined up against the khan in Pensacola
viii be the people who owe everything 70
America, but whose allegiance to his
country is not what It should be, and
whose domination and rule OF this coun-
try would set the nation back fun cen
tury in its progress as the leading ma
tion Of the world.
THE Knights Of the Ku Klux KIan does
not stand for lawIessness Of any kind,
and any member found guilty OF COM
mittlng acts Of laWlessness win be ban
ished from the organization and his name
furnished the law enforcement officers Of
the community In order that they may
keep him spotted.
I'VE are not afraid Of the fight on rs
in Pensacola, and we are delighted to
have the investigation at all times Of me
organization and its activities. It Is pos
sible, as with all human machinery, that
things are done wrong sometimes, but
thorough investigation OF the ku Rluz
Klan in any community and a fight on the
organization by un-American elements
always makes the organization stronger
in that local community.
1.-THE Knights of the Ku Klux Klau Is
in Pensacola 70 stay, because IL is le-
gaIIy chartered, law abiding American in
stitution,, and If at any time any OF its
members through ignorance or otherwise
commit deeds IN violation Of the eonsti-
tuition Of the order OF the laws Of the
land they win be banished from the CT
gauIzation and the charter suspended
until we have sufficient assurance 70 feel
that the organization is in such hands
that they viii protect the country and
the good name Of the organization.
I'VE are watching every move IN Pen
sacola IN the present controversy and We
have no fear Of the final outcome ss
regards public opinion in Pensacola con-
corning the knights Of the Ku Klux Elsn-