The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-03-22
GOV.DORSEY ASKED
TOSUPPRESS KHAN
Mysterious Killings Of Negroes
Charged Against Ku
klux Influence.
STATE is AROUSED
Alleged Reflections on Gov
ernOr and Sheriff Bring Sit
STATE is AROUSED

Special Despatch TO TIE NEW SoaK HERALD.
ATLANTA, March 21.-That Gov. Hugh
NJ. Dorsey has been requested by the
State Committee on Interracial Rela-
tions to suppress the knights of the
Ku Klux Klan in this State, and that
he has received information that nu-
merous mysterious killings of negroes
and numerous drivings Of negroes out
of certain communities was the work
here to-day.
Gov. Dorsey in his conferences with
the interracial committee has taken
the position that he has no authority
under the law to suppress the Ku Klux
Klan any more than the Masons or
the Knights of Fythias or the Moose
or any other secret order.
Nevertheless, the Governor seems to
have been awaiting some development
which would open the way FOR him 70
attack the Ku klux Klan, and this
opportunity presented itself Yesterday
In the shape OF correspondence be-
tween the Governor and a Methodist
preacher In the town of Hartwell In
have been made in the Hart County
Court House by a Ku Klux Khan lec-
,turer.
Correspondence Made Pubic.
That correspondence was made public
BY the Governor without comment and
Immediately there was given out let
ter bearing on tho same subject received
BY DR. Z. =. Wilmer. rector OF St.
Luke's Episcopal Church OF Atlanta and
chairman Of the interracial committee.
The Rev. Homer Thompson, pastor OF
the Methodist Church OF Hartweil. wrote
TO the Governor concerning the state
ments or the ku Klus klan lecturer at
a mass meeting and inquired IL the state
ments We're true. The Governor replied
that the statements were a fabrication.
Thompson's letter TO Gov. Dorsey was
as follows:
"A State lecturer for the Knights OF
the Ku klux Khan stated In an address
here last night that few months ago
the negroes in Atlanta demanded that
two OF their number be placed upon the
Board of Education. and that when the
request was refused they served an
ultimatum upon the City Council which
virtually meant race riot within a few
hours.
Continuing. the speaker declared that
you became alarmed and appealed to Po-
lice Chief Beavers. who confessed he
was unable TO handle the situation that
a.. GsY -fr
ton county. and asked him what he
could do 10 prevent riot and that he
called out the ku Klux Khan and 20
prevented bloody race riot. VIII you
do me the favor either to confirm or
deny the truthfulncss Of the above state
ment.
Frankly, 7 believe the statement to
be a misrepresentation OF facts and
reflection upon your virilo manhood and
on the Police Department of Atlanta.
Such Trades can serve no good purpose
in the attempt 20 solve our racial PROB
lens and should be publicly branded as
false--if they are false"
The Governors Reply
Tho Governors reply to this letter was
as follows 80 far as 7 am concerned
the statements contained ip your letter
are absolutely untrue and without any
basis whatsoever. | do not believe any,
such occurrence ever took place In so far
as the others are concerned IL Is
fabrication out Of the whole cloth In SO
far as the statements relate 20 me-"
Gov. Dorsey. transmitted copies ot tha
two above letters TO Dr. Wilmer and re-
ceived from him the following letter:
II have received this letter and your
reply. This IL certainly a brasen piece
OF falschood, but just the kind Of thing
such secret order is bourd to execute.
I shall lay this matter before tho State
Interracisi Committee for consideration.
But personally am OF the opinion, II
may express Il, that the Governor OF the
State should write an official letter 70
Col. w ]. Simmons, grand wizard OF
tho Ku Klux Khan. denouncing the whole.
thing.
FOR your information, the only thing
the negroes did about tho Board OF Edu-
cation was, first, 10 ask a certain In.
crease Of pay for negro school teachers
and. second, 70 withdraw this at the
suggestion OF the interracial committee
In favor OF much mllder claims"
Gov. Dorsey, up 10 Monday night. had
not addressed letter 10 Col simmons
denouncing the Hartweil speech. but
Coatinusd on EicRenth rage.