Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-10-18
LIGHT ON THE KU KLUX.
Sustaining Preliminary Committee In
ouiry Without Much Damage.

curry Without Much Damage.
1t is evident that the Ku KluX klan
has more friends in congress today
writes a Washington correspondent,
than prior to the beginning of the in
vestigation at the hands OF the rules
committee of the house.
In the beginning, the khan had no
friends unless a few socalled members
might be cited as exceptions. There
was an idea that the khan was builded
by smart men who played on the pref
udice of others not so smart AS an
organization bent on the determination
of Catholics and Jews, as thc khan was
alleged to be, it was little respected by
members of congress who believe IN
freedom OF religious worship.
But in the course of the investigation
a number OF affiuent negroes, making
use of the Boston accent, .cok adyan-
tage Of immunity which, the Capltol Of
fcred, to express their real opinion oil
the white men of the South.
It was evident that these negroes,
armed with no specific information,
proceeded along the lines of general
information" They confused the pres
ent khan with that which operated in
the face of armies of occupation and
by unparalleled determination and
courage, saved the civilization of the
South. and no doubt that of the United
States.
The armies of occupation immedi-
ately after the Confederate war arous-
ed a hope in the negro breast which
was killed. The educated negro of New
England has never forgotten and new
er forgiven. The witnesses before the
rules committee displayed their re-
sentiment that Southern people still de-
MED their claim of social equality-or
equality in any other material sense.
These New England negroes Were
heard with satisfaction by certain
members of the committee, among
them Representative s. d. FCss of
Ohio, president, in other days, of a
negro school. There is no question
but that this situation caused South
erncrs to feel more kindly towards the
khan than ever before.
w. ]. Simmons of Atlanta made a
good witness. He seemed to be aware
that the committee had no positive, ir-
REPUTABLE evidence of crime committed
by the khan; or graft practiced. He de-
MED all charges, boldly denounced c.
Anderson Wright, former member of
the khan, for having violated his oath
in a series of articles lending to expose
the khan, and declared that practi-
cally everything said of the klan was
untrue or grossly exaggerated.
He made one egregious blunder
Aware that the majority Of congress
is Republican, he testified that the
New York World had attempted to cX-
pose the klan in the hope Of forcing
congress to proceed against it with the
result that those of the klan, in the
next election, would vote the Demo-
cratic ticket. His statement was re-
garded as exceedingly weak, and as an
indication of fawning to the dominant
party Otherwise, the wizard cs-
capped with his tail feathers.
The committee is cndeavOring to as
certain whether or not there should
be congressional investigation of the
klGn. Such ;n investigation might be
ordered. Negroes, Catholics, and Jews
are insistcnt that such an inveStiga-
tion be had. Republicans want to re-
tain the affection Of the negro, and
would wean the Catholics and the
Jews from their Democratic moorings
Mr.. Fcss the Ohio member, predicts
that congress will investigate. He
thinks that already evidence has been
adduced which will result in criminal
prosecution. But Mr.. Fcss is not only
a partisan Republican, but also a can
didatc for the senate in Ohio, where
the negro vote is the balance Of pow
er. He IS one who has given indica-
ton Of regard for the negro in eX-
cess Of that displayed by men who be-
licve solely that the negro should be