The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-14
CRIMINALS
BANDED To
BREAK LAW,
HE ASSERTS
N. c. KIan Accused Of False
Dealings and Disbanded BY
Major Craven.
By H. P. MOORE.


GREENSBORO, N. c., Aug. IS.
THE Ku-Klux-Klan as conducted
in North Carolina is a fraud. 1t
is an organization engaged In col
lecting initiation fees under false
pretenses and from anyone that
will pay them. 1t has no legal
standing in the State.
"It has among its members
criminals, bootleggers, and men
whose prejudices or fancied griev-
ances against another would cause
them to do harm to people who
had committed no offense other
than stand up for their rights and
religious beliefs"
Was 'Grand Dragon"
So says Major Bruce Craven. law
yer, financier, and writer. He lives
at Trinity, N. C.. UP until n few
days ago Major Craven was the
grand dragon OF the realm" su-
preme head of the ku-Klux-Klan In
North Carolina He says he Joined
the organization In good faith be-
cause he thought 1t would follow In
the foot steps of the Ku-Kux- -Klan
found the organization committing
criminal acts, that its membership,
instead Of being composed Of law
abiding citizens, had q number Of
criminals and bootleggers. He or.
dered tho Klan disbanded in North
Carolina.
He urges the authorities of all
towns and cities in North Carolina to
pass ordinances prohibiting persons
from wearing DISCUSSES or masks in
public. Such law would prohibit
Ku-Klux from parading in robes
and hoods which completely hide the
Identity of the wearer.
Since Major Craven's exposure, the
ku-K1ux has been unable to hold
meetings In some towns. People who
had Joined the organization no long
or want to be seen at meetings. II
IL the general opinion In this State,
that 30 far as North Carolina is con-
cerned. tho Ku-Klux-Klan is dead.
Makes Open Statement.
Major Craven in his exposure of
the organization In North Carolina
said.
IT have never been more than tn.
utular head OF tho organization IN
tho state, and while the whole thing
is sore subject to me and will re-
main a painful memory. ! have no
apology to mako except this open
statement.
My name has been used TO collect
money under false pretenses. I have
myself made promises that cannot be
fulfilled. They were based on my
faith In the high officials. That faith
has been broken and I have no way
OF making amends but this.
Before giving out this interview, I
notified the imperial wizard, Colonel
Simmons, of Atlanta, exactly what I
was going to do. and asked him IL
there was anything to show my pres
ent idea erroneous, to show me In
advance OF this publication. He made
no attempt to answer It, for the
simple reason that II cannot be
answered. Everything here stated,
has been repeatedly said to him for
the past month. have given him
every opportunity to prevent this and
he cannot meet the issue.
Every person before admission into
the khan Is guaranteed the right to
sever connection at any time. Ac.
cordingly i have made my resignation
direct to the imperial wizard, TO whom
only l am answerable, both as grand
dragon and klansmsn, this to be ef-
fective at noon, August 8.
at the dime of this interview rni
the supreme head Of the order IN
North Carolina, subject only to the
imperial wizard; and I now declare
the Ku -Klux. Kan In North Carolina
disbanded and abandoned, every
organized Khan ended and every