Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-26

Corporation, investigators have been
able to discover legal record of the use
of only the $21 800 involved in these
two real estate purchases.
The remainder of the assets of the
corporation, so far rs any public rec
OrdS go, has been used or invested under
the control vested in Imperial Wizard
Simmons and the supervision vested by
the charter in the Supreme Executive
Committee, of which the seven members
from Georgia-Simmons being one of
these-Constitute legal quorum. Sim
mons recently stated to the press that
the accounts of the corporation had
been regularly and responsibly audited,
but he did not reveal the result of the
"udit to the public.
Pay Cash, But Get Nothing
In view of such facts as these, and
the further fact that when members pay
5000 each for sets of ku KluX rcgalia
they buy nothing, since in signing the
order blank they agree that the gar
ments shall forever be the property Of
the ku Klux Corporation. and the still
further fact that when neophytcs give
up SO before they take the oath or
learn single secret of the order. they
pay for nothing. but make voluntary
the order, the personal histories and
business records Of the persons rcspon-
sible for such n situation are legitimate
objects of inspection.
The whole income, the whole outgo
and all the property of the Ku Klux
Corporation are by the charter put in the
direct control of Imperial Wizard"
Simmons. whose acts are subject only
to the approval Of hand picked com
mlttee. Though the corporation is en-
gagged in business all over the United
States, no State but Georgia has more
than one member on this controlling
committee. Georgia has seven, and
seven members-is 1t by coincidence
constitute II legal quorum Of the COM
mittcc.
Furthermore, the financial control
thus vested in a small and self -perpet-
uating group is absolute and ALIEN
bracing There is nothing in their char
ter to prevent Simmons. with the ap-
prOval OF the six other Georgians on his
Executive Committee. from winding up
the Ku KluX Corporation and as last
act distributing its funds and property
as they might see fit. Such an act would
be perfectly legal, and it is hard to see
how any of the members scattered
through the country would have leg
VI UBdl
to stand on, since all along it had been
expressly shown that they bought moth
ing and paid for no property right in
anything.
Not Bound Legally
Finally. it is expressly declared in
the charter that Simmons shall have
power to contract with other members
of the Ku Klux society to promote and
conduct its interests in any way, man
ner or method he may deem proper, and
IN the exercise Of that power he has
actually turned over certain of the bust
ness affairs to such other persons.
Simmons, Clarke, the man he has
made business manager of its most i'm
portant affairs, and Clarke's business
partner, Mrs. Tyler, stand morally,
though not in strict legality, in the
position Of trustees for very large sums
Of money which hundreds of thousands
Of persons all over the United States
have been induced to put in their GUS
tOdy by the persuasive activities of the
sales force they maintain.
How, in the light Of their past his
tories and records, do the big Three"
of the Ku KluX Corporation qualify
to hold such trust? Tomorrow IT,
EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER will lay be-
! fore its readers certain facts bearing Oh
the answer to that question.
Copyright. 1871. BY the Public Ledger Com,
| pqnv aud tic Press Publishing Com
punV ithe NcD York World.