The Chicago whip. (Chicago, Ill.) 1919-19??, 1921-10-22
Chicago PastorRtS
Khan In Speech To
Cong. Committee

The Rev DR. S. E. J. Watson, pas
tor OF Pilgrim Baptist Church, was
elected to represent the Chicago branch
of the National Equal Rights League
before the Congressional Committee
investigating the ku klux klan.
Upon request Dr. Watson repeated
at Pilgrim Temple, Tuesday night, the
speech he delivered before the commit
tee He spoke as follows:
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen OF the
House Rules Committee:
The evidence that has been presented
before your committee here today
shows that one OF the objects of the
Ku klux klan is to tcrrorize the peo-
pie OF my race.
do not complain for being Negro
because knowing my people as | do,
il equal rights and equal opportunities
were given them, | would rather be a
Negro, living in the United States Of
America today than to be prince on
any other soil
| have come to you to say that H.
100000 people of my race, American
born and truly loyal, do not need,
welcome or want any organization in
this country that will add anything TO
the burdens that they already have to
bear.
The morale of my people in this
country needs to be strengthened and
not weakened. There is SO much ter
ror already in this country that the
progress of my people is hindered.
Many oil them have been awakened at
midnight and forced to go out of their
back gates and leave all that they have
worked for since the days OF slavery.
Testimony from some of them shows
that faces that they have seen in the
mob that drove them out have looked
them up, played their friends and Of
Tered to them railroad fare and few
dollars for their farms and possessions.
The social equality mentioned here
in the evidence this morning has been
made to mean, that a Negro who seeks
to make his home sanitary and beau
titul is seeking to live like white folk
and therefore wants social equality.
The wonder with us is why the ku
kluX klan fears social equality. The
real American white man fears nothing
unless there is danger in it, By their
fear OF social equality do they mean
to admit that there is danger OF hav-
ing it
My people who wert--to- fight for
/ I1pDnrrgrxr to nj
when they returned They expected
the suppression OF the mob and the
abandonment of the im-crowism. But
they have found, instead OF their ex-
pcctation, the added horrors OF the
Ku Klux Khan This brings with its
name the memories OF the whppings,
rayishings and deaths told of by our
parents.
The report here this morning
showed that one officer said to the
X. X X that thousands of rifles at
his command would be turned over to
them at their orders. The newspapers
have reported that our people are buy
ing guns in some parts of the country.
We contend that this or any other
organization that will cause such UNI
rest and strike such terror in the
hearts OF the citizens OF this country
should be investigated.
Ii the white citizens OF any southern
town should awaken and find their
color changed and were made to feel
that they would have to bear what
they have put on us, they would raid
the drug stores for poison TO commit
suicide
If the white people OF this country
feel that they need the wizard of this
so-called invisible empire to carry them
TO some superior or supreme place
where their brains and work will not
take them. we declare unto you that
we do not need him to prevent us
from going where our brains and la
Dor will carry us. There should be
an end to all Of this injustice and
we feel that you can now have a part
in helping to bring it.
The only Negro in America who
wears the emblem OF this organization
had the k X. X. branded on his face
in Dallas, Tex. His picture is pro-
duced here. Just why they wanted
him to wear this against his will is
, not known to us. We are satisfied
| if we are given the full rights of
citizens OF this visible empire, and be-
cause OF these rights we ask a full
Investigation of this order.
The University Society Club is com
posed and admits to membership, stu
dents who have completed a high
school. college, technical or profess
sional course, or its equivalent 1t
has for its ideals the fostering of
moral, civic and cultural attachments.
The club will hold its monthly
meeting Sunday, October %, at 4
p, NJ. in its parlors at 1901 Wabash
Avenue DIR. George w. Prince. the
baby specialist, will address the meet
ing on His Travels and Impressions
in Europe. a musical program will