Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-07-26
SOUTHLAND STORIES
Larry CAN'T Gives Some interesting
ReCOlleCtiOnS.
TELLS OF The MEN s.OF OTHER DAYS
Col. William Simmons of Atlanta and
His Long Time Connection With the
Ku klux klan,

ku SkluN hld1, OIL W-llCll wi. Hllie"ht
Simmons, of Georgia, is organizer and
Grand Cyclops. From what we can
gather the concensus OF, opinion is that
no such organization is needed here
and it is more than likely to do harm
by melting racial troubles and unnec-
cssfrily alarming the brother in
black" and whom, like unto the poor,
we will always have with us. But de-
spite opposition, this new secret socl-
ETY. is said to be organizing lodges all
over our state and is gaining a strong
foothold even north Of the Maion and
Dixon line, where the one-time bloody
shirt wavers are alarmed over the I'M
migration into their midst Of so many
negroes from the Sunny South.
have known Col. Bill Simmons, or
ganizer and chief head of this Ku klux
society, for 10 these many years. we
lived in neighboring counties and the
sa2e congressional district. Colonel
Simmons is an able lawyer and pol
ished southern gentleman Of spotless
character But he has ever been an un-
compromising, rantankerous, red-hot
and -stilla heating, organized Demo-
ocr;lt. He looked with disapproyal on
the Farmers Alliance, and to mention
Tom Watson in his presence was to
cause Bill Simmons to manifest every
symptom Of political hydrophobia. Col
onel Simmons is good churchman,
but if the Democratic convention repu-
dated the Ten Commandments and an
opposition party made them a part of
its platform, he would unhesitatingly
endorse and, If called on, take the
stump in support Of his party and Its
creed
Colonel Simmons has a commenda-
bile ambition for public honors, but his
fxtyeme views have never permitted
him to advance further than his front
gate.
When we Democrats in the old Ninth
Georgia histrict were beating the bush
es to find a candidate to pit against
Emory Speer, the brilliant young inde-
pendent in congress, Bill Simmons
would have been given the nomination,
but as Mr.. Speer had defeated two Of
the strongest men in the district by
over 1000 votes, the colonel decided
not to act the part Of political lamb
led to the slaughter. So as a dernier
resort the original Democrats nomi-
mated Allen D. Gambler, a compare
lively unknown man, and one Of the
most ungainly specimens Of humanity
axe ever looked upon as their con-
gycssonal standard bearer. To give
the readers a faint idea Of Colonel
Candlcrs personal appearance when
the writer Of this article was standing
beside him, + felt like unto a thing Of
kauty and joy forever. Suffice to add
It Allen D. Gambler defeated Emory
rer by over 1000 votes, served in
Algrcss until he got tired, was then
cted to congress and died in harness.
lis is the time that Bill Simmons did
not take the tide at flood and it never
again returned. He had relapsed into
state of innocuous desuetude until
the colonel again brought himself in
to the limelight by organizing his ku
kluX Khan society.
/ will now give you a brief history
OF the original Ku KluX Klan and as
both my father and my brother were
klansmen I write authentically. I have
watched long lines Of these night rid
crs, with masks and long. shroud- like
robes, silently pass along the public
roads. The spectacle was so wierd and
ghost-lik as to not only terrify the su-
perstitious negroes, but impress uni
tiated whites.
Had Abraham Lincoln never been
assassinated, the south would never
have been subjected to the horrors and
degradation Of reconstruction His
death left free hand to the bittercst
and most vindictive enemies Of the
south, led by Thad Stevens, whose IRON
works our soldiers had burned on their
invasion into Pennsylvania.
~ OAHU u pOlIIiS1i IL oiiA VIZ
north flocked to the south, backed by
sa-deral bayonets. Every man who
sympathized with the Confederacy
was disfranchised and these carpet
baggers" organized the ignorant ne
groes and not only took control Of the
governments of the different states,
but encouraged and upheld the blacks
in the most abhorrent acts of lawlesS-
ness. 1t was literally the placing of
black heels on white necks. White
women were outraged, iccndiary fires
ilumined the sky at night and stock
was indiscrminatcly slaughtered. And
not only this, but fraudulent bonds
we're issued and taxes imposed that
meant confiscation Of our farming lands
and town property. AS the courts
were controlled by these northern ad-
venturers and their negro tools justice
was Il farce.
1t was then that General N. B. For
rest, a gallant Confederate officer, or
ganizcd the Eu KluX Klan and its
membership was made up Of disband-
ed Confederate soldiers and quickly
spread over the south. The members
were initiated in some secluded spot IN