The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-09-28
INQUIRY BEGUN
OF KU kLUX KHAN
High Officials May be Summoned,
Burns Agents Busy.

"ooIUuSl lOH, ScDt. ZG.--I1lSh Otli-
cials of the Ku Klux Khan may be
summoned to Washington for inter-
rogation by the department OF JUS
tice, Attorney General Daughcrty
indicated today.
Director Burns of the departments
bureau Of investigation, Mr.. Daugh-
erty announced, has been instructed
10 set his agents at work on an in
VestigaHon Of the klan's organization
III various parts of the country
In connection with the possible
summoning of klan leaders to Wash
lngton the attorney general said the
department. Of justice had the authori-
ty TO summon any one and it was it's
policy In the course of an inyestiga
ton to talk the matter over with the
persons involved.
The attorney general said that anv
criminal prosecution would be for the
most part matters Of state law, un-
less there had been some violation OF
federal statutes through the use OF
the mails to defraud.
There is no need in this country.
Mr.. Daugherty said, for vigilance
organizations The country does not
need, he added, any self-constituted
organization to define and enforce the
laws for American citizens. 1t has
ne contended, a we'll organized de-
partment Of justice to enforce the fed
cral laws and well organized state
authorities to maintain the laws OF
the several states.
washington, Sept. 22.-Thc Ku Klux
Nlan and religious intolerance enter
Ell into debate on the floor Of the son
ate during discussion Of the beer bill.
Senator Watson (Democrat OF
Georgia asserted that religious lib
erty had not been secured in the
United States under the charter
granted Lord Baltimore while Senn-
tor Stanley 0DemocraU of Kentucky
insisted that "thore was only onei
place In all the civilized world
, where man could worship his god and
the dictates Of his conscience ana
that was j. the province Of The Roman
catholic nobleman, Lord Baltimore"
II am here to fight intolerance
whether it lights dts torch in Ku
kiiiX camp in Georgia or wehther
In western Ohio" added Senator Stan
Icy, referring in the latter case to
the Anti-Saloon lea. e which has it's
headquarters at Westervillc, Ohio. II
Will meet the Ku Klux Klan issue
when 1t comes" said Senator Wat
son. Until some crime is proven
against that society or some other Sc
cret society with which this country
Is honeycombed I will withhold my
Judgment until the guilt Of the accused
is established by competent testimony
Atlanta, Sept. 22.-The Knights Of
the Itu Klux Klan will welcome any
impartial investigation and will
open its book and records to federal
authorities, Col. William Joseph Sim
mons, imperial wizard declared in a
o'h'ohiOhI ioouSu mere lOnlSuL WnCn
informed that Attorney General
Daugherty was considering asking
him to come to Washin ION to discuss
the situation.
The statement asserted that when
the series Of alleged exposures" be-
ing published by certain newspapers
are concluded the imperial wizard
Will make answer to thc,n. Colonel
Simmons also denied reports that
the imperial kloncilium had been
summoned to meet to consider the
articles being printed.
st. Louis, Sept 22-Gov. Arthur
M. Hyde condemned the Ku Klux
Klan as an organization before 500
members OF the grand lodge OF Mis-
souri, A. If. & A. NJ, last night dcclar-
ing it secret, furtive organization
whose methods are subvcrsive to
American ideals and the rule OF
the law"
Governor Hyde declared that Ma
sons have mo connection with the
organization and want nothing to do
with IT,"
Rising Sun Chapter no. 6, II. A. M.
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