Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-14
FEDERAL PROBERS
/ ON TRAIL OF KHAN
Attorney General and Postal
Department Investigate ku
klux Activities
c0NGREssMEN MAY ACT

Washington, Sept. 14.--All the ma e
ehinery of the Federal Government will
be applied TO the suppression OF the
Eu Klux Klan IL il is found TO be vio-
lating Federal laws.
Oficiai investigations are now under
way to determine whether there is
ground for legal action against Colo
nell William Joseph Simmons, OF At
lanta. Imperial wizard Of the order,
and other officials and organizers.
These are being conducted by the De-
partment Of Justice and the Postofice
Department at the direction OF Attorney
General Dsuyherty and Postmaster
General Hays. II was said today no
statement would be Forthcoming from
either source for several days.
Chief Burns. of the Bureau Of lnves-
tigation, is making the investigation for
the Department of Justice at Mr..
Dsugherty's direction.
Chief Inspector Rush D. Simmons. Of
the Postofice Department, il conducting
an inquiry into the Ku Klux to ascer-
tain whether II is entitled TO the use of
the mails.
In addition to these Investigations it
Il understood a resolution for con-
gressional investigation Will be pre-
sentcd when Congress is reconvened
che Ku Klux organization may be sum-
moned to Washington as witnesses.
Evidence of the workings of the or
genization as disclosed in the EVENING
PUBIC LEDGER and other newspapers
is being carefully studied by officials Of
the Government departments concerned
with law enforcement.
Informally officials here express the
opinion that the Klan may be reached
under the provisions of civil statute
enacted in 1918. under which persons
may recover damages in the Federal
courts for injuries resulting from con
spiracies to deprive them Of the protec
tion and privileges Of citizenship.
Paragraph 3a33 Of Section 8. com.
piled statutes of 1918. is the statute in
question. IT provides
IF two or more persons in any State
or territory conspirc or 20 in disguise
upon the public highway or on tho
premises OF another. for the purpose Of
depriving. either directly or indirectly.
any person or class Of persons of the
equal protection NJ the laws or Of equal
privileges and inmunitics under the
laws or for the purpose OF preventing or |
hindering the constituted authorities of
any State or territory from giving or !
securing TO all persons within such !
State or territory the equal protection |
Of the laws. or il two or more persons
conspire to prevent by force, intimidn
tion or threat. any citizen who is law
fully entitled to vote from giving his
support or advocacy in legal manner
toward or in favor Of the section Of any
lawfully qualified person as at elector
for President or Vice President or as a
member Of Congress Of the United
States or to injure any citizen in per
son or property on account of such sup
port or advocacy, in any case of con
spiracy set forth in this section II one
or more persons engaged therein do or
cause to be done eny act in furherancc
OF such conspiracy whereby another 10
injured in his person or property or de- /
prived OF having or exercising any right
or privilege OF citizen of the United !.
States,, the party 80 injured or deprived !
may have an action for the recovery OF
damages, occasioned nv such inquiry or
deprivation against any one or more "
the conspirators."