The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-10-14
IMPERIAL WIZARD.
ISEXHAUSTED AT END.
OF 10 N G HEARING.
ColIapses at Hearing Before
Committee Investigating the
Ku KIux KIan.
READS PART OF OATH
TAKEN BY KLANSMEN
Says That if Organization Is
Unworthy He Is Willing
to Destroy It.
ley sThe AssoeIate4 Press

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13-Closing an
all day defense of the Ku Klux Khan
William J. Simmons, its Imperial Wiz
zard, toppled over in a chair today.
while the chairman of a house COM
mittee investigating the order was at
tempting to stop the applause which
broke before the crowd knew the Wiz
ard had collapsed.
Friends of Mr.. Simmons rushed to
his side and supplied stimulants, but
as it was evident that he was in no
condition to continue the examination.
the hearing, filled with many drama
tic incidents during the day. was ad-
journed until tomorrow. Physicians
later reported that Mr.. Simmons con-
DIXON was not serious.
Bundled up about the chest. Sim
mons returned to the afternoon ses-
sion unsteady of feet. his voice hoarse,
but apparently eager to denounce what
he characterized as outrageous charges
against the organization he founded
in Georgia five years ago
a solemn stiffness prevailed at
times while the Wizard held aloft the
ritral of the khan, read parts of the
oath taken by Klansmen. And then in
husky tones he told the committee
that while Julius Caesar had his Bru-,
tus and Washington his Benedict Ar
mold. he too, as Imperial Wizard Of the
Ku KIux. could enter that fellowship
because he had suffered from the
treasona BILE conduct of those within
'.If this organization is unworthy
then let me know and will destroy
Il" he eyciai ed, hut If it Is not,
then let it stand..'
Turning to the crowd Simmons de-
clared he wanted to ''call upon the
Father to forgive those who had per-
secuted the Klan," and as the words
left his lips he tumbled into heap.
The first dramatic incident OF the
day was the sudden appearance of
Senator Thomas r. Watson of Geor-
gia, who, edcing his way through the
crowd, stepped up and seized the Wiz
ard by the hand. whispering some
thing. he turned and sat down, but
a moment later he was on his feet. de-
manding the right to question the wit
ness i'll 'fhe interest of fair play
Chairman Campbell broke in to say
that the witness was getting that. and
that 1t was not in line with regular
procedure to permit questions by out
siders.
Senator Watson insisted that he had
the first. first a7nounring, however.
that he was not a Klansrnan, although
in synnpathv with It's aims and the
chairman cut through the colIoquv hv
directine the senato~ to proceed The
senator merely asked the Wizard If
ne knew of the hie salarias being vot- i
cd bv CONGRESS- for srinping board
LAWYERS. reaohine as high as $35 nn0.
Witch the reor1e had to pay. with
that Mr.. Wa tson let.
Through the testimony OF Mr. Sim !
mons. the committee learned that the
total membership of the kim herald
ed as having passed halt. m'1'ion, ac-
tuallv was around 80 ono. The wit
ness Declared that its growth east and
west bod been o~eeter than in the
south. but his Illness prevented cues /
tioning desipned to bring out facts |
on some of the present strong-
hclds of the orga ganization. Asked IL
he had not clain1ed "a million mem
bershin.n Simmons smilingly renIied
he might have done SO, but that he
was speaking generally. not by the
card.
Representative Garrett. democrat of
Tennessee took the witness in hand
% fird ont something about It's reve-
mes and profits, asking if the mem I
,arshio fees had been listed as dona-
ions rather than fees TO prevent coll
eetion of federal corporation taxes.
simmons replied there was never a
.bought Of that, declaring that when
he tax law first became effective he
vent 10 the revenue office ut Atlanta
CONTINUED on Paae Three.l