Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-10-13

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~ WASHINGTON, Oct. 12.-OfficiaIs
approximately $30,000,000 from their
100000 fellow members, upon which
the government has received no tax
return, Representative Tague, Mas
sachusetts, declared Tuesday to thu
house rules committee, which is to
decide whether congress shall inves-
tigate the organization. Mr. Tague
said he arrived at the figures from
information furnished by the khan
officials. .t
Testimony by Postoffice Inspector
Williamson declared that the high
moguls Of the Khan had dispensed
about $1,250,000 in funds collected
from membership of 126,000
Opening the preliminary inquiry
Of the rules committee into the af-
fairs Of the mystic order, Mr.. Tagus
asserted it was up to congress 10
show whether the constitution il
merely scrap of paper" He de-
nounced the members Of the khan az
a pack of towards who go into the
night, behind masks and infringe on
the rights of citizens"
Mr.. Tague charged the organization
was boasting that 1t controlled pub.
lie officials, including police and the
judiciary.
Chairman Campbell, Kansas. said
that the committee must first decide
two things:
Whether the -Ku- KIux Khan used
the mails to defraud.
2-Whether it has committed overt
acts against individuals and COM
munities.
Simmons Present
William J. Simmons, of Atlanta,
imperial wizard, and founder Of the
khan, was among the first witnesses
to arrive. He came in with Repre-.
sentative Upshaw. Democrat. Geor-
gia, who has introduced a resolution
calling for an investigation Of each
and every secret order in the United
States. Attorney General Daugherty
also was present at the heSring,
which was delayed for some time
while a pack of picture men got
photographs of the imperial wizard
and the committee. On the objec-
ton of Representative Rodenberg,
Republican, Illinois, however, Mr..
Simmons and the committee were
not included in one group.
A woman is the dominant figure
behind the Ku Klux Khan, c. Ander-
son Wright, former king kleagle OF
the order, said.
He named Mrs. Elizabeth Tyler,
Atlanta, as "the woman behind the
throne"
Simmons a "Figurehead"
Edward Young Clark, also OF At.
Ianta and grand goblin. is Mrs. Ty-
ler's chief assistant, and Colonel
Simmons merely is a figurehead, Mr..
Wright said. Mrs. Tyler and Clark
are merely out for the money" he
said.
A news letter said to have been
sent out from the headquarters of
the Ku Klux- Khan for confidential
use by field agents stated, under date
of June 10 last, that the chief of
police Of Norfolk had just been taken
in as a member of the order and Shad
radiated his pleasure" at becoming a
member. Presented to the committee
by o. B. Williamson, postoffice In
spector, the letter said the chief had
promised the Norfolk khan $50 rifles
''in time of trouble"
Probe Necessary
Letters received from members of
states showed. Mr.. Dyer said, that
the Khan IN Oklahoma and other
states showed, Mr.. Dyer said, that
of public morality. Other letters
from persons who claim they had
been threatened and i'll treated by
the Khan, were presented to the COM
mittee, but the names wer not dis
closed.
This order has terrortzed many
he declared Its es-
pecial aim is to terrorize negroes.
either by posted warning or masked
parade"
Investigation Of the Khan by con-
eresS is necessary, even if the courts
1ad Jurisdiction, said Representative
Ryan, Republican. New York, anoth-
er author of an inquisitory resolu-
ton. He charged that the Ku Klux
[ilan had stood sponsor for men who
had committed crimes, showing they
we're members of the order"
Acts of Violence Charged
Roland Thomas, OF New York World,
told the committee in detail of an
Investigation by that newspaper OF
he Khan activities which resulted in
he publication of a series of charges
against the order. The outstanding
feature, he said, was "the great num-
Der of acts Of violence by the Ku
AluT."
Mr.. Thomas declared that the bo-
gus oath of the knights of Columbus
IS published some years ago in the
Record and circulated
~ the Khan created the most In
ense feeling"
"Dideyou find that this Record pub
ication was sent out under frank~
asked Representative Johnson, Re-
South Dakota.
81 don't know if it was Mr..
Thomas replied.
Mr. Thomas testified that Imperial
Wizard Simmons had boosted that
members of the senate and house
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