Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1921-10-20
FINANCIAL STATUS
Of KLAN IS TOLD
PoSToFFlce INSPECTOR ALLEGES
THAT kU kLUx HAS TAKEN
IN $1,44S,710
KLAN MEMBERSHIP 126,000
Says Simmons Is Not In Real Control,
But That Clark And Mrs. Tyler
Hold Reins OF Power

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. before the
committee hearing on the Ku Klux
Klan so far has been conflicting and
confusing The collections Of the CO.
terie Of organizers, who bear high.
sounding titles, were estimated at $780,
100000 by Representative Tague Of
Massachusetts, author of one Of the
investigating resolutions under consid.
GRAFTON; he placed the membership at
tive hundred thousand. Testimony from
Postoffice Inspector Williamson, how
ever, showed that the books of the
khan accounted for disbursements of
about million and quarter and for
a membership of 10000.
Digging into the activities of the Ku
klux Klan, the house rules commit.
tee has developed by testimony that
the organization has taken in s1,4SS,.
no since its foundation, that the de-
partment Of justice is still conducting
an investigation of its own and that,
according to the klan's confidential
information to field agent, the chief Of
police of Norfolk. Va. is a member.
Through news letters said to have
been sent from khan headquarters, and
not intended for general publication,
the statement also was made that the
Norfolk chief had promised 26O rifles
to the local order "in time of trou.
ole,' and that Representative Upshaw,
Democrat OF Georgia. in whose home
district the klan was horn, had been
put to 1t to deny membership in the
klan and, at the same time. square
MS conscience as preacher and a
church member"
The imperial wizard Of the Ku Klux
William j. Simmons of Atlanta, sat
whole day in the crowded committee
room and heard witnesses declare that
he was not its actual head: that ~
powers seemed vested in Edwar",
Young Clarke brilliant journals,
and "promoter,' head of the publicity,
or propagating bureau, and Mrs. Eliza.
beth Tyler, his assistant. The COM
mitteo, conducting a hearing on reso-
lutinns calling for a congressional in.
veStlSation Of the khan, will put the
Imperial wizard on the stand very soon.
All of the evidence so far developed
is by witnesses demanding an inquiry
and those who had conducted indeMnd.
Pnt inquiries for the postoffice depart.
ment and newspapers.
O. B. Willamson, a rostoffice in.
spector, told Of sevcn.day prclm-
nary investigation at and around the
imperial palace at Atlanta. Mr.. vii.
hanson, who presented the news let
ters IN evidence, declared their trans.
mission established improper use of
the nails, and that they had been sent
ont for the purpose of stimulating the
membership drive-at ten dollars
head. Asked by Chairman Campbell
il a..--- part of the funds collected by
The hian had beon spent for the needy.
''i' N''h''' i'lllCN.
'lf YOU call Colonel Simmons reedv,
then some thousands were spent for
him, but none for charity. Colonel
Simmons salary is 81 900 a month"
Then, telling of what he had dis.
covered in connection with disposition
Of the funds, the inspector said that
the imperial palace, in the fashionable
Peachtree section of Atlanta. had been
bought partly with Ku Kux funds
and listed in the name of Clarke, that
the same system had been followed
IN purchasing more pretentious home
for the wizard; that $4,000 of Ku
klux funds had been turned over to
Lanier university, in Georgia. without
security, and that, when anybody Join.
ed the khan, he got receipt showing
the funds had been accepted in trust
for the order.
There was sharp conflict between
the testimony of Willamson and that
of C. Anderson Wright, formerly
klansman, and who recently published
what purported to be an expose of the
order concerning "a palace" at Atlanta
owred jointly by Clarke and Mrs. Ty-
Ter. Wright said he had often been
entertained within its hospitable por.
tails, and that It COST upward of s75,-
900, but Williamson said if it was
there he could not get track Of it.
Peace Conference Opens In London
London" Distinctly good feeling"
attended the opening meeting of the