The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-22
Ku Klux Klan
Inquiry Ends
Effort to Bring About Con-
gressional Action Appar-
emily Fails

Washington, Oct. 17.-The pro-
posed investigation Of ku kluX
Klan by congress blew up today.
After a ten minute session be-
hind closed doors, the house rules
committee, which at morning ard
afternoon sessions put William j.
Simmons, the klans imperial wiz
ard, through rigid examination.
voted unanimously not TO call any
more witnesses, certainly at this
time.
Announcement Of the commit
tees action was made by Chair
man Campbell, and while the
chairman and members refused Ia
ter to make any comment beyond
the bare statement as to witness
es, it is expected that an adverse
report Will be submitted to the
house on a number of resolutions
providing for an investigation.
Final action, however, will not be
taken until several absent members
return to Washington. but the
house members accepted it as set
tied that they were done with the
Ku Klux, unless the department of
justice, conducting an inquiry OF
it's own, comes forward with un-
expected evidence.
Still showing the effects of his
illness, the imperial wizards voice
weakened as he sat all day an
swering a whirlwind Of questions.
AS on previous days he entered a
categorical denial of charges OF
lawlessness by the klan, and reiter-
ated that the total membership OF
the organization was slightly un-
der 100000.
There was an exciting moment at
the outset when Simmons d:a-
matically declared that, according
to information given him by
Representative Upshaw Of Geor-
gia, a man who was supposed to
have been present stated that
Chairman Campbell and Assistant
Attorney General Grim had char
acter;zcd his collapse last week as
a cheap theatrical attempt to gain
sympathy
Quick as a flash Chairman Camp
bell declared there was not a word
Of truth in it. Mr.. Grim, jumping
to his feet in the confusion, de-
clared the chairman'S answer went
for him, and the wizard, still
smiling. said he was glad to know
it.
AS, he left the stand Mr.. Sim
mons, apparently with deep feel
ing, said that he wanted to thank
the committee for its considcra-
ton and courtesy.
Reference to the daily presence
of the assistant attorney general
and the one day stay Of William J..
Burns, director Of the department
of justice bureau Of investigation,
was made by Representative Pou
(Democrat) of North Carolina,
while he was examining the wizard.
Asked if he had been intimated by
the presence Of Mt. Burns. whom
nc characterized as the Sherlock
Holmes Of the United States" Mr..
Simmons said he had not, and
that he had faithfully tried to give
the committee all the information
it was seeking Mr.. Pou asserted it
was the first time in his p years
of service that the department Of
j,,c+ioo 1,oG cc,-t roprocoDtotjvpc to
listen in on the rules committee.
In rounding up what he termed
the good points of the organiza-
ton, Mr.. Simmons said that the
military branch" not yet formed
was not more miiitariStic than the
patrol of the Mystic Shrine. that
members joining were required to
help enforce the nations laws only
as citizens, and that when black
sheep crept in they were kicked
al information as to whether the
chief Of police Of Norfolk, Va, was
a member. he said, adding that
while there was no printed roster
of members on file at Atlanta
headquarters, each klan or lodge
kept a list of its own. There was
no rule, he said. prohibiting pub
lication of membership lists.
Getting down to the personal side
Mr.. Pou asked the wizard point
blank how much he was worth
and the wizard replied that all Of
his savings had been spent during
the early fight to put the klan on
its feet.
81 have no financial standing" :"
he said. Il have had no pocket
book of my own these past six
years, and God being my witness.
l have tried to steer this orSaniza-
tion clear away from commercial
ism
Simmons. answering Chairman
Campbell denied that he had
claimed membership of hundreds
of thousands who would go after
congress, hitting it hip and thigh,
If it attempted to crush the klan.
He asked congress to go ahead and
Investigate.