Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-10-14
KLAN'S HEAD IN
COLLAPSE AFTER
DAY OF DEFENCE

/
ard toppled over in chair today
while the chairman of the House
committee investigating the order,
was attempting to stop the applause
which broke before the crowd knew
! the wizard had collapsed.
| Friends of Mr.. Simomns rushed to
his side and supplied stimulants, but
as it was evident that he was in no
condition to continue the examina-
ton, the hearing. filed with many
| dramatic incidents during the day.
was adjourned until tomorrow. Physi-
clans later reported that Mr.. Sim
mons condition was not serious.
! Bundled up about the chest Mr..
| Simmons returned to the afternoon
session unsteady of feet, his voice
/ hoarse, but apparently eager to de-
nounce what he chara cterized a s out
rageous charges against the organi-
cation he founded in Georgia five
years ago.
| 4 solemn stiffness prevailed at
the ritual of the Khan, read parts OF
the oath taken by Klansmen. And
| then in husky tones he told the COM
mittee that while julius Caesar had
his Brutus and Washington his Ben
edict Arnold. he too. as imperial
wizard of the Ku klux Khan. could
enter that fellowship, because he had
suffered from the trea sonable con-
I duct of those within.
"Tf this organization is unworthy
then let me know and I will destroy
it," he exclaimed. but if 1t 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 Khan" and as the words
left his lips he tumbled into a heap.
The first dramatic incident Of the
day was the sudden appearance of
Senator Thomas F. Watson. Of Geor-
eia. who edging his way through the
crowd. stepped up and seized the
wizard by the hand. Whispering
something he turned and sat down.
but a moment later he was on his
feet. demanding the right to question
the witness in "the interest of fair
play"
I Senator Watson insisted that he
had the right first announcing, how
ever, that he was not klansman
although in sympathy with its aims
and the chairman cut through the
colloquoy by directing the senator to
proceed. The senator merely asked
the wizard if he knew of the big sal
aries being voted by congress for
shipping board lawyers reaching as
high as $4,000, which the people had
to pay. With that Mr. Watson left
Through the testimony of Mr. Sim
mons, the committee learned that
| the total membership of the Khan.
heralded as having passed the half
million mark. actually was around
10000 The witness declared that it's
growth east and west had been
greater than in the south; but his
illness prevented questioning de-
signed to bring out facts bearing on
somk of the present strongholds of
the organization. Asked if he had not
claimed "a million membership"
Mr.. Simmons smilingIy replied that
he might have done so, but that he
was speaking generally, not by the
card.
Representative Garrett, Democrat.
Tennessee. took the witness in hand
to find out something about its rev.
enues and profits, asking if men,
bership fees had been listed as dona-
tions rather than fees to prevent
collection Of federal corporation
taxes. Simmons replied that there
was never a thought of that, declar-
ing that when the tax law first be-
came effective, he went 10 the rev.
enue office at Atlanta and was in
formed that the Khan did not come
| under the law
! IF it does it is not my fault" the
wizard said, land if it is shown we
are liable we stand ready to meet
! our obligations"
Denying huge profits from the
sale of robes. the witness declared
that less than 30 per cent. Of the
/ klansmen owned regalia.
"Our robes are not worn for the
! purpose of terrorizing people, he
shoudte. They are as innocent as
the breath of an angel"
The witness was pressed by Chair
man Campbell for an explanation OF
! the recent clash between a sheriff
and marching Klansmen near Waco
! Tex. and. while he replied that his
/ information was based largely upon
newspaper reports. he added that
the parade had been authorized by
the mayor. and that the sheriff, in
I attempting to stop it. seemed under
the influence of liquor" Simmons
said he had called for an Official re-
port. but that it had not been forth.
coming
When the imperial wizard was
about to read the oath of the Khan
the committee. after a whispered
conference. announced that he need
not reveal it unless he felt so in
clined. 1t was placed in the record
after certain paragraphs had been
read. 1t showed as read by the wiz
ard that members bound themselves
/ to be truly Klannnish toward Klans
men in all things honorable" and that
man could not violate his oath ex-
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