Omaha daily bee., 1921-09-25
Labor Head Here
OenOunces X. XIX.
In Strong Terms
President Donahoe Of Omaha
Central Labor Union Brands
X. X. X. as 'Cancerous
Growth.

Tony Donahee, president OF the
Central Labor union. which includes
the various labor unions OF this city,
did not mince words Friday ait.
crnoon in his denuneia,ion OF the
ku Klux klan.
Mr.. Donahoe endorsed every word
on the subject as expressed by SAM
uel Gompers. president OF the Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor. and also
uttered his own views on what he
considers the latest menace.
lie asserted that he spoke as
presiden, OF the Central Labor union
and also as an individual when he
stated that there is no call, no legiti-
mate reason at this time, for The ex-
istense OF the X. X. X. He knew
of many reasons why the organiza-
tion should be suppressed and that
without any delay or quibb!ing. He
advocated roofing out OF this evil
which he believes is cancerous
growth in the body polite.
All Classes and Crceds.
Labor is opposed to any organiza-
ton OF this kind said President
Donahoc. There are all classes and
crecds. The Ku Klux klan is un-
dcrmining the government. II is
worse than mob rule.
The Ku Klux Klan should be
suppressed. | condemn it in every
sense OF the word. Labor is bitterly
opposed to it. There is no call for
j, whatever. There is enough unrest
in this country without adding more.
which this organization is doing and
will continue to do unless it is inter
cepted"
Mr.. Donahoe stated that he could
say more on the subject. but he be-
l;cycs he has said much when he de-
c!ared that the organization should
be suppressed because it is perni-
cious growth and has no claim
which decent citizens can recognize.
Gompers Denounces Klan.
President Gompers of the Ameri- |
can Federation of Labor returned
this week from a visit to Atlanta,
Ga, the home of the new ku kluX |
klan. In his characteristic virile |
manner President .Gompers author
lied the following statement in
which he denounces the Ku KIux |
Klan: ,a
"ku Kluxism. as we have seen it |
in recent revelations, is nothing more |
nor less than the organizing of row.
ing bands of marauders, setting their
will above the law and seeking to !
place their unlawful conduct beyond !
reach of the courts.
"When all organization of this
kind is builded on a money making
basis it is doubly dangerous.
'The ku .Klux klan. as we have
seen it, is a proft-making machine.
Trained salesmen recruit member
ship everywhere. These statesmen
derive fee from every new mem-
Der. They operate according to the
best rules OF organized selling. Fhey
are out for business and its resultant
fees.
'What this amounts to is that a
highly skilled sales organization is
combing the country to find every
individual who can be got to pledge
himself to become part OF an oath
bound society, having as its object
the rulership of the country and the
defiance {. its laws and institutions.
T.i's organization, with its fierce
ly worded oath, its emperor. its
'esnlmy and domains is called all
invisible empire Every tenet OF
faith in Americanism is outraged by
the thing, and resentment rises hot
against it.
The record, as it has been laid
bare, calls for the extinction OF the
Ku klux Klan. The force OF public
opinion should be sufficient to bring
about this result. -
"Any such organization as the NJ
Klux Klan has been shown to be-. IS
certain to use every device to III
crease its power and that means
that we are confronted by an auto
cratic power that will grow unles, it
is destroyed. It's cunning in striv-
ing first to enlist the judges and
police officials, where new organiza.
tions are sought, is ample proof OF
this.
"The Ku Klux Klan is mcrcen-
A,y, autocratic organization. Its
claim to being a secret organization
is largely myth. Its most secret
documents are copyrighted for busi-
ress reasons and are therefore ac-
cessible to whoever wishes to see
them. The whole dangerous scheme
has been worked out to ensna:e the
credulous and get money.
Endangers Democracy.
Every democratic force in our !!
country, including the trade union
movement, has something to fear
from an organization pledged to an
autocratic concept, working under
the concealment of masks and under
cover Of night to >carry out the de-
crees OF those who have no author
ity to either define or execute pun
ishments. There is no essential dit
ference between mob rule and Kr
Klux rule, and labor IS the foe OF
both"
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