Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-09-22
HARDING EXAMINES
XII KLUX ACTIVITY;
KLA|V FIGHT RACES

There were several interesting de-
velopments Wednesday in connection
with the alleged exposure of the Ku
I&lux Khan, which is being printed
daily by the New York World and
other newspapers associated with it
in various parts of the country.
Several of these developments had
their origin in Atlanta, which is the
and the home Of the three members
of it's "innermost circle"-Imperial
Wizard w. J. Simmons, Imperial
Kleagle Edward Young Clarke and
Mrs. Elizabeth Tyler, chief of the
woman's division and head of the
propagation department of the order.
Indications of federal probe of
the klan's activities were seen with
the announcement from Washington
that information IN possession of the
department of justice had been laid
before President Harding by Attor-
ney General Daughtery after a con-
ference with Director William J.
Burns, of the department. bureau Of
investigation.
Discovery was made by police of.
ficials that all records relating to
the arrest of Imperial Kleagle Clarke
and Mrs. Tyler on disorderly conduct
charges in 1919 had mysteriously dis
appeared from the archives of the
police department during the past
five days. A demand for a full in
vestigation Iby the Fulton county
grand jury was made on Solicitor
General John A. Boykin by w. F.
Brandt, an Atlanta lawyer.
Arnold Broyles, clerk of the Full
ton superior court, made the discov-
cry that all records in divorce suit
filed by Mrs May Clarke against I'M
perial Kleagle Clarke, in 1919, had
vanished from his offices. He was
engaged in a diligent search for the
papers, but admitted he was baffled
by their disappearance and had no
clue as to who removed them.
A. D. Bate, Ku Klux Khan klea-
gle, of Elizabeth, N. j., was '.fired"
by wire by officials at the Imperial
palace as a result Of telegraphic
demand he made on Imperial Wizard
Simmons Tuesday for the instant
removal from office of Mr.. Clarke
and Mrs. Tyler, in view Of alleged
revelations concerning their charac-
ter printed in The Worlds exposure.
Colonel Simmons announced he be-
lieved in the integrity Of Mrs. Tyler
and Mr.. Clarke, and that he would
make no change in his elmer cir
Gle"
The Khan was bitterly denounced
in st. Louis, Mo-, by William F.
johnson, grand master of the Cen
tennial grand lodge of Masons of
Missouri, IN an address before the
lodges annual convention.
Atlanta agents Of the department
Of justice were non-committal when
questioned concerning the depart
ment's plan to probe Ku Kluxism in
Atlanta and Georgia.
KHAN INFORMATION
LAID BEFORE HARDING
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21.-Infor-
nation in the hands of the depart
ment Of Justice as to the activities
of the ku K1ux Khan was laid before
President Harding today by Attorney
General Daugherty after the latter
lad conferred with Director Burns
of the departments bureau of inves-
tigation.
Any federal action against the or.
ganization, according to Mr.. Daugh-
erty, would probably be under some
statute covering conspiracy. He made
clear, however, that on it's face, the
literature of the Khan was not in
violation of the law and what was
to be determined was what went on
behind the scenes. The activities OF
the organization, he emphasized,
would be given the most careful con-
sideration before any federal policy
was determined.
An investigation Of the XII KluK
Khan is also proposed by Representa-
tive Tague, Democrat, Massa chusetts,
in a resolution which he has pre-
pared, and expects to introduce to-
day. In the preamble he asserts
that the organization is "anti-Amer-
pose are "the exile and suppression
of persons members Of certain races
and religious sects.''
''The Ku Klux Khan has in mora
than 100 instances been charged with
unlawful seizure, abduction, trial and
punishment of certain free citizens
and residents Of the United States"
Representative Tague said in a for
NAL statement, land is operating in
violation of articles ~, V and VI Of
our constitution, which guarantee
against unlawful search, for prote@r
tion of life and property and for jury
trial. 1t also violates those sections
which relate to freedom of religious
worship and involuntary servitude."
Department of justice officials de-
clined to express an opinion as to
the possibility of federal investiga-
ton of the Ku Klux Khan, but il
was indicated that the department.
would take steps to gather further
details of the situation. So far, it
was said, the departments informa-
ton consisted largely of isolated
complaints which had come in from
numerous sources, including private
individuals and organizations.
RECORDS OF ARRESTS
MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEAR
Following the discovery by police
officials Tuesday that all records
showing L. Y. Clarke, imperial
kleagle, and Mrs. Elizabeth Tyler,
chief of staff of the women's division
of the Ku KluX Khan, to have been
arrested here in 1919, had mysterious
ly disappeared from the archives of
the police department and from the
docket, of the recorders couJ, d
special grand jury investigation was
strongly urged in a letter sent to So.
licit0r General John A RnVlSin We'd