Omaha daily bee., 1921-10-02
Original Ku Klux
Kan Organized
ByJokers for Fun
Present Day Ku Klux Has
Twined Self Through Ma.
ton at Alarming Rate
Makes Mockery Of Law.

the house rules committee lnonnced
today that public hearings by the
committee on resolutions TO investi-
gate the activities OF the Ku Klux
Klan would be held Tuesday, Oeto-
ber II.
Investigation by the house iudiei-
ary committee Of the activities OF TIE
Klan, its officers, organ'z,rs and
members was proposed in resolu-
ton introduced today by Representa-
tive Dyer, republican, Missouri.
Two other resolutions providing
for an inquiry into officers OF the or
ganization by special committees
have already been introduced.
The original Ku Klux Klan was
organized at Pulaski. Tenn, by six
young ex-confederate soldiers IN
1865. Its object was sociability and
amusement. They decided to call
il "Kuklos" which is the Greek word
for circle. They modified this to
Kuklux and added "clan" or khan.
Burlesque and practical joking oc-
cupied the early-day activities OF the
society.
But the air of mystery, the ado.p-
ton of the ghostly costume, the
secret meetings in the cellar OF an
abandoned house. the exclusiveness
soon brought rush OF applicants
and the organization OF innuineraoie
o'hef hiars ..loas"Uu' Ds Wv
Cunningiy DeViseo.
The growth of the present day khan
has been by sweeps vastly great
er than that of its prototype: The
"invisible empire" has twined itself
throughout the republic to such an
alarming degree that the highest law
making and executive powers OF the
land are dcvoting serious attention
to it. For the khan is cunningly de-
vised to deceive the unthlnking, the
weak-minded, the superficial. 1t has
EMBODIED itself in the American Tag.
It proclaims itself "!oo per cehl
American" Its specious arguments
are that it Stands for enforcement
OF law. the protection OF woman
hood" etc. Yet, every one OF ITS
deeds of violence is defiance OF
law and of the constitutional iignt
OF every person 70 a tiai uy .to !aiS. Unn
!. : il,akeS ,.,.Ion;t;es lomi M sor the enforce.
n,.ut'n n,nrt of law with Justice.
~ e.,,,.s corsc;.rc.
saves oonse'eh'e.
Furthermore, it apparently seeks
to divert attention from outrages
and perhaps to salve its own con
science by making gifts to charity.
after masked men had whipped Eo-
ward Engers in Dallas, iex' pc, ),
cause OF his treatment OF his wife',
the khan sent $50 to a free mix fund
for babies and $ooo to a nome 1of
homeless children. :,
/. There are few things that could
appeal to US more strongly than an
effort to give the infants OF the poor
a fighting chance tor their hves,
said the accompanying SNUG iettef
from the khan:
The Imperial WIZARD OF the ku
klux Klan is Col. William Joseph
Simmons Of Atlanta. Ga.,. who oD-
tains his military title OF colonel from
the Woodmen OF the World.
r. Doubt As to Leader.
Euen ohor+ him there ;s some
aorht m Aijeoed members Of the or
dos Nv. dan;ed +hat he ;s the "Grand
T,aam,s. uI. mas % ~ "Ir,ner;ai Wizard"
' Ta L,. ,vr;.,an the aKIoran" or
.;.nai @ ;r which he Iauds the "Ku
rtu~ sn;~;tn ord n,aEes free n de-
n.ua lia .r;a,. spm | rsi;r;o's and natr;ot;c
,nn,,.,rsrts r,a of he mast as "outnour-
;nose, INV ~ .t;s ~ s,,,e ,s sn;r;tS He in.
tss =. p,nnn ,a thass ~ Vshn1ger;chts
eiuu "a a .;roa Em-n,e @ +he rel;g;ous
" olu . ,,.Lo- Gajv;n
llovI1neS ny, Tn az eu .bs,,;or Is ~. Amer"
.nu Nnu n,s,;a enS ~ poston 70, n.rtv
..an I'J; ~. t;y,..~ Ei.n ne nns+ c;u;,
an. snu .ne as, NJ N'~ Ma" y po's 'A
~d1 uayS ss 80, :. r.,,hersh;, fe.
hut tnele was no 'ieili5e. 1nI .in sn'p ras .se
IN tnese movements VI, nnu w p,es
ent.day M NiuS s,e H,ah sn sa
kiectokon OF @to'" ioi:l asn
new; simple leefw'; r., .ia anu IN ~ a,,, .nsse
naro umes too. M .na! 'us 'he ead
Der gets for nus money Is tne mool
and gown ana tne douotlui 'iiiii u
belonging.
q nond ,sisI I,,,;rn S soi;c;t;ne ~ new mem.
bers on 4 commission basis. Thus
does base commercialism seem to
have tainted even the high resolves
Of this 100 Der cent American organ
ization.
The original Klan of more than
half = century ago never molested
women nor did it lay hands on white
men. The present one is charged
with violence against women and
with more violence against white
men than against negroes.
The old Klan grew more violent
throughout its six years of existence.
In its early DAYS it ruled the ne
rroes. lust by terror. A party of
klansmen would galiop up to a negro
shantv and their leader would de-
,nand a drink of water. The trem-
bling negro would bring cupfu1
apr;,,r ma n ht,ekef" the sheeted