The Ocala banner., 1922-08-04
naliors Esdorss Suggestion That II
os compeilsd 10 Discard Robes
And MASKS

hlak hlah come into the open and
alsNaFd the masks behind which the
membership conceal Identity. has re-
aNakemed interest IN the organization
and especially In its political aspira-
tlons The ku klux Khan Is a dis
tanf issue Ia the Senatorial fight in
Texas. while Il IL taking more than
. pasaina interest IN local contests
- widely scattered parts OF the Unit
"a states The editors generally con.
demn Il and demand that Il be stamp
80 oat. while some of those who are
toieranf az is existence declare that
- members must reveal thir identity
and cease working in secret.
sss
The revised and modernized Ku
klnx klan." says The Boston Travel
ef. "of course. denies any direct con-
neetion with iynching. So long as the
kn klux continues 60 preach the un-
American theory that this country
heiongs 10 a single race and a single
religion. Il viii be unable to shake
on the suspicion OF a possible con-
section with every lynching." The
anffkn klux activities In Georgia of
Governor Hardwick. who demands that
the Khan throw away its masks, and
of senator culberson. who has de-
nounced its exisetnce In Texas, brings
high praise from The Washington
star. which insists that IAN organiza-
tion which puts so much store by an
onilandish and hair-raising regalia.
which rides al night and executes its
purposes in darkness. and which calls
iinelf the Invisible Empire has no
proper place In country where gov
srnment ls fully organized. and needs
nniy to beopenly sustained to accom-
piish all necessary ends. The Ku
klux Khan, in It's present form, should
aiahand." In addition. The Wichita
Beacon points out that it is true that
there are many evils that have not
been properly taken care OF by the
fpEniariy constituted authorities. but
fhe people eventually get the kind of
government they are willing to go
after. aud the scheme of American
Government Is not adapted 10 any
minority wise or powerful
taking over the enforcement of
nws. The people themselves must
ruie or there Is no such thing as an
American Republic"
Every outrage fathered by the Khan
should be punished. The Duluth Her
nid says. because there is no other
nay 10 treat an organization of this
eharacter. and this way should be
fnllowed ruthlessly wherever possible
a. the end that this and all similar
organizations should be blotted out of
me life of America. There is punish
ment enough for those who practice
mob law and commit mob law out
faEes, and that punishment should
neFer fail OF thorough and vigorous
application" When IL interferes in
politics. national or local, the Klan
- distinct menace. and The Nash.
vile Banner eharacterizes it as "a
treasonable organization. II is cow.
ardly and dangerous. Any other or
sanitation with which II affiliates and
which accepts its aid cannot be less
harmful. Neither will be tolerated
fnr Ions. There Is too much strength
n the ideals Of good citizenship. The
erii must be uprooted and destroyed"
And the people OF the country will
not submit TO any mob proclaiming it.
selt superior 10 law" insists The Mem
phis commercial.Appeal. "Govern-
ment IN this Republic of ours must
- based upon law an order. and il
tbey are surrendered or compromis-
90, then government will fall"
heeaase the klan is founded upon
blEoiry." The 81 Louis POST Dispatch
xhinks that religion itself is menaced
~ this poison. which tends to set
neighbor against neighbor, brother
Akainst brother. and in the end to
hring about a religious war-fhe worst
pf AT wars. Let the leaders in the
thnrrhes. especially the Protestant
DENOMINATIONS. disavow and rebuke
these devils advocates" And. in the
opinion Of The New York Evening
Noria. there is an element in many
communities that is always ready to
fake the law INTO It's own hands, al
Nays ready 10 ingulde It's prejudices
And feed rs hatreds under the sane
tion % any rigmarole OF words that
kondones lawlessness and conceal
naeant 81 identity. In the last analy.
- ine chief strength OF the Ku Klux
kIan has been and continues to be
- Riealshy appeal TO men who like to