Evening star., 1922-11-28
URGES PRESIDENT
TOBREAK Up KLAN

The President and the Attorney
General are called upon to take steps
to break up the Ku Klux klan. in .
eral by Senator David I. Walsh CT
Massachusetts
President Grant. in 1871 by procla-
nation and by the indictment and
punishment of leaders OF the old
khan. broke up the organization. and
there is sufficient law on the statute
books for President Harding to do the
same today the letter points out
Senator Walsh quoted at length
from le:.ers he had received. one from
a former assistant district attorney
in western state. and another from
an attorney in Texas. setting forth
outrages which. it is charged. the
klansmen are perpetrating. He did
not give the names Of his correspond
ents. but said that he had satisfied
himself OF their credibility.
Cites Grants Action.
The letter from the former assistant
district attorney insisted there is suf-
hcient law on the books today for the
federal government to break up the
khan. He said the same statute which
gives the government the power to
deal with the J. w. W. can be in
voked He also made the suggestion
precedent set by President Grant in
dealing with the ku klux Klan.
The letter from the Texas attorney
declares that within the last eigh-
teen months in Texas there have been
500 tar and feather parties and whip
Of homfcides. assaults Ind other Of
fenses directed against the person:
threatening letters by the score have
been given to the victims OF fhis
huge criminal conspiracy. ordsrinE
them in many instances to leave their
helpless women have been carred and
feAthered and old men have not been
spared their vengeance: young girls
In their teens have been the victims
Of those letters. and in many In
stances they have been forced to
SANDER and tcnominy heaped on them.
All this In Gree America"
so far as I know, not one Of
these reiminals has been brought
to Justice. At Waco. Tex, the home
of the Governor Of Texas. police off,
cers arrested three masked and hood
ed men. with their victims, covered
with hot tar and feathers, in their
The grand jury OF NC
Lehman county voted No Bill"
"I sincerely hope said Senator
Walsh. in his letter to the Attorney
General, that you or some govern
mental agency. under your direction.
will make q thorough investigation ::
in the press OF the country. 1t is un- |
believable that such a condition could |
exist: and. II 1t be exaggerated or un-
founded, some public authority should |
proclaim this fact: II 1t exists. then |
this menace to constitutional govern
ment should be vigorously attacked |
through judicial channels.
Sees America ut Stake.
''Unchecked this thing will create
wave of hatred and intolerance which |
will destroy our most precious and !
sacred American heritage. When
groups organize to destroy our
revoke trial by jury. deny the
right Of citizens to worship God as
they see At. and support a policy OF
and furnishing men and
without trial other than a Sc
.ret meeting In some lone pasture or
highway. they are championing the
very form Of tyranny to which our
government is opposed, undermining
everything we hold dear in our n2-
.ional life and injecting the body
polite with poison.
Il have Investigated the standing
and reputation Of the writer of the
etters from which I have quoted. and
| md their credibility to be Of the
highest. In your consideration OIL
these letters may / suggest that you
rive special consideration to the
that the President OF
the United States issue Q proclama-
ion against the activities Of such or.