The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-09-03

Says World Is Wrong.

Editor world:
The constitution of the United States spe-
officially says that the government and the
courts shall presume every citizen innocent
until proven guilty; that a citizen accused
OF misdemeanor or crime shall be faced
In open court by his accusers and have the
right to question said accusers; that he shall
be tried by jury composed of IL peers;
that the verdict of this Jury must be unani-
nous before such person can be adjudged
guilty; that when he is found guilty he shall
not be visited with punishment unusually
severe.-Extract from World editorial.
In the year or more that have been regularly
reading your editorials have several times
met something like the above, and l have
dered at st. very little investigating would
show you that the constitution of the United
States does not specifically or by implication
say what you imply. The first. ten amendments
guarantees against the United States gov
ernment and apply only in cases against viola
tors OF the United states law. If some one as
saults me, steals my property, or commits
murder, or is guilty OF any OF the ordinary
crimes and misdemeanors the constitution or
the United States says nothing about his trial or
punishmcntin fact, congress has no power TO
pass any law concerning such things-they are
purely state affairs. II you doubt 1t, consult
the best lawyers you know, make the question
clear. and listen to their answers. Any careful
study OF the constitution will make the point
clear.
Most Of the states have similar bills of rights
so-called, which give these guarantees 70 their
citizens and others In state cases. But 1t Is
mschievous to spread further the idea that the
United States guarantees such things In ordi-
nary cases | have heard men glibly repeating
that the constitution gives the right TO vote TO
every man twenty-one years old. This is no
more absurd or inaccurate than your lmplica-
tion above,
| wonder IL It would not help many honest
minded TO decide about the =. I, =. y
more OF its origin and history were known.
Suppose men knew that the Ku-Klux klan orig
mated some fifty-flve years ago in communities
where there civil law but only martial
law; that its original purpose was TO play upon
the fears and superstitons OF ignorant negroes
and intimdate them so that they would not
seek to enforce their civil rights that an In
vestigatlon set foot by congress revealed n
long list Of whppngs and assaults and murders
committed by its members, and that Its own
chief officers were forced to order Its disband- :
ing because It had gotten beyond their control?
Would honest men, knowing its past history and
purposes, and realizing that 1t was organized
purely for political ends join heartily in its sup
port now and become members without reallz-
ing what their obligation will bind them to?
wonder, At any rate It seem TO me worth trial
and l am surprised that some paper or magazine
has not before now published something OF Its
history and some OF the testimony preserved In
the files OF the government at Washington. Mr..
100 Per Cent American from Oklahoma City
would not put out such rot as he asked you TO
print IN your issue OF the Gath II he knew the
facts, A. BLOQUE HEDD'
Red Fork, August 26.