The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-07-22
KU KLUX KHAN
 DEATH KNELL
 MAY BE SOUNDED
Imperial Wizard Simmons Reported As Peeved At Acts of Violence.
By DOUGLAS G. TINSLEY, International News Service Staff Cor

international News Service Staff Cor respondent.
 (Copyright, 1922, by International
 News Service.
 Atlanta, Ga, July 22-Early action summoning the chiefs of the Ku Klux klan for a final conclave at which the knights of the invisible empire' will be ordered to disband their hosts is reported contemplated by William Simmons, Imperial Wizard of the hooded hosts.
 According to reports, Colonel Sim mons, originator of the twentieth cen- tury klan, soon is to follow the ex- ample of General Nathan Bedford Forrest, Grand Wizard of the old or- der. Forrest, after his followers had stegenerated into an organization for The wreaking of private vengeances, abandoning the original purposes for which it was formed during recon- struction days, officially swept it from the face of the earth as an organiza- ton.
 time of the organization of the new klan with the ideals of the Old South and American supremacy, is said to have become disgusted with the ten- dency of the new klan in some quar- ters to fail in upholding the ideals on which it was founded by him.
 Old hlan Was Important.
 bfc6 HG for Gspring av or the 0.d kIn; tbs Civii War held an important place 'n the community life of the South in the restoration and maintenance of order, is charged by it's enemies with having degenerated into vehicle for the, wreaking of private vengeance.
 The modern followers of the tstic action in many States ranging from actual indictment of some of the leaders to prohibitions against parading in the mask and hood, which As an important part of their regalia.
 Torn by internal dissensions even in the ''palace'' itself over the con- duct of it's affairs, the hooded hosts In half a dozen States are said to be in almost open revolt against the present management of the klans affairs.
 The large numerical strength of the klan. it is claimed, may result in its ultimate downfall because of the difficulty attendant upon properly dis siplining such large numbers.
 Klan Blamed for Outrages various hoggfngs in many sections. are laid to the door of the klan. Responsibility for them is gleefully fastened on the klansmen but vehe- aently denied by them.
 Some sections of the South which stood Solidly behind the original klan In reconstruction days seem to look with little favor on the modern order, and scattered communities have even gone so far as to prohibit the public parade of it's members in masks.
 Some months ago Imperial Wiz ard Simm onS, to whom the klan do- mated a magnificent residence. was granted a six months leave or ab.- sence, conferreing upon Edward Young Clarke the duties of Imperial Wizard in his absence.
 Now comes L. D. Wade, former grand secretary of the organization, who charges he was busted without cause by Clarke and calls on the lat ter to resign, charging him with run ming the affairs of the organization through committee appointed by himself and asserting that the klans- men in half dozen states are about to openly revolt against Clarke's regime and will refuse to contribute any more money to the "cause until Clarke and his followers are busted"
 On the Pacific coast the klan IS charged with staging raid in Ingle- wood, near Los Angeles, which re- suited in the death of a constable. For alleged participation in this raid two of the former Pacific coast kleagles and number of other klansmen are under indictment. The klan denies responsibility for or par ticipa ton in the raid, which. it's off, dcials claim. was staged by private citizens to break up a bootlegging es- tabliShnl ent run by a Mexican.f
 Criminal Acts Denied
 This and a score of. other acts charged to the klan, but with which It denies connection. have resulted and municipal action. all tending to discredit the organization.
 That the klan is strong numeri- cally is not questioned even by it's enemies. Essaying poIittcis, it maoe a remarkable showing in Oregon, where it almost elected its guberna- torial candidate. In Texas and Okla homa political campaigns are being waged almost entirely on the klan issue.
 Many of the critics in the South, where it numbers among it's mem- bership many leading citizens, declare that the principles on which the or- ganization was founded are good and they approve them. They object, however, to the hooded regaIa, the masked faces, mysterious parades and the endeavor to raise an "Invisf- ,bIe Empire'' within the confines Of & democratic republic.
 These and correlated things. it is believed, are responsible for reported contemplated action by Colonel Sim mons toward possible diss solution of