The Washington times., 1922-11-22
GOVERNOR PINS
CRIMES ON
.KU KLUX
[ louislana Executive Declares
They Are Responsible for
Many outrages.
by ROBERT 8. THORNBURGH.
Cs.mouolitau News Servics.

By ROBEHT ,. ThOnNbOnoH'
Cesmopeiitsn News Service.
Protection OF the people Of Lousi'
ana from the alleged unseen hand OF
the so-called invisible empire OF the
Ku Klux Khan is the avowed obJec'
tive OF Gov. John NJ. Parker OF that
state. who ran for Vice President on
the Progressive ticket with Theodore
Roosevelt.
Governor Parker has been In Wash
ington comforting with the President
and other officials regarding what he
believes to be a serious menace. not
only in Louisiana. but In other States.
He left last night for the South. an.
nouncing that he would return De
cember for a conference on naviga-
ton Legislation for the lower Missis'
sippi and to complete certain details
OF the Klan probe.
Raps Third Party.
In an interview given the Cos
mopolitan News Service Governor
Parker digressed from the Ku klux
fight long enough to rap the third
party movement and to pay a strong
tribute to M. Clemenceau.
"You are an old third party man,
Governor Parker. what do you think
of such a movement now?' he was
asked.
I'VE have enough troubles as It
is," replied the governor. 81 guess
Wen let things go on as they are
for the time"
He 10, however. keenly alive to
the progressive element in Congress
and is believed to DO In entire sym
pathy with them. =.
"Clemenceau Is a wonderful old
man. who saved France In the hour
OF peril" the governor said. re.
ferring to the visit of the Tiger
Of France to America. HE was to
have visited New Orleans, but the
engagement has been cancelled. We
certainly regret that he might not
have visited our State"
Speaking Of the Ku Klux situa.
ton. Governor Parker said:
THE respect for and obedience
to law are the foundation stones
Of civilization and when law Is
thrown into the discard and any
body of men, whether masked or
members OF the invisible khan. seek
to be prosecutors. Judge, jury and
executioner. We Immediately revert
to the days Of barbarism. when
everyone took the law into his own
hands.
THE fight In Louisiana is one
to enforce obedience to and respect
for the law without regard as to
who violates the law, and to see
that punishment for such violation
is impartially administered and en-
forced.
Counsels Law and Order.
"The khan in it's ritual pledges.
under a most solemn oath. to obey
the law and assist in its enforce
ment. and still when one of the
most terrific outrages OF modern
times Is perpetrated in Morehouse
parish and the charge laid to the
door of leaders of the khan, not only
are they silent. but men known to
be in the membership throw every
possible obstacle in the path of law
with the growing feeling Of un.
rest in this country. thinking men
should weigh well the consequences
of total disregard Of law and should
unite to do all In their power
tnrOuRn tnc press anu ny puDiC eA-
preston to bring to pass that re-
spect and reverence to law which
is essential to civilization"
Governor Parker declared that
members of the Ku Klux Klan from
Texas and Arkansas were sent into
Louisiana to perpetrate outrages,
such as whippings. tar and feather
ings and even worse. while Louis.
lana Klansmen went into these other
States on similar missions.
This method is pursued. he ex.
planned, in order that the victims
will have even less opportunity of
Identifying their assailants and that
more of an air Of mystery may
be thrown about the operations of
the invisible empire.
The governor said that he had a
large number Of pathetic appeals
from women and others whose rela.
tives had been the victims of
raids and punishment
which in due time would be sub
x,itfaA fn tho v,xonar artho-tttos