The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-29
EACH STATE
TOLD TO ACT
ON kLu KLux
No Action on Kan Unless
Federal Interests Are
Involved.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

- Mn LIZ bA w u k4NOnS
Copyright, 1922, by The Argus)
|. Washington, D. c., Nov. 29.-Con-
ferences between President Hard
ing and Attorney General Daugh-
erty have developed the policy that
will be followed toward the activ-
tiles of the Ku Klux Klan. Senator
Walsh of Massachusetts,, Democrat,
asked for presidential proclama-
ton denouncing the Klan but it was
stated today that the presidents
last expression on the subject
would have to stand, namely, the
letter signed by Secretary Chris
tian and sent to Mrs. Frank L.
Applegate of Medford, Ore, which
reads as follows:
"You may be sure that any state
ment of the presidents interest in
or approval of the Ku Klux Klan is
a complete and egregious misrepre-
sentation of the presidents atti-
tude." In some quarters it has even
been reported that the president is
a member Of this organization. Not
only is that untrue but the fact is
that the president heartily dis
approves of the organization and
has repeatedly expressed himself
to this effect"
So far as federal prosecutions
are concerned, they will have to
follow conclusive evidence that the
state authority has broken down
and that federal interests have be-
come involved. In other words, ir-
respective of the question of fed
eral power to act, there is q desire
here to build up the power of the
states to depend upon themselves.
II, Of course, this authority should
collapse or if state sentiment
should be averse to enforcement Of
law, the federal government will
recognize the obligation thrust
upon it.
The problem of Strengthening
state government in America has
almost come to climax. The
anti-lynching bill which is being
fought SO bitterly by the Democrats
in the senate is the Republican an
swer to the Indifference of many
southern states to this question.
The Democrats claim the bill is un-
constitutional and that the police
power is vested in the several
states by the federal constitution.
The measure cannot come to a vote
unless the Republicans wish to risk
all sorts of danger to pending leg
islation. The calling of an extra
session after March 4, something
which the Republican leaders do
not relish as yet, may be forced if
anti-lynching bill is insisted upon.
Sample Of Clash.
Another example of the clash be-
tween federal and state jurisdic-
tion is the prohibition amendment
to the federal constitution which
needs the help Of the states or it
will become q dead letter in some
regions. The federal government
would like to see state authority
strengthened here too. The growth
Of the Ku Klux Klan movement is
attributed largely to the attitude of
many state officials who decline to
use existing law to squelch the ac-
tivities Of the order, in fact the
Klan is said to number among its
members MANY Of the very Off
GERS in whose jurisdiction prosecu-
tion would naturally fall.
In the recent coal and rail crisis,
the authorities here hope for CO.
operation from the states in pro-
tecting those who wish to accept
employment but only few states
had governors who are willing to
risk their political fortunes by an
aggressive course. The desire to
avoid political ENHANCEMENT is the
usual reason for the attitude of
avoidance but the Washington ad-
ministration is just as determined
to make the states handle their
own problems and it is safe to as
sumo that the policy toward the
Ku Klux Khan will be applied in
ether questions, namely that feder-
nj aid will be granted only when it
is obvious that state authority has
broken down or that federal guar
antees have been violated.