The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1922-06-13
HUMBUC EXPOSED
4 $ PROFOUND a truth as wa


Barnum's Justification for hoaxes
perpetrated upon a credulous pub
lie: "Thc American people like to
be humbugged. Barnum had a
keen insight into the American
mind. the insight of the practical
psychologist. He was great show
how to appeal TO the dramatic emo
tons. Barnum's humbuggery was
harmless enough. and while his
Cardiff giant was shameless hoax.
he more than compensated the pub
lie when he introduced into places
that hitherto had known little Of
art and culture the matchiess sing.
er. Jenny Lind.
Barnum IL dust again, but the
epigram we have quoted IL a. ap-
plicable to the Americans of today
az TO the generation OF half a CEN
tnry ago.
II Is the full and complete ex-
PLANTATION OF the Ku Klux Klan.
This gigantic humbng is rooted
In desire by few men for fInan-
cial gain. and Il has produced the
desired results. II appeals to the
sense OF the dramatic. and tens OF
thousands respond with cash con.
tributions.
The Medford Mail Tribune, ~ a
recent editorial. strips the organi-
za,ion OF sii its pretensions OF prin-
oiple and exposes the naked and re-
puisive skeleton. We reprint the
editorial because OF i,s logic and
seif-evident truth. hoping to save
some OF our readers ten dollars.
ana aware that there are others
who will net be saved II the op-
Tos<aDAS> is offered them to con-
tribute. for B,rnum was inevitably.
unaserably and everlas,ingly right:
The Deputy Dis,rlc. Attorney of
Los Angeles county says every
e.s "A s"' Nu hIuA Man Is
poor citizen.
That. we fear. IL a little strong.
Ihere are good citizens In the X.
N. N. u would be much more ac-
curate TO say that every member Is
poor simp.
Fer the more one learns about
'his organization. the more appar-
ent IL becomes that IL Is nothing
% Ag trh t.l,
10 date. has been sensational
and altogether amazing success.
The X. X. X. will admit prae-
tically anyone that pays the price.
II has no real PRINCIPLES, no gen
uine convictions. nothing but q
passion for cash. and anyone not
obviously dangerous to the order.
can enter the mysterious invisible
empire II he puts down a ten dol
lar bill at the gate. and plunks up
$3.50 for six-bit night gown.
There IL the entire X. X, X. af-
fair In q nutshell. Take out the
profits e. the inner ring and Il
would collapse tomorrow. But as
long as there are any easy marks
left. as long AZ the graft holds. the
invisible hocus. pocus will con-
tinue.
All this has been divulged be-
fore. The entire affair was ex-
posed by the New York World, for
which II was awarded the Pulitzer
newspaper prize for distinguished |
public service. and II all came out
later In the Congressional Record. /
Colonel Simmons. whose origina- |
ted the Idea. was. II seems. a strug- |
Cling itinerant preacher few |
years ago. Now he lives In
$4,000 palace In Atlanta, Georgia,
with q nice little college he pur-
chased. as a plaything: a factory
which turns out the night gowns at
profit OF 5000 per cent: q print |
Ing plant which turns out the X.
X. *. paper and real estate Or
ganizatI0n which speculatss In
Georgia lands.-the entire invest.
ment. according 10 the Congress
sionsl Record running into mil
lions and millions Of dollars.
Wisard Simmons divides the
cOuntry.-his little Oyster.--into
domains" each presided over by
Grand Goblin" who reports to
the Imperial Kleagle." Each
stats or realm Is like regiment.
and the King Kleagle" In charge
reports to his chief. the Grand
Goblin" The "Kleagle" or field
man reports to the king Kleagle"
only. Ten dollars donation" Ia
required for citizenship. The
"Kleagls" gets 81 OF this and the
balance Ia sent TO king Kleagle"
who retains 81 for his part. and
RENTS t5 to the Grand Goblin"
The "Grand Goblin gets 80 cents
and sends $3.50 to the Imperial
kleagle." who keers $3.50 and
pays the Imperial treasury" for
the. Emperor" So. The whole
system ID as carefully conducted a.
we'll organized sales system.
"kleaglss" being obliged 10 file
weekly returns on a printed blank.
Not . cent for club facilities.
~ with other secret orders. not
cent for benevolences. not a cent
fos insurance. but every cent for
the Atoher ups, the inner circle.