Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-11-21

1c udu UGcA 1Ed0AAS HSNSF~NNtS @r~
ne known a writer Ito build such q
'ancifuI superstructure on such
slight foundation of fact" as was
lone in the article sent to the Post
rom Baton Rouge and printed with
,uch display In your issue OF sun
lay" He added that the article
was a Islander on Louisiana and It's
chief executive"
II did not see your correspondent,
the letter said. land he made no ap-
plication for an interview. Most OF
his statements could have been dis
proved had he made even the most
investigation"
State Machine Not Para'yzed
The governor declared there was
absolutely nothing on which could
have been based the statement that
'the machinery of state government
has almost ceased to function" add
ing that there never had been 1.-THE
most remote idea on the part of any
one in Louisiana of appealing to the
Federal government to go into the
state of Louisiana and take over the
of government"
Asserting that the article was 80
per cent inaccurate" and conveyed a
totally wrong impression. the gov
ernor wrote that "the damage done
by it" and the Importance given it
by the display in the Post would "be
made the subject Of conference on
my return to Louisiana, at which
time it will be decided as TO the
further action that will be taken"
Fight to Continue
MASKED men and invisible en-
pires have no place in America" the
letter continued. and ! have de-
nounced the ku Klux Khan as vigor-
ously as l know how in its own
stronghold. We have only begun to
fight this movement, which strikes at
fundamentals Of orderly government.
We will be able to rid Louisiana OF
this vicious development the more
quickly if we can have the help of
other states and Of the Federal gov
eminent We can deal effectively
with our local situation if it can be
cut off from the support and en-
couragement It is receiving from tHs
outside
Il have sought cooperation in an
effort to meet the situation in the
most immediate way and to free the
people of some of our communities
from the terrorism in which they
are now held. Since the Khan does
not work in the open, may say that
the problem presented is largely an
investigatorial one"
Congressman Denies
Announcing that he had been I'M
able to discuss the subject on the
floor Of the House, because of an
early adjournment of that body. Rep
resentative Aswell, of Louisiana, is
sued a statement tonight, denying
that there were conditions in Louis
lana such as described in the Post
He made public a telegram
of inquiry sent to the sheriffs and
judges in the eight parishes Of his
district and their replies, each of
which reported conditions tranquil.
If these published attacks ema-
nate from the governor of Louisiana,
or if he had advance knowledge of,
or connection with their publica tion,"
said Mr.. AswelPs statement. he pre-
sents a humiliating and pathetic
spectacle as he plays cheap politics
to gain front page notoriety."
In a reply to this statement, inso-
far as it referred to him, Governor
Parker declared it was untrue" and
added that Mr.. Aswell's district was
one of the recognized heads of the
Ku Klux Khan of Louisiana.
In Two Sections Only
Explaining the situation in his state.
Mr.. Parker said that conditions grow
re out of activities Of the Khan were
serious in only two sections. There
lad been some bad outrages. he assert
ID, including whppings by masked
men. and terrorism in some communi-
les had followed.
one OF the inquiries conducted by
he state authorities has been into the
disappearance some weeks ago of Sam
lei Richards and Watt Daniels from
der Rouge and the Whipping of Dam
els aged father by group of me-
n cowss.5 Il is understood that i'm this
wen the state authorities obtained in
urma ton about the interstate connec-
ions of the ku kiux Khan which led
hem to seek the cooperation of the
ederal government and other states,
To Remove Outside Influence
Correspondence win the department
II justice on The phase or the matter
vas begun some time ago and request
or conference with the president
olowed. It. vas declared that there
never had been an intention to ask
or federal interference within the
tate; ;hat the object sought was coop.
ration generally in removing what the
governor termed the support and en-
enlargement which he stated the Khan
n Louisiana received from without
he state.
Friends Of Governor Parker asserted
hat the alleged Khan activities vas
My one OF several matters which
rought him to Washington. Others
included hts opposition to the appoint
nent of Walter Cohen. a negro, as
comptroller Of customs at New Or
cans He was understood to have