New-York tribune., 1922-11-22
Gov. Hardwick of Georgia
Supports Louisiana:
Allen of Kansas Applies
to Courts to Gust Order
Connecticut Police
List ALI Ku-Klux
Alabama Executive Awaits
Details of Fight; Olcott
of Oregon Joins Battle

Several states to-day are ready to
enter into the fullest cooperation with
Governor Parker Of Louisiana in his
campaign against the Ku-Klux Klan
and to go to drastic lengths in an ef-
fort to cub the "invisihle empire"
Three of these states are Georgia,
Oregon and Kansas, all strongholds of
the klan. A fourth state, Connecticut,
where the menace of the khan is not
so great, reports that it has all local
and branch officers Of the organiza-
tion already catalogued by the police
and is holding itself In readiness to
act promptly at the first evidence Of
lawlessness on the part Of any masked
men.
In Alabama, where the khan has at
tained to considerable proportions, any
statement as to active cooperation
which may be taken by the state in
conjunction with Louisiana's efforts is
withheld by Governor Kilby pending
advices from Governor Parker.
Such are the first returns from an
inquiry undertaken by The Tribune
among governors of states wherein the
khan is reported to have grown to
noteworthy power, seeking expression
as to their willingness to respond to
Governor Parkcr's plea for Corpora
tion in a concerted effort to meet the
khan problem.
Georgia Governor Emphatic
From Georgia, where the Ku-Klux.
era are deeply intrenched. the re-
sponse of Governor Hardwick is
couched in unequivocal terms.
~ wish to state that to the utmost
extent Of my power l will cooperate
with Governor Parker" he says.
"There is no room for invisible gov
ernment in Georgia, and SO long as |
am Governor of this state shall fight
and oppose it in every possible way.
While the Ku-KluX Klan seems to be
present moment, q reaction from the
present situation here is certain, and
will come ~ ain early date. ~
ut IS my purpose to recommend to
the Forthcoming session Of the Legis-
lature of Georgia the passage of laws
which will require that the name OF
every officer and member of every
secret order in Georgia, white or black,
shall be filed with the clerk of the Su-
perior Court in each county where
such order has one or more local units !;
further, that the wearing of masks in
public places anywhere in this state
shall be made felony. The Legisla-
ture may, and probably will, reject
will be fought out before the people
of Georgia until the right prevails.
at is needless to say that, enter
tanning these sentiments, l stand ready
to cooperate with both Federal and
state authorities in the suppression of
the dangerous attack on American in
stitutions that is involved in what is
termed 'inyielSie government
Menace In Oregon
Governor Ben w. Olcott OF Oregon
responded as follows:
"The Ku Klux Klan has been and is
an active menace in Oregon. The
power of this Office has been directed
against it in every legal manner BY
proclamation some time since | de-
clared it menace. Illegal acts and
outrages have been traced to it's bale
full influence in this state, if not ac-
tually perpetrated by it's membership.
No possible stone will be left unturned
by me as long as | am Governor to put
forces of law and order against these
masked fovces of darkness and secrecy.
| believe no greater menace confronts
the United States to-day than this
monster of invisible government. II
should be curbcd, or it will lead US
into pitfalls and possible ruin. The
time has come for Americans to assert
themselves in a nationwide battle
against this political iniquity."
Custer Sought in Kansas
Governor Allen OF Kansas, referring
to the fact that legal action against
the khan has already been undertaken
by his state, says:
"The Attorney General is filing with
the Supreme Court a petition asking
that this organization be denied the
right to do business because it is not
chartered in this state. It's charter is
granted by Georgia, and the Kansas
statutes require that all incorporated
organizations shall be approved by the
Charter Board of this state before
such organizations are authorized to
do business. None of the officers OF
this organization has ever sought to
comply with this law.
although the organization boasts OF
its loyalty to law, it has deliberately
refused TO make any appearance al
the Secretary of States Office, as re.
Continued on page sls)