The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1922-05-18
THE ONLY STAND

0EPuBLICAN candidates TO,
N governor, replying to ques'
tionaire submitted by the
Portland oregonian. with one lex.
ception. repudiated the Ku Klux
Klan.
The exception Ia Charles Hall.
whose lengthy reply entirely bess
tho question. lie denies that he
has any knowledge OF indorsemen,
of his candidacy by the Ku Kiux
Kim. but does not understand
that the operators OF the Ku Kiux
Khan are regarded as a menace TO
political freedom and public safe
~"
But Mr.. Hall splits the cocoanut
and exposes the meat when. after
much verbal fencing, he declares
that he zig willing to accept and
appreciate the support OF all good
American citizens who approve
these principles this piatform)
whatever their fraternai affiiiation
may be-"
Certainly there is nothing in Mr..
Halls statement 10 antagonist the
Ku Klux vote.
II is too bad that the other re-
publican candidates should have
weakened their avowsis OF free
dom from alliance with this un-
American organization by seeking
TO asperse the motives OF Cover
nor Olcott In meeting sQuarely the
issue that. was forced upon him.
with the courage that stamps him
a q patriotic American and q fear
less executive.
Such display OF petty political
jealousy strengthens Oicott and
wsakens his detractors. We could
wish. as erspuslican sspirauts for
the highest office In this state.
they might have shown minds
broad enough. In the crisis. to
have laid by personal ambitions
aud. merely as loyal citizens. sup
ported the governor OF their state
TO the full in his stand for IN
trammelled Americanism.
In the heat OF the battle per-
hapx Il Is too much 10 expect. We
turn with relief to the reply OF
Webster Holmes. democratic candi-
date. untinged by the prejudice of
political ambition. Here is tho
analysis OF keen observer. who
sees no self-serving motives back
Of Governor Olcotts def to law
lessness and disorder:
The question OF whether this
Ku Klux klan movement In going
to impose itself into our state GOV
ernment and al the samA tine
prescribe every Jew. Catholic. for
eign-born and negro. is a head-on
issue In this campaign and cleo
tion. I am afraid to trust any man
who will dodge II or In dodging II.
! feel certain that the khan IL
menace 10 both political freedom
and public safety. II tends TO tn
timidate good and efficient men
from seeking office. II will ulti-
mately lead to riots and blood
shed. II Is an issue unquestionably.
have been told by men who wsre
backing Hall for governor. that No
man who was not O Cathollc-hater.
q Jew-hater, a foreign -born-hater
and q negro-hater stood any show
OF being elected or even q n0mina-
tion, ! do not believe for . NOM
ent that the governors proclaim
alton was inspired BY political am
bition.
The Herald wants It's readers to
consider only facts: 10 base judg-
ment solely upon the truth.
The fact Is that Governor o.
colts proclamation against the
khan Is not a sudden and unpre-
mediated action. arising from q de-
sire 10 advance his political well
fare, and the records bear out this
assertion.
Az early as last September the
governor took c0gnizancs OF the
situation. The organization OF the
khan was so quietly conducted that
he spprehended no danger. and
considered II the best policy TO let
the movement die q qutet death.
relying upon the sound Judgment
Of the intelligent Americanism OF
Oregon to smother It..
But. maddened by desire for
power. with selfish men seeking Of
flee who were willing 10 be- its
tools. the Khan has in the last