The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1922-07-28
KU KLUX KHAN
AT BATON ROUGE
STIRS OFFICIALS TO ACTION IN
PROPER ENFORCEMENT OF
LAWS.
STATEMENT OF OFFICERS
Khan Pledges Unqualified Support To
Officers Who viii Make Honest
Efforts To Enfore The Law

Baton Rouge. La-Movcd by print
ed statement from the Ku KlUk Khan
of Baton Rouge in which it is announc-
ed the Khan proposes to reform the
morals of the city, Mayor-elect Turner
Bynum issued a statement in which
he said he was not favorably impressed
with the methods of the Khan nor
would he tolerate for one minute &C
tivities of any order that holds itself
above the constituted authorities Of
the law.
Mr.. Bynum said he would not feel
called upon to take any notice of the
statement from the Khan were it not
for the following excerpt referring to
the incoming mayor of Baton Rouge:
1--WE pledge our hearty cooperation
and support in the fulfillment Of his
pledge to enforce all the laws of our
city, state and nation"
Alex Grouchy mayor Of Baton Rouge
made the following statement: II
shall use every. legal power at my COM
mand to enforce the articles of the
Constitution of the United States and
Of the state of Louisiana which guar
antee to every citizen TIE right of an
open trial and the privilege of counsel
shall use the power Of the police au-
thourity to prevent the infliction Of
so-called regulations under the cover
OF mask and If necessary will appeal
to the people of Baton Rouge to as
sist in the enforcement Of the law
OF the land"
District Attorney John Fred Odom
made the following statement:
"The warning and threat issued by
the Ku Klux Khan as published in
the press of Monday is a challenge to
our civilization and threat against
our free and stable institutions.
at matters not wheather he be
good or bad, any man has a constitu-
fional right to remain in his commun-
ity until he has been deprived of that
right by the sentence of a competent
court
Il hope l am right in assuming that
his organization would not attempt
10 execute it's threat without evidence
sOf a specific violation of the law.
This being true, such evidence should
be presented to the district attorney
or to the grand jury in order that a |
prosecution can be instituted. When
there is evidence not sufficient for a
prosecution, but strong enough to Jus
tify belief that a specific person is
violating the law, this information
should be supplied to the sheriff. So
that he can secure the necessary evil
dence to warrant a prosecution.
"In this manner the same end can
be attained, and without danger of the
terrible consequence to our form of
government which would inevitably
accompany the method suggested by
the Khan.
"Since these threats have been Is
sued officially by the Ku Klux Khan,
any effort towards their enforcement
shall be Justly chargeable to that or.
ganization and should call forth all of
the power of the law and Of the state
to punish such offenders"
Robert B. Day sheriff of East Bat
on Rouge parish, said in connection
with the Klan's statement:
Il, at all times, welcome informa-
ton from any good citizen that will
lead to more efficiency in the enforce
ment OF law, but, Of course, cannot and
will not permit, II within the pow
ers OF this office to prevent, any man