The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-12-02
THE KU KLUX KHAN.

-
Secretary DENLY. in a speech re-
Gently made in Washington. said: I'm
this country any secret order. no mat
ter how harmless its secrets may be,
which invades the realm of politics
and strives to control the destinies of
our country, or the government OF our
states and cities, is Objectionable.
There is no room, in a free country
such as ours, for persons who wish to
combine in secret and take oaths that
compel them to act in concert IN mat
tiers governmental"
- Clearly, the secretary had the Ku
Klux Khan in mind. Agitation in the
press of the national capital and dis
cussion on the floor of the United
States senate have made the operations
of the Ku Klux Khan a subject OF ma
tional attention. Recently the gov
ernor of Louisiana journeyed to Wash
ington to seek the aid of the national
government in suppressing the Khan
and on the same day three citizens of
Arkansas were sentenced to life i'm
prisonment after pleading guilty to
numbering a man who had appeared
at public meeting dressed in Khan
garb. According to \its public an
nouncements. the chief purpose of the
Khan is to teach Americanism and pre-
serve peace and order. Enforcement
of law and preservation Of the public
peace are greatly to be desired but
in this day and age the accomplish
ment Of these ends ought not require
the activity of any others than public
Officials. In most states peace off,
GERS are elected every two years and
in some states the recall IS in force.
If officers do not enforce the laws
and protect life and property, there
should be an adequate remedy at the
ballot box, without any resort to force
by private citizens
Unfortunately because of the re-
gala worn by the Khan, It is perfectly
possible for men who are not Klans-
men, to wear a similar regalia, and
thus thrust upon the Khan the blame
for unlawful acts done by hooded men.
without full and complete evidence
it is not possible intelligently to dis
cuss the claim made at the Khan has
interfered with or dominated the state
of Louisiana. No such evidence is
being presented. Various unlawfuI
acts have at times been done by
hooded men. Opponents of the Khan
charge that all such acts are done by
Ku Klux Klansmen. The Khan denies
that such acts are done by authority
and consent of the order.
Defenders OF the Khan say that 1t
is no more reasonable to say that all
crimes committed by men who wear a
white hood and mask are committed
by Klansmen, than it is to charge that
all thefts committed by masked burg
lars are the work of society gentlemen
who wear masks at a masl-o5 ball.
There IS much discussion, pro and
con. going on in congress regarding
the charges and the countercharges
about the Khan. Conservative MEM
bers agree that II the Khan does that
which is un-American and unlawful.
the Khan should. and will, be punished
But until 1t is proved that un-Ameri-
can and unlawful acts done in the re-
gala of the Khan are, in fact. done by
the Khan, the Khan deserves the same
treatment accorded any accused. I'm
der our system of Jurisprudence It is
innocent until proved guilty.
T-owever. there is to be said against
the Khan, that If it had not adopted
the hooded garb. crimes hardly could
be committed in its name. Nobody
engaged in a legitimate pursuit has
need of a disguise.