Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-11-23
K. K. K. Legislation
Has Perplexities
Congress Members Would Be Com
PEELED TO Vote Against hlan
Activities Whatever Their
Attitude.

Attitude.
Washington, Nov. 23.-Aetiyities
of the Ku KluX Klan in Louisiana ana
revelation of its activities in many
states in the recent election where II
was victorious in 30 per cent OF the
contests it waged probably will re-
! suit in an attempt to obtain some
kind of a Congressional investigation
into the operations of the Klan, pro
vided the Klan's opponents are able
to find way to reach the organize
ton through the federal law
There is hardly Il question but that
nearly every member of the House
and Senate, confronted with clean
cut issue Of publicly supporting or
opposing measure aimed at the
| Klan would be compelled, whether he
wanted to or not, 10 vote against the
Klan. The more active opponents OF
the organization know this and are
/ wrackng their brains to find some
way to move against the or@aniZa-
ton.
If nothing else. demand may be
made for a thoroughgoing investi-
cation Of the Klan and It's activities
in the several states because Of the
fact that the Klan is credited with
having defeated many and elected
many members Of Congress and seve-
raj members Of the Senate.
While the Klan was organized in
the south and still has its principal
existence, it also was a factor in the
recent elections in Missouri, Kansas,
Oklahoma, Indiana. Oregon, and
Washington. for many local candi-
dates and for IN ant!-private gchool
law in Oregon. In all these contests,
if the Klan was on the side represent
ed. il was successful with the one
exception oc Missouri whore Reed
was elected.
Not only this but the Klan is said
to have elected Earle +. Mayfield
Senator from Texas, is credited with
having elected every member Of the
Arkansas state legislature except
one. is credited with having defeat
ed Governor Hardwick Of Georgia in
his race for the United States Senate
and with having elected Senator-elect
George 1t is said to have . control
ling influence in most local elections
throughout the South and even as far
north as Maryland.
While most members Of Congress
recognize that in many cases the
Klan has been ali Influence for good
in the community. while they know
that the Klan membership is made
up Of the best citizenship of the dis
trict, yet they denounce the "inviSi-
bic empire" for the very reason Of its
attempting to control the execution
Of the law. Secrecy. masks and rit-
uals are not Il part OF the american
theory of government, they assert.
and if the time comes when the laws
of the country can De made and GG-
ministered from lodge chambers the
nation will be in danger of demorali-
Zati0n.
But when the members of Con-
gress attempt to devise . means Of
meeting the situation and controlling
the Klan, they admit they are up
against it, 1t would be impossible to
hit the KIan By prohibiting the forna-
ton of organizations which proroga-
gate the ideas of disobedinece Of law,
for the Klan declares itself the strong
defender Of the law It likewise would
be impossible 10 reach the klan by o
criminal law to make its office hold
erS responsible for assaults and out
RACES committed By lis members, for
that would be up to the states and
the government would have 10 iuris-
diction. Also If would be impossible,
it is declared to prevent tie klar
from Interfering in the election OF
members of the Senate mad House.
Just how to reach the organization
is, therefore. . grave question for
the opponents Of the Klan One
thing is admitted here by proponents
Of the Klan alike. That is that the
federal government cannot now reach
it in any way. There is no law on
the statute books that gives the
government express or implied au-
thority to interfere with the Klan in
any way unless il did, as alleged, ac-
tu2lly control the machinery oi a
state ard application was made b'
the proper officials of the state for
relief. Such q condition is not like
w TO come about in any state, even
in Louisiana where Fantastic newsra
ner reports had made it appear thai
Governor Parker was ready to turn to
the federal government for aid in
getting back the states power from
the clutches of the Kl9n.
The general impression is bore
that the Klan could only be REACHED
through legislation ~ the several
states to abolish all kinds Of gecret
orders. which would Of course hit at
all lodges ana fraterral organlza-
tions qs well a. the Klas. No state.
it appears. would dare to do this
and the federal government itself
could not.
DENY CHlLDER'S WRIT