The New York herald., 1922-06-26
KU KLUX INCREASES
STRENGTH in JERSEY
BIG limitations in Noun
tains Near Paterson for
Next Month.
CATHOLIC BIAS DENIED
Kleagle Says Dean McNulty
Tribute Protest Was
! Not Sanctioned.
KHAN ORGANIZING HERE
Work in City Will Be Com
pleted Next Year, Leader
Declares.
KHAN ORGANIZING HERE

On the eve OF his departure for
tour of south Jersey In the propaga-
ton work OF the Ku Klux Klan. of
which he is now division field superin-
tendent for the Northeast. which in
cludes New Jersey, of which State he
is King Kleagle; New York. Pennsyl-
vania. Delaware. Maryland and New
England States. George w. Apgar of
Hoboken. denied sanctioning the pro-
test of Paterson Klan against the clos
Ing of public SCHOOLS last Thursday
OUT OF respect for the Very Rev. Dean
William McNulty. rector of st. Johns
Roman Catholic Church. Paterson,
during the clergyman's funeral.
The official head of the order in this
section also said he had no knowledge
of the action of the Elizabeth Klan in
contributing to a public fund there.
These public acts OF the Knights of
the Invisible Empire. with the an
nouncement' yesterday by Carlstadt
klan, No. 3, that their membership
has grown to 700. and that an initia-
ton of hundreds of new members will
soon be staged in the mountains near
Paterson are indications that the Sc
cret organization. In spite of attacks,
has been making progress In getting
new memberships recently.
While no heed was taken of the Klan
protest against the honor paid Dean
McNulty's memory. some surprise was
occasioned by the official letter. with
no persons signature attached. printed
on Klan stationery.
Justice Outside of Lnw.
Mr.. Apgar explained the Klan is not
fighting Roman Catholics or Jews. or
any group. in fact. and Is merely sup
porting American ideals and fighting
enemies OF public institutions in the
country. Every Klansman. he said.
swears to give his llfar II necessary
to uphold the Constitution. and de-
ciared that assistance has frequently
been given negro churches AMI for
eigners who failed to secure justice
from the duly authorized officers OF
law.
1--WE gave more than a million dollars
In benevoencee which are given no
publicity" said the Kleagie. And at
n recent gathering I'm Atlanta we were
able TO prove that accusations OF or
ganlzed Iawlessness made against us
were untrue. II We discover that n
klansman or a Klan has violated the
law we dismiss the one and withdraw
the charter OF the Klan I'm question
until trouhlemakers are expelled We
expelled a number OF traitors IN our
ranks. and several charters OF West
ern klans were withdrawn until those
making trouble were expelled"
Gain 1000 n Week.
The Kleagle said the organization In
New Jersey and New York was grow
ing rapidly, although he declined to
give membership figures. In the entire
country since January !. he said, the
increase has been at the rate OF 1000
new members n week. In New Jersey
alone, since the first OF the year, ne
said. the growth has amounted TO 200
per cent A reporter for THE New
York HERALD, who was present at n
gathering In New Jersey, saw the mem
bers before they donned their robes
and regalia for ceremony. and noticed
that while none displayed wha; was
recognized as public Kien emblem,
many members wore the pins and but
tons of other fraternal bodies. No
Knights of Columbus buttons were
noticed, but Masonic, Elk and other
lodge pins were worn. indicating n num-
ber OF the Klansmen we're OF the
''jiner'' class. Middle aged men were
included. but the greater number were
younger. ranging from about twenty
five years and upward.
Owing to the appearance OF the Khan In
Oregon and other Western elections the
Kleagle was asked IL II planned to do
any political work. in New Jersey or New
York this fall. "rhe Klan is not going
after mems scalps in politics." he re-
piled. 1T is absolutely non-partisan In
character. and all we favor is tho cleo
tion of clean men in public office. We
never take sides on partisan basis"
The Fiery Cross Again.
Within a few weeks, the KIeagie said.
an open air naturalization OF 1000 or
more new members from New York and
New Jersey Is to be staged at night on
the Watching Mountains In New Jersey
As this range extends several miles the
K'eagle Is making a careful inspection
to select suitable spot. and promised
to have an automobile for newspaper
men. who will be allowed as near the
ceremonies as It is possible for other
mortals to approach the portals OF the
Invisible Empire" This initiation
ceremony, II is believed, will be staged
late In July. There was a spectacle not
long ago near Paterson and the fiery
cross was plainly visible In that city,
but no official announcement of a cere-
mony was forthcoming.
Down In Texas We now have 100000
MEMBERS" continued the Kleagle. while
In Oklahoma the number is 10000. Oar
organization will be completed in New
York and New Jersey by July, 1929.
The work Of the men IN the propagat tion
department has been we'll defined and
zones are apportioned. New York city
Is being we'll canvassed and we have
good sized klans In all the five boroughs
Brooklyn Is especially well organized.
THE work In Essex county Is now
progressing, with klans In Newark
Orange. Bloomfield Montclalr and Nut
ley. and the other counties are well or
ganized. with substantial MEMBERSHIPS
especially In Hudson county. Paterson,
Camden and Trenton. In Trenton some
OF the best known mem of tho State are
members"
M'GILL's NEW DEPARTURE.