Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-12-26
THE TNAMERICAN KHAN.

Editor Every Evening;-It - hard
10 reconcile the defense Of the ku
Klux Khan made by Rev. 4. W. Wells
Methodist minister. In good standing.
in Wesley VI. Z. Church. Sunday eve
ming and not put him down as a mem
Der of the Khan. The knowledge ne
has OF the supposed good qualities Of
the Khan sounds Authoritative
why did he discuss 80 eloquently Of
its supposed good points;
To every intelligent American. this
organization poses a. The representa-
tive and sole defender Of Protest
ant Amer!canism. It's methods
bear no semblance 20 those Of any
government except Bo.shev.st Russia.
\ decree OF the Ku KluX Khan. handed
down by Simmons Of Atlanta - as
abhorrent 10 democracy and Amer
canism as a decree Of the Soviet gov
eminent handed out by Lenine. one
is as much a menace 20 orderly gov
eminent as the other. One IS as un-
democratic and un-Amer.can as ne
order and freedom.
What Is the lure that draws men 20
membership in such an organization
Why DO they fall such easy victims 20
the cheap orstory Of hired itinerant
/ speakers Partly because Of the
lining" proc,ivit!es Of the American
people. Partly because Of the desire
+ OF exercising power in secrecy and
without responsibility. They wish 20
! or class ~
men. But IN this section and In others
the chief appeal has been TO religious
intolerance. Good men, Christian
men. pastors of churches. have en-
rolled themselves as members. feel-
ing that in some way through this
mysterious order they would be able
10 combat the forces Of evn and es-
pecially the influence OF the Catholic
Church. portrayed in.such lurid co.ors
by these new evangelists. Prayer ans
Christian suasion have beer recog-
nized as the means 81 reaching the
crring sinner; yet today Christian
ministers are found indorsing the ides
that men can be made more righteous
by a tar treatment applied az nigh
by masked inQuis.tors.
Assuredly. no word OF the man o.
, Galnee can be quoted In eNtenuatioI
OF the unutterable cruelty ans
cowardice OF such treatment. The IN
cident OF the Bible. which more nearly
parallels midnight operations OF tn
Khan than any other. Is the one il
b which they came at night 20 TAX
Jesus and He said: Are ye come out
I as against thief. with swords an
b with slaves 20 take me? l was dail
with you in the temple. teaching, an
we took me not" Since when. anon
Christian peoples. taking men at nigh
has not been in good repute? The
have been told by their chief instruC
tors--Wlzards kleagles. Genii-tha
the knights OF Columbus is becomin
too aggressive, is endeavoring {
Cathollcize America. and instead G
fighting this hoogobbin. created b
their leaders for profit. In the opeI
they seek 10 overcome the powers G
evil by donning a clown Is garb. swear
ing TO conceal their identity. an
marching behind an Imperial wizar,
whom they are sworn TO obey. The
fail TO realize .hst our government IA
been established by free America
people who will handle II without In
reference by or dicta,ion from churc
or khan.
The most mshgne effect OF the OF
ganization is the destruction OF IN
spirit OF helpfulness. cooperation an
love In the community where Il In
!, trudAA NsAA In = community aau