New-York tribune., 1922-12-17
Klan ON Rack
AS Governors
End Sessions
Allen Declares Organization
Is Doomed and Urges
Publicity as the Best
Means in Fighting IL
Executives Join Debate
Some Leave White Sulphur
Springs to Discuss Dry
Laws With fhe President

WHITE SULPHUR SPklNGS' ~,
Va. Dee. 1.-The fourteenth annual
conference Of governors ended today
Nth a spirited discussion Of the ku;
Giux Khan. Many Of the executives
then prepared % depart for washing
ton 20 accept President Hardings IN
,itation 20 discuss prohibition enforce
laent with him at luncheon, Monday. =,
An executive committee consisting 81
Governors Cox OF Massachusetts, har-
dee Of Florida and MeCray Of Indiana
vas elected, former Governor Town
end Of Delaware was reelected trca~
urer, and Miles G. Riley, OF Madison
Wis. secretary. Governor McCray In
rsted The governors 20 meet next year
in Indiana. suggesting French Lick
Springs. Selection Of the next meet
ibg place was left TO the executive COM
rnittee.
The Ku-Klux Klan discussion de-
veioped after an address IN which Gov
crnor Allen Of Kansas declared the OF
gauization was doomed 70 die, and ex-
pressed hope that efforts OF the At
iorney General Of Kansas 20 oust the
Klan from that state on the ground
that Il was operating without enar-
ter would be successful.
Declares Klsn tFlouts Law
In response 20 a description BY Gov
srnor Allen Of incidents which he ar
Gucd supported his contention that the
Klan was fouting the law, Governor
Morrison OF North Carolina said that,
although the organization aroused re-
agious feeling, he did not believe II
vas responsible for violence In his
state. He asked Governor Allen
whether the Klan ever had indorsed
manifestations Of lawlessness or had
done anything TO stop them.
Governor Allen replied that every
member Of the organization believed he
vas doing n noble work. When law
Isssness developed, he said. the Klan
would disavow IL and then give $50 70
a "loose-mouthed preacher. who would
thank God for the Klan." He said he
vas ashamed that the Boy Scouts in
81. Louis had not rejected a gift OF
S25 900 from the Khan so that they
could claim 100 per cent Amerieanism:"
Governor 0leott OF Oregon asked II
Kansas had sent troops TO suppress the
Khan during the railroad strike. Mr..
Allen replied that he was ready to DO
90, but that such action did not be-
come necessary.
Urges Filing Of Names
Governor Olcott then asked what
means Governor Allen thought would
prove most effective In curbing the So
ciety, and the Kansas executive said
he favored filing the names Of members
with state officials and refusing TO
grant charters 20 the organization.
Governor MeCraY at this point said
he had found that charter had been
issued 20 the Klan in Indiana a month
before he learned Of II, but that the
Klansmen had been quiet in his state.
Governor Allen commented that, IN
his opinion, the Klan was not here 70
stay, but he urged that Il be kept IN
mind that II was "a clever and lnyis-
ible form Of government"
The governors were asked by Gov
ernor 0leott 20 sign n petition urging
the adoption by Congress OF the Nc
Nary resolution 10 appropriate $4,000
900 for relief work az Astoria, Ore.
where fire recently destroyed a large
part Of the city.
Kansas will not drive the Ku-Klux
Klan from the state by force, but will
expel Il by refusing 20 permit II to do
business within the states boundaries,
Governor Allen told the governors.
Under the law Of Kansas every or
RAnization doing business within the
state must be chartered" said Mr.. Al
len, "The Ku.Kluz Khan has a charter
under the laws Of Georgia, and the ae-
tion now pending In the Supreme Court
Of the state is for the purpose Of Sc
curing a writ forbidding the Klan to do
business hereafter IN Kansas.
Secrecy Is Opposed
~Ihe essence Of our opposition TO
this organization is not In the fact that
Il fights the Catholic Church or ex-
presses its antipathy 70 the jew OF 70
the negro, but In the fact that II does
this under the protection Of mask
and through the process Of terrorism
and violence"
Speaking Of the appeal made by or
Rnnizers Of the Klan along lines OF
what they call 100 per cent American
ian, Governor Allen said;
elm many places the appeal 20 creed
has brought into the organization
some excellent men who believe that
they are addressing themselves 20 a
real problem when they draw lines OF
religious prejudice" 49,
l Sketching tho progress Of the klan,
be continued:
"It grows very rapidly when It strikes
a community, and it requires about a
wear OF experience 20 convince It's best
members that the organization has no
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