The Lake County times., 1922-11-21
pARKERDONS
HIS fighting
CLOTHE:SN()N
Federa! Government Refuses
10 Interfere in Louisiana
Scrap
BY W. H. ATKINS
I5TAFF CORRESPONDENT /. N. SERvicEl
Copyright 1922 by l. n. s.

I5T4FF CORRESPONDENT l. N. SERsIcEl
Copyright 1922 by l. n. 50
WASHINGTON. Nov. 21.-Gover-
nor John NJ Parker. of Louisiana.
today proclaimed war to the fin
ish" on the Ku Klux Klan in his
state. Denied aid from the federal
government. Parker said he will re-
turn to Baton Rouge tonight, don
his fighting clothes and use all the
resources. financial and legal, with
in his power as chief executive, to
rout the Klan from its strongly in
trenched position of dominance in
Louisiana's political affairs.
"a man is a damnahle coward TO
attach himself to such an organiza-
ton and remain within 1t as one OF
its active forces" Governor Parker
said today 1T is now my SOL
emn duty TO whip tn m. Louisiana
will soon see a fight TO the finish
The best people Of the state are
behind me. and I know 1 will win.
Masked men who go about taking
tn law in their own hands, defying
all constituted authorities, must go
II IL takes all the power that the
commonwealth of Louisiana vests
in its governor to attain that end.
III we permit sucn organ. cations
as the Ku Klux Khan to continue
their reign Of terror. we might as
,een admit that our civilization is
tottering.
THE shocking instances OF the
work of the Klan in my state are
proof enough IL has no place in the
United States.
Men have been murdered in cold
blood Others have disappeared
mysteriously and may now be dead,
while sti1l others have been beaten
Pn maimed.
"A 65 year old man, only a step
from the grave. was taken out by
a mob of these towards and merci
'essly beaten. In one community
-wo young men. both with splendid
records for moral uprightness, were
siezed by members of the Klan. soon
disappeared and are now supposed
20 be dead.
"A widow and three children OF
on of them are left to grieve, while
none has stepped forward to sug-
gest justification for the mob's
ruthless act. These cases have been
multiplying. There must be an end
20 IT.
My problem is not an easy enc.
as the Klan works behind a mask
and in the dark. ! am seeking CO.
operation to meet the situation in
tn most effective way. and cope
with the menace that has suddenly
become very real. If we could
have some help from the several
states and from the federal govern
lnent the matter of delving to the
bottom Of the rotten mess would
be made easier.
We expected help from some OF
the states. similarly afflicted. like
we with this cancer, paradins as
a secret society. We are going to
tackls this thing from all angles.
and make a good Job of 1t before
We are through"
Governor Parker today continued
his conferences with senators and
representative from Louisiana. his
mission to Washington has stirred
up a row within the Louisiana del
egation. Several members are said
TO be in sympathy with the clan
and have sharply criticized the exc
cutivs.
Governor Parker reported that the
Khan has become more active in
his state through the operations of
Klansmen from Texas and Arkan-
sss. who venture across the border.
commit depredations and retire to
their own states, where they are
said to have the protection of their
own local officials