Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-08-21
Congressional Resolution

reproduced:
Congressional Resolution
whereas, there is being organ
lied within the United States al
anti-American organization know1
as the Ku Klux Klan, the objects
and purposes of which are the
exile and suppression of persons
members OF certain races and re
ligious sects, and
Whereas, the accomplishment
of such objects and purposes Is IN
direct contravention OF Articles /
XIII and XIV of the Constitution
of the United States, and
Whereas, the organization
known as the Ku Klux Klan has in
more than one hundred instances
been charged with unlawful setz-
ure, abduction, trial and punish
ment Of certain free citizens and
residents of the United States, and
Whereas, such seizure, abduc-
tion, trial and punishment is a
usurpation of legally constituted
authority and in direct contraven-
ton of Articles ", V and VI OF the
Constitution Of the United States;
therefore be 1t
Resolved, that the speaker of
the house OF representatives be
directed to appoint a special com
mittee Of five members OF the
house of representatives, which
committee Is authorized and dt-
rected to proceed at once with an
investigation of the organization,
purposes and all matters connected
with the Ku Klux Klan and to
report its findings to the house OF
representatives at the earliest
practical day, together with such
recommendations as II may see fit
to make concerning the Ku Klux
Khan, IL any, and for this purpose
the committee is authorized to
send for persons, books and pa
pers; to administer oaths: to EN-
ploy a stenographer at cost not
exceeding $1.00 per printed page
to report such hearings as may be
had In connection with any sub
ject which may be pending before
said committee. the expenses
thereof to be paid out of the con-
tingent fund OF the house of rep
resentatives, and that said COM
mittee may sit during the sessions
or recess of the house of represen-
tatiyes. +"
Witnesses Summoned
All OF the resolutions were re-
ferred to the rules committee of
the house for the purpose OF max
ing a preliminary examination as
10 the advisnbility OF appointing a
special committee to investlgatae
the Khan. This committee. OF
which Representative Philip p.
Campbell. OF Kansas, was chair
man. met on Tuesday, November
II. 1921, for the purpose OF ex-
amining witnesses Emperor"
Simmons had been previously In
yited, and appeared with counsel.
Roland Thomas, appearing IN
behalf of the New York World
was the first witness examined.
He placed before the committee
the entire facts that had been
collected by the paper. showing
specifically that the Ku Klux
organization in some portions of
the country had been guilty of
circulating anti-religious and
anti-racial propaganda; that in
some cases acts of violence had
been admitted by the local Klans:
Ind that the proposition was in all
ESSENTIALS a ney-making scheme.
every phase of the sys-
EN-. Mr., Thomas concluded his
statement as follows:
Thomas Gives Evidence.
ave found also that they
oasted or declared that they were
citing up an invisible empire
ere in the United States. We
ound that their chief man had
lken the title cS emperor and
lat he issued imperial and secret
screes from an imperial palace. a a
e found also. having secured 4
'py OF their oath. that every man L
ho Joined this order pledged d
mseif to obey without question "
the Instructions OF the emperor,
10 had been elected for life. We
and that severe penalties were C
reatsned TO him II he failed ever m
obedience. We found that part a
this oath was a pledge OF Inn h